Packers 35 Bears 14: Convincing win lifts Packers to 3-1
Packers fans were treated to touchdown passes and turnovers that resulted in a 35-14 win over the Chicago Bears Thursday night, a game that was nationally televised.
It wasn’t the prettiest of events, as usually happens when the Packers meet the Bears.
More often than not it’s more like a riot from which a football game emerges.
Tonight, the 195th times these two teams have met, was no different.
The Packers jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Bears realized they were playing a football game.
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While the Packers’ first two scores early in the first quarter would put them ahead for good, there was so much that occurred in this one.
Clay Matthews, on the Bears’ first offensive play from scrimmage, rammed into quarterback Mike Glennon and forced a strip sack. Aaron Rodgers followed the turnover by converting one of his four touchdowns. The sack made Matthews the franchise’s top all-time sack man.
Aaron Rodgers threw four more touchdown passes tonight, two to Jordy Nelson. He completed 18-of-26 (6.9-yard average) for 179 yards. His quarterback rating was 128.0
Two interceptions and two fumble recoveries were turned in by the Packers defense. Since the second half last week, they Packers defense has has been solid.
Injuries, including the vicious hit on wide receiver Davante Adams, sent several Packers to the sidelines. Adams was sent to the hospital.
Safety Josh Jones and linebacker Blake Martinez returned to the game, but running backs Ty Montgomery (broken ribs) and backup Jamaal Williams (knee) would not return. Their losses left the Packers with their third string running back, Aaron Jones and fullback Aaron Ripkowski taking over those duties in the second half.
The Packers went into the game with a makeshift offensive line, one that fared pretty well overall, giving up just two sacks to a Chicago front seven that had been doing a good job of pressuring quarterbacks in their first three games.
A total of 20 players broke into the defensive scorebook with at least one tackle as the Packers now head into a mini-bye week, hopefully with a chance to heal up some of their players.
Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix led the team in tackles, Burnett coming in with nine and Clinton-Dix with eight.
Granted, the Packers weren’t playing a team with Tom Brady at the helm on the other side, but the defense was very effective on this night, holding the Bears run game to just 77 yards between Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, the “Thunder and Lightning” combination that had just ripped apart the Pittsburgh defense last week.
Overall, Green Bay won this game easily, and with it finally overtook the Bears in the series’ win-loss record. Going in, the Bears and Packers had been tied at 94-94-6. The Bears had led the series for decades until last night.
At 3-1, the Packers now try to heal up over the next 10 games and get ready for their matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on the road Oct. 8.