Another rivalry game, and another win for the Green Bay Packers over the Chicago Bears – history sure does love repeating itself.
After coming out of the gates somewhat slow on Sunday, the Packers were able to string together three strong quarters to end the game and earn their fifth win of the year, 24-14. Both offenses seemed to struggle to put together meaningful drives, as the Packers put up 323 yards of total offense, while the Bears only produced 277 yards.
The Bears started the scoring off first in the first quarter, as rookie QB Justin Fields helped lead an eight-play, 80 yard drive that resulted in rookie running back Khalil Herbert punching it in from one yard out. With David Montgomery still out with an injury and Damien Williams placed on the COVID-19, it was Herbert who turned in a solid effort leading the backfield, carrying the ball 19 times for 97 yards and the score.
Green Bay’s first scoring drive of the day also spanned 80 yards, as it took 12 plays before Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard on a short shovel/flip pass for the score. This drive took up over six minutes of clock and saw the Packers use a 32-yard connection to Davante Adams as the key play in getting down the field.
This scoring drive was all set up by Darnell Savage’s interception on a badly-overthrown ball by Fields on a play that could have seen Green Bay get flagged for offsides.
After having started their last full drive of the first half at their own 42 yard line, AJ Dillon ripped off a shifty 36-yard run that got the Packers back into CHI territory. Although the drive fizzled out, Mason Crosby was able to put his rough performance aside from last week, knocking home a field goal for the first lead of the day for the Packers.
A punt by the Bears and a kneel-down by Rodgers ended the first half, with the score being 10-7 Green Bay.
The Packers put together another double-digit play drive, as their first drive of the second half went 10 plays and 90 yards, resulting in a 12-yard TD catch from Aaron Jones.
With each team trading punts on their next drives, it was the Bears who scored next, as Fields connected with Darnell Mooney on a short, 5-yard TD to make the score 17-14 GB with just under nine minutes left in the game.
The Packers answered with a TD of their own, as Rodgers did it himself, taking it in from six yards out. After getting the defense to bite on a pump fake, Rodgers took it in and gave the fans a moment to remember.
As he collected himself up off of the grass, he did his famous ‘Discount Double Check / Belt’ celebration, followed up by him yelling ‘I still own you!’ twice in a row. For the record, Rodgers holds a 22-5 record against the Bears during his career, so what he said certainly holds some merit.
Needing points and needing them fast, the Bears were unable to get the job done on their final drive of the game, failing to convert a 4th & 26 scenario. Fields was sacked twice by Kenny Clark on this drive, losing 23 yards in the process and backing Chicago back into a corner.
A nine-play drive helped ice the game for the Packers, as Dillon was able to convert four carries into two first downs, with Rodgers kneeling down three times to end the game.
Green Bay gets to come back home next week against the Washington Football Team, hosting them for another noon affair.
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Mike Johrendt has been an avid fan of the Packers ever since he can remember. He is now a writer at PackersTalk and you can follow him on Twitter at @MJohrendt23
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