Packers Question of the day - Reflecting: Packers vs Bears

It was a refreshing change of pace for the Packers, and after their offense began to click in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, things began looking normal. Aaron Rodgers was gaining a rhythm en route to 56 pass attempts on the night and without Eddie Lacy or James Starks, Ty Montgomery was carrying the load at running back rather efficiently. 

While the game wasn't perfect, there were many flaws from both teams. There's also the fact that it was the Bears and Brian Hoyer was knocked out of the game with an arm injury. But at the end of the night, a win is all that matters.

What were some of your big takeaways from the 26-10 win that earned the Packers their fourth on the season?

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (41)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Yooper's picture

October 24, 2016 at 09:33 am

Beating Da Bears with their dismal record and a third string QB ........and this game was a tale of two halves - So where does that leave us - Perhaps with more doubt ??????

0 points
0
0
Razer's picture

October 24, 2016 at 09:45 am

I am reminded of Dumb and Dumber - so you're telling me there's a chance...

0 points
0
0
Samson's picture

October 24, 2016 at 07:55 pm

Da Bears were 1-5. --- Now, they're 1-6. --- Four out the next 5 are on the road including (@Falcons, Colts, @Titans, @Redskins, @Eagles). --- The next 5 will determine if the Pack are better than just an average team. -- The game against the Bears was only another given.

0 points
0
0
Razer's picture

October 24, 2016 at 09:50 am

I am glad that our offensive game plan was pushed into a new realm or rather, the coaches took a different approach. The spots on the leopard can change. It give us hope for the remainder of the season.

I am hoping that the young guys on defense keep improving. With all the injuries, we are going to need these 'kids' to step-up.

I curb my optimism because we did this against a struggling team with a 3rd string QB.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:14 am

This is a team that has been able to move the football the last few weeks. The take home is that it's shooting itself in the foot with its ball security issues and key turnovers (ahem, #12). Start taking care of the football and winning the +/- on a weekly basis and the outlook for this team will shift significantly...

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:41 am

100% correct... If they don't have 3 fumbles lost and 1 interception or even cut those turnovers in half against the Cowboys, how different does that game look?

They beat the Bears, but they were losing at one point due to Rodgers fumble and the Bears recovering for a TD.

Way to many turnovers!

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:17 am

McCarthy didn't force his normal scheme onto the players he didn't have.
McCarthy adjusted his scheme and offense to the Players he did have.

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:34 am

Yep. Finally. IMO this is the kind of answer I didn't think we'd get from MM. He's done it before - when the heat is on, he's changed things up and succeeded. But I thought ARod had tuned him out and, consequently, it was lights out for this team and era.

Looks like I was a tad premature. And I'm glad that is the case. This team has too much talent to be that bad.

And while Rodgers wasn't an all pro last Thursday, he was "better." I would think about league average. That's progress. Hopefully he'll just get back in a groove as the year goes on and will be throwing darts by December.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 11:09 am

I do like that since week 3 he has started to use more players and rotate players in and out more vs sticking with 1 formation and personnel grouping.

But this game he simply just went with the best players available, and put them in roles that they could best be used.

I do wonder if Rodgers throwing 50+ times could be a cure for Rodgers. Getting him into some rhythm. In the second half he went 20-26. (77% completion), and I think at one point he completed like 9 or 10 straight). He just got into a groove. Hopefully that is the cure for him.

0 points
0
0
TarynsEyes's picture

October 24, 2016 at 12:16 pm

Doesn't everybody get in a groove vs the Bears.

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:51 am

And because of the lack of a fast boundary receiver and all the injuries we need to use every player and every play in the book, and maybe then some. Reverses, Slants Jet sweeps. We have the talent to do that now. Teams will adjust to Monty out of the backfield just as they did with Cobb. Throw out the kitchen sink

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 11:53 am

I think they have deep threats. Trevor Davis got deep against the Lions and hasn't really been used since. The only time I have seen him on the field since that game he has been the lone WR in a stacked backfield. I think they could do more design wise to get him 1 on 1 deep.

Nelson actually got "open" deep 2 times against the Bears. The first Rodgers needed to lead him towards the sideline more instead lead him up field which drew the pass interference penalty. Then later Nelson got a step on the CB and Rodgers chose not to throw it.

While they are not consistently getting open deep, if they hit on those 1-2 deep shots a game it can change a game.
With all the underneath stuff they are doing, it will start to draw the safety's up more. Or at least get them to bit and they could hit on a double move or pump fake.

I would love to start to see more misdirection type of stuff. Jet sweeps, reverses, whatnot... At the very least it gets the defense to flow one way.

I think the offense is heading the right way.

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:20 am

I'll state my point on the "midway through the season" thread again:

It seems clear that 4-5 WR personnel, short YPA and long (hopefully) YAC numbers are what's going to drive this offense in the future. We don't have elite boundary production at WR - we have a 31 year old who is coming off an injury, a rookie who doesn't get it yet, and a 3rd year player who probably never will get it. What we DO have is Cobb, Abby, Monty (and eventually Cook) terrorizing the middle of the field.

Look at what the Pats have done over the years with no true outside WR threat. We can do that too. Getting Davis up to speed will really help, as will (hopefully) getting Lacy back.

If we get even close to the kind of production for the rest of the year we got in the passing game on Thursday night, this team is going to be very tough to beat in the playoffs.

We do need our 2 2nd year CBs back soon though. I hope by next weekend.

0 points
0
0
Funcrusher's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:29 am

I give McCarthy a lot of credit for drastically changing the offensive gameplan, but they're going to need to have more balance between short and long pass plays if they're going to beat the better teams. Great defenses don't give up thirty first downs. Just doesn't happen.

This is another reason why they need to use the middle of the field more. So players can run after the catch and turn ten yard throws into twenty-five yard gains.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

October 24, 2016 at 11:48 am

The short will open up the long...all #12 has to do is figure out how to get his deep ball mojo back.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 11:56 am

Exactly... All the short passes will bring up the safety's more.

Right now teams are making sure Rodgers doesn't beat them deep. If the Packers (Rodgers) stays patient the deep ball will open up.

I'm actually ok with throwing 5 yards every time. It milks the clock and it keeps drives going.

0 points
0
0
Donster's picture

October 24, 2016 at 11:51 am

"The Packers are going to be without their top available cornerback for several more weeks after Damarious Randall underwent surgery over the weekend to repair a groin injury, according to a league source.

The surgery was performed in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyers, a noted core muscle surgeon, and is not expected to be season-ending, the source said."

Well I guess Randall will be out for a few more weeks at least.

Watched Atlanta - San Diego yesterday. Rodgers needs to have his best game so far this season. If so, it's gonna be a shootout that's for sure.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

October 24, 2016 at 12:24 pm

Just saw this about Randall...when it rains, it pours.

0 points
0
0
NickPerry's picture

October 25, 2016 at 05:17 am

Randell lasted only a few plays and Lacy injured his ankle further in the same game. For such a medically careful team, one that is normally more cautious than most, they sure screwed themselves against Dallas.

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

October 24, 2016 at 11:54 am

One thing about the Bear game was that once again our offense started most of their drives inside our own 20. We need to get better at the field position battle. Schum did have one good punt in the game and maybe that is a sign of things to come but I'm not holding my breath. I hope that Cook returns soon. I think when he gets back he will be our down the middle threat which should help to open up our other passing routes. Or he should be open all day. R. Rodgers is just too slow to make a difference but defenses will need to respect Cook's speed or he will hurt them. Cook and Monty should create plenty of mismatches when they are on the field together. Also we need to give Trevor Davis more chances on the boundary to see what he can do. He certainly can't be any worse than Janis who always looks totally lost when he is on the field. We need at least one of our CBs back so we can keep Goodson off the field. He will be a liability when we play Atlanta. Any idea about the return of Banjo or Linsley. We need Banjo on ST coverage and we need Linsley to provide OL depth so we don't have to watch Barclay get blown up every time he's out there? Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
Donster's picture

October 24, 2016 at 01:15 pm

NFL.com says 6 weeks for Randall. I hope we get Rollins back for Atlanta too. It's going to be up to the d-line and LB's to get pressure on Matt Ryan to take some pressure of our secondary. Goodson stinks. Another of TT's special projects.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

October 24, 2016 at 01:59 pm

For what he is (a late round pick that turned into a very good ST player), he's fine. When you put him on the field and rely on him to fill in a bunch of defensive snaps...eh, not so much. How bad must Hawkins be if they're playing Goodson over him?

0 points
0
0
guzzi2000's picture

October 24, 2016 at 02:07 pm

Has anyone seen a projection on Cook's return?

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 02:08 pm

Chris Banjo, Jared Abbrederis to IR.

Randall has surgery out 4-6 weeks.

Injuries suck....

0 points
0
0
Donster's picture

October 24, 2016 at 02:18 pm

Crap!

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 02:22 pm

Update...

Packers are promoting Geronimo Allison to 53.

0 points
0
0
mrtundra's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:47 pm

...and Jermaine Whitehead(S).

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 25, 2016 at 07:36 am

Thank you. I heard it on my way home from work and forgot to post the update.

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

October 24, 2016 at 02:25 pm

Friggin ugh.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

October 24, 2016 at 03:11 pm

Joe Callahan to the Browns....

For those of you that were hoping the Packers would bring him back to the PS like I was. We are out of luck.

0 points
0
0
Donster's picture

October 24, 2016 at 03:32 pm

And here I thought MM was so upset to lose Callahan. Must of been an act for the Press.

0 points
0
0
zeke's picture

October 25, 2016 at 06:56 am

Cleveland claimed him on waivers, no?

0 points
0
0
Spock's picture

October 24, 2016 at 03:33 pm

Banjo also on IR with Abby, Randle's surgery, Yikes! So much for the early Bye Week "coming at the right time!"

0 points
0
0
egbertsouse's picture

October 24, 2016 at 04:07 pm

Packers need a corner, pronto. TT is on the horn to Jarrett Bush as I'm posting this.......

0 points
0
0
mrtundra's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:57 pm

I read that Herb Waters is being groomed as a CB. Waters was primarily a WR in college although he did have some work as a QB, DB and RB in high school.

0 points
0
0
NMPF's picture

October 25, 2016 at 09:21 am

was kinda hoping they would try that with Janis. But unfortunately if he can't figure out a route tree, good luck with Capers D.

0 points
0
0
daveh's picture

October 24, 2016 at 04:44 pm

Just heard here in Cleveland, the Browns signed QB Callahan , anything to it ?

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 24, 2016 at 10:03 pm

Cleveland put in a waiver claim, like NO did. Callahan has no choice here. He is on the 53 for the Browns. There are opportunities in Cleveland for a QB.

0 points
0
0
Gianich's picture

October 24, 2016 at 05:37 pm

My take away was they beat a bad team with a dismal QB situation. THe front 7 continues to look good especially against outmatched olines. I also took away that if and when this team stops playing football this season it will be because of the inexperience at corner vs a team with a decent oline and a decent QB that gets a smidge of time to let routes develop vs the likes of Goodson and company. I think Gunter can play but only outside and not for longer than a couple of seconds into a route at this point in his career. THese young guys at corner looked way better than they are because Hoyer and Barkley are Hoyer and Barkley and were under siege all night from the front 7 and shotty protection.

0 points
0
0
Samson's picture

October 24, 2016 at 08:09 pm

I agree. --- GBs defensive backfield could be a major problem the rest of the season. -- As the film accumulates, future opponents will attack the weak players in GB's secondary. -- Inexperienced corners could derail GB's season.

0 points
0
0
Gianich's picture

October 25, 2016 at 09:14 am

I hope they can build on the Bears game. It seemed like teammates were really praising the young corners after they made plays last week in an effort build their confidence. I hope it did.

0 points
0
0