Green Bay Packers 21 Chicago Bears 17: GB offense comes alive

Once again, the Green Bay Packers had the ball less than 50 percent of the time in the first half against the Chicago Bears, but that didn’t matter because Aaron Rodgers was on fire in the the first half.

But so was Jay Cutler and Matt Forte.

The Packers and Bears scored every time they had the ball, the Bears by controlling the clock and the Packers via the air and Aaron Rodgers.

Here are the quarterbacks’ stats for the first half, statistics that pretty much tell the story.

Chicago Passing

C/ATT

YDS

AVG

TD

INT

SACKS

RTG

15/21

173

8.2

2

0

0-0

127.7

Team

15/21

173

8.2

2

0

0-0

—

Touchback on the kickoff.Bears first possession

Bears first possession, a 15-play, 8-minute, 30-second, 80-yard drive was highlighted by Matt Forte, who touched the ball 8 times on the drive.

However, the drive was aided by an illegal hands to the face call against Julius Peppers.

Facing a first and goal, the Packers stopped Forte on a run and then Cutler threw incomplete. On third and goal, Cutler hit Brandon Marshall for the 5-yard touchdown when Packers cornerback Davon House fell down.

Not the way the Packers defense wanted to start. On the drive, the Bears converted six first downs, running the ball well. Cutler was also 5-of-6 for 38 yards and the touchdown.

Packers first possession at 6:25 left in the first quarter

Green Bay started at their own 20, with Aaron Rodgers under center.

First down went nine yards to Richard Rodgers and then it was Richard Rodgers again for 43 yards when Aaron Rolled right.

Jorduy Nelson then got in the act, catching two straight, the first to the 12 and the second to he 2.

On first and goa, Rodgers from the shotgun Passed over the middle to Nelson, but the ball was knocked down by Tim Jennings.

Eddie Lacy then touched the ball for the first time running right up the middle for the Packers touchdown.

Now that is the way the Packers offense wanted to start. In 2:02, the Packers drove 80 yards for the touchdown as Rodgers went 4-of-5 for 79 yards.

Packers 7 Bears 7

Bears second possession 4:08 in first quarter

The Bears chew up the Packers run defense. Forte on 17 yard carry on first down to the 37; Forte for another first down and bfor we knew it, the Bears were down to the Packers 34 with a third and one and Forte was stuffed a yard shy by A.J. Hawk – and he lost his helmet doing it.

On fourth and 1, the snap ws dropped by Cutler who picked up and ran for 20 up the middle untouched until Sam Shields tapped Cutler on the top of the helmet bringing a penalty against him.

From first and goal, Cutler threw to the one, Forte was stuffed at the goal line on second and goal and on third and goal, Ha Ha Clinon-Dix was flagged for interference, giving the Bears a first and goal from the one-foot line.

The Bears drew a procedur penalty, Sam Shields broke up a pass in the end zone and Forte picked up one yard up the middle. On third and goal Cutler overthrew an open Alshon Jeffery in the end zone.

Robbie Gould then kicked a 23-yard field goal.

Bears 10 Packers 7

Packers second possession at 13:58 of the second quarter

DuJuan Harris returns the kickoff out to the 22

First and 10 from the 22 Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson over the middle for a first down, Rodgers threw incomplete, Eddie Lacy ran for two and then Rodgers hit Nelson for a first down over the middle. The Bears were flagged for a shot to the head that tagged another 15 on.

From the 38, Rodgers gave to Lacy for five off left guard.

On third down, Lacy ran right and was stuffed, but the Bears were penalized for a personal foul and the Packers took over in the red zone. Rodgers throw to Rndall Cobb for a first down to the three and then on first and goal he threw incomplete to Nelson.

On second and goal, Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for a touchdown in the left corner of the end zone.

With Mason Crosby extra point the Pckers take the lead

10 plays, 78 yards, 3:47

Packers 14 Bears 10

Bears third possession at 10:11 of second quarter

Kickoff is a touchback.

Bears from the 20; Cutler fumbles again, but finds Jeffery for a first down; Marshall for 13 another first down; pass to Forte for 2, Hawk on the good coverage; From the 48, Forte gets 2;

Third down and 7, Cutler throws to Martellus Bennett for  first down to the Packers 29; 2nd and 6, Hawk loses his helmet and stuffs Forte; On third and one from the 21 Forte gets three for a first down.

On first and 10 from the 15, Bennet’s reception goes to the 8; Second and 3, a misdirection pass to Jeffery in the left flat results in another Bears touchdown.

10 plays, 80 yards, 6:21

Bears 17 Packers 14

Packers third possession 3:50 in second quarter

Kickoff to Packers was onside, but it was recovered alertly by Sean Richardson and the Packers recovered at their own 40.

First and 10 from the 40.

Rodgers hits Davante Adams for 17 yards and a first down into Bears territory

Fist and 10 Eddie Lacy waits for his blocks and picks his way for 9. On second and one a quick pass to Nelson went for a first down.

First and 10 from the Bears 36, Rodgers goes through his progression and hits Eddie Lacy in the left flat and he rumbles for a first down to the Bears 15.

On second down, Lacy picks up three on a draw play.

Third and 2 from the Bears 22, Rodgers in the shotgun Rodgers hit Randall Cobb for 22 yards and the touchdown when Cobb beat his defender on a go route.

7 plays, 61 yards, 2:47

Packers 21 Bears 17

Bears last possession

The Bears moved the ball down the field on the backs of Matt Forte and Martellus Bnnett. With 30 seconds left, a pass was knocked down by Sam Shields, then on 2nd and 10 with 21 seconds, Cutler found Bennett again down to the 10 with 14 seconds left

Cutler threw the ball away when under pressure, then with 9 seconds left and no timeouts Cutler threw to Bennett down to the goal line, but he was stopped short of the goal line and after the play was reviewed the call on field stood and it was the end of the half.

Packers 21 Bears 17

Statistics 1st half

Scoring Summary

Drive info: 15 plays, 80 yds, 8:30

07TD4:08Eddie Lacy 2 Yard Rush , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt

Drive info: 6 plays, 81 yds, 2:22

77SECOND QUARTERGBCHIFG13:58Robbie Gould Made 23 Yrd Field Goal

Drive info: 13 plays, 75 yds, 5:10

710TD10:11Jordy Nelson Pass From Aaron Rodgers for 3 Yrds , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt

Drive info: 10 plays, 78 yds, 3:47

1410TD3:57Alshon Jeffery Pass From Jay Cutler for 8 Yrds Robbie Gould Made Ex. Pt

Drive info: 10 plays, 80 yds, 6:21

1417TD1:03Randall Cobb Pass From Aaron Rodgers for 22 Yrds , Mason Crosby Made Ex. Pt

Drive info: 7 plays, 61 yds, 2:47

2117

Team Stat Comparison

GB

CHI

1st Downs

13

20

Passing 1st downs

11

9

Rushing 1st downs

1

8

1st downs from penalties

1

3

3rd down efficiency

2-3

5-7

4th down efficiency

0-0

1-1

Total Plays

23

44

Total Yards

205

303

Yards per play

8.9

6.9

Total Drives

3

4

Passing

184

173

Comp-Att

13-17

15-21

Yards per pass

10.8

8.2

Interceptions thrown

0

0

Sacks-Yards Lost

0-0

0-0

Rushing

21

130

Rushing Attempts

6

23

Yards per rush

3.5

5.7

Red Zone (Made-Att)

2-2

2-4

Penalties

5-30

4-39

Turnovers

0

0

Fumbles lost

0

0

Interceptions thrown

0

0

Defensive / Special Teams TDs

0

0

Possession

8:56

21:04