Packers vs. Bears: Quick Takes from Green Bay's 27-20 Loss
Quick takes from the Green Bay Packers' 27-20 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 9 of the 2013 season.
By Zach Kruse
The Green Bay Packers (5-3) got a strong taste of life without Aaron Rodgers Monday night, as the Packers starting quarterback left a 27-20 loss to the Chicago Bears (5-3) early in the first quarter and didn't return. Chicago then imposed its will with Josh McCown and Matt Forte and left Lambeau Field with its first win in seven tries against Green Bay.
It was over when…
… the Packers couldn't make a stop or force a turnover on Chicago's final possession in the fourth quarter. The easy answer here would have been when Aaron Rodgers jogged to the locker room and didn't return, but Green Bay hung around and eventually led in the second half. The defense simply ran out of gas and Seneca Wallace just wasn't good enough.
Game Balls
- Eddie Lacy: Who knows what the score line would have finished as had Lacy not been the monster he was Monday night. Despite facing heavy fronts after Rodgers' departure, Lacy rushed for a career high 150 yards on 22 carries (6.8 average), and his career long run of 56 yards set up a game-tying touchdown in the second half. Also, Lacy's 97 yards after contact were the most by a running back in a single game this season. This was the most dominant effort from a Green Bay runner in sometime.
- B.J. Raji: The Packers haven't played this bad on defense since a Week 1 loss to San Francisco, but don't blame Raji. The big defensive lineman had his best game of 2013, plugging the run inside and helping to create what little havoc was presented in the Chicago passing game. He had a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.
- Jamari Lattimore: His blocked punt gave the Packers life after Rodgers went out early. In the second half, he recovered one of Green Bay's well-executed surprise onside kicks. Lattimore has infectious energy and he always seems to be in a play-making position.
Key Stats
In the two weeks prior to Monday night, the Packers were a combined plus-113.4 in passer rating differential. On this night, Green Bay finished minus-32.6 (McCown, 90.4; Rodgers/Wallace, 57.8)...The Bears ran 75 plays to the Packers' 55, and gained 442 yards to Green Bay's 312....The Packers were 1-for-9 on third down and 1-for-3 on scoring touchdowns in the red zone...A Chicago defense ranked last in total sacks this season tallied five Monday night, including three from Shea McClellin...The Packers were not charged with a penalty, while Chicago only had four for 45 yards...Green Bay's 199 rushing yards were a new season high, eclipsing two previous 182-yard efforts...The Packers completed just seven passes to receivers. Jordy Nelson carried the heaviest load with four catches for 67 yards...Green Bay had just one sack, coming from rookie Datone Jones...Packers punter Tim Masthay put four kicks inside the 20-yard line...Running back Matt Forte racked up 179 total yards, including 125 rushing. Chicago's 171 rushing yards were the most allowed by Green Bay this season...Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery combined for 12 catches, 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Other Notes
– The Packers played one series with Aaron Rodgers and zero with Clay Matthews, Randall Cobb, Nick Perry and Jermichael Finley and only lost by a single score to a division rival with a winning record. Sure, the Bears were without their starting quarterback and best linebacker. But after one series, Green Bay's total losses far outweighed Chicago's. There's your optimism from Monday night.
– One more dash of optimism, in the form of Eddie Lacy. He should now be a clear favorite to win offensive rookie of the year. And get this: Lacy's 545 rushing yards since Week 5 lead the NFL, and are actually more than Green Bay's leading rusher from last season (Alex Green, 464). He's the next coming of Marshawn Lynch.
– The Packers emerged from the half-time locker room like gangbusters, but Wallace's inability to keep Green Bay competitive in the passing game and a cracking defense eventually allowed Chicago to take control. The Bears' final drive was the dagger, but in reality, the Packers needed a defensive score or a turnover deep in Chicago's territory to overcome the late four-point deficit. Wallace was helpless and the Bears eventually took away Lacy and the running game.
– Josh McCown made some big time throws Monday night. But he was also rarely pressured, and receivers were running wide open in the secondary on most dropbacks. The Packers pass rush and secondary were certifiably awful.
– The upcoming schedule features the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings in consecutive weeks. With Rodgers healthy, Monday night is probably a win, and all three upcoming games would peg the Packers as heavy favorites. What could have been a rock-sold 9-2 record going into Detroit for Thanksgiving is now completely up in the air.
– What's the plan at quarterback if Rodgers is out a significant period of time? That's difficult to say. The Packers rarely panic in these situations, and Wallace with eight weeks of time in the Green Bay offense is probably better than any other option. The safe bet is the Packers sticking with Wallace through thick and thin. But given the undertakings at quarterback over the last six months, is any scenario out of the question?
– The beat-up Packers will welcome the Eagles to Lambeau Field in Week 10. Nick Foles is flying high after throwing seven touchdown passes against the Raiders Sunday, and that won't change after watching how easily Josh McCown sliced and diced Dom Capers' entire unit. It's time for a rebound against an Eagles team that doesn't represent a cakewalk.
Zach Kruse is a 25-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covered prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].
Comments (27)
November 05, 2013 at 01:59 am
I have no faith in Wallace's ability to do anything as his issues are physical more than they are mental. He has no arm and his mobility is non existant
November 05, 2013 at 06:36 am
No, he's pretty mobile.
November 05, 2013 at 10:18 am
He's pretty much a more mobile McCown.
Let's see if Mike can do with him what Trestman did with McCown.
November 05, 2013 at 04:15 am
The way our D made McCown look last night coupled with the way Foles looked Sunday... All I can say is here's hoping Nick and Clay can go Sunday. We have to make Foles uncomfortable.
November 05, 2013 at 05:31 am
I'm so disappointed in our defense. When AR went down I hoped our defense would take control of the game. They didn't/couldn't and that is disappointing.
Once again in a big game when we needed our defense the most, they failed us.
November 05, 2013 at 07:48 am
My thoughts exactly. They should have talked to Lacy about what it means to step up.
November 05, 2013 at 08:55 am
Uhh 90+ yards after contact, he stepped up
November 05, 2013 at 06:48 am
Can't play Weeden and Ponder every week! Dom fooled me for a few weeks! Exposed after all! Every top 25 QB beats this defense with no clay
November 05, 2013 at 06:49 am
If Rodgers is out for the year Cow42s prediction of 6 & 10 might be right.
November 05, 2013 at 07:20 am
Just not a very good team without Rodgers and Wallace at QB. Defense is very pedestrian and will get shredded by the better QBs. I too was very diappointed that the defense didn't step up against a 2nd string QB. That to me was the most disappointing thing about the game. I don't expect much out of Wallace who is just a journeyman backup. But the defense?? Geez c'mon.
November 05, 2013 at 10:29 am
the Bears have a decent O. But their D is terrible. Everybody else just shredded them. So no, I am much more disappointed in the O. I get that Wallace didn't have reps. But I thought the whole idea with a senior QB was to have someone who can come in and manage the game without being overwhelmed if need be. He had a great run game, and all I saw were bad decisions, a bad arm, and he isn't fast enough anymore to outrun a DE. So no, it had nothing to do with not having reps. The dude is done. Nothing against him, but if the Packers don't bring someone in then it's going to be 1-2 at best the next 3 games.
November 05, 2013 at 07:44 am
Silver lining time: If we sustain a drive or two and allow the defense to rest, the outcome is different. This is the first game all season (since SF) where we decisively lost the TOP battle and our defense just got gassed. And considering the lack of depth in our linebacking core, I'm not surprised we couldn't get off the field in the 4th.
November 05, 2013 at 08:07 am
Yes, our defense was gassed in the fourth quarter. However, they still gave up 17 points by halftime. The truth is our defense was beat the whole game.
November 05, 2013 at 08:23 am
That 9+ minute drive was pathetic.
November 05, 2013 at 07:47 am
Gotta agree - the future looks bright with Lacy. If we could keep the whole team healthy there may be no stopping us. IF...
November 05, 2013 at 10:25 am
unfortunately, that IF means we'll never see that. I don't know what it is, but injuries seem to always happen to this team.
November 05, 2013 at 07:50 am
Brett Farve. I called for it in preaseason. Beautiful ending as he rides off into the sunset after three weeks "come back Shane"...
November 05, 2013 at 08:18 am
unfortunately, 'Shane' isn't answering because he's slumped over dead in the saddle. that's also true in the movie.
November 05, 2013 at 09:13 am
Did something happen to James Starks? I'm not sure but did he get any carries in the second half, or even get on the field?
November 05, 2013 at 10:18 am
I said I was done posting for the season.
But here I am... dragged back in.
I'm not here to throw salt on any wounds.
This team is much better than I thought it would be.
I was starting to believe.
My 6-10 prediction was stupid.
All I want to say is that it's time to circle the fucking wagons.
This team plays best when doubted.
When they are favorites, when they start getting buzz... they shit themselves.
Right now they are a cornered, wounded animal... dangerous.
I live in Illinois.
I came to work today with a Packer jersey on.
I look like an idiot (grown man in an NFL jersey at work = tool) but I did it to show my kids what it means to be a fan of this team. My son was crushed last night. He didn't want to go to school this morning. He knew his Bear fan buddies were going to give him shit (middle schoolers have zero compassion). So I sat him down and explained things to him matter-of-factly.
Bears fans show their "fandom" by wearing their Bears shit AFTER wins.
Packers fans hold their love for their team in their heart. It's a family. Packers fans wear their Packer shit to work/school EVEN AFTER A CRUSHING LOSS.
"What are you wearing?"
"Why would you wear that?"
"You're wearing that shirt even after what happened last night?"
"Many more games like that to come."
"You guys are losers."
All actual comment I've heard from co-workers today.
After each comment I simply smile (like I have a secret they'll never know).
They'll never get it - so I'm not going to bother trying to explain it to them.
All I know is karma can be a bitch.
The Packers will sit tight with Wallace.
They will put together a game plan that fits his skill set (comparing him to McCown is ridiculous... that dude had essentially 3 weeks to prep for last night's game).
I'm going to take my son to the game against the Eagles... it'll be his first. It's time he learned what this is all about.
The D will step up.
Lacy will be dishing out stingers.
Wallace will look like fucking Russel Wilson.
And after all of that... if they lose... I COULDN'T GIVE LESS OF A SHIT... BECAUSE IF THEY GO 0'FER THE REST OF THE SEASON I'M STIIL GOING TO WEAR MY JERSEY TO WORK.
Amen!
Halleluyah!
Holly Shit!
November 05, 2013 at 10:24 am
Who are you and what have you done to the guy that used to post under that name?
Good post, btw.
November 05, 2013 at 10:27 am
Welcome back, dude (please don't make me regret saying that).
And I couldn't agree more.
"All I want to say is that it’s time to circle the fucking wagons."
Damn straight.
November 05, 2013 at 11:50 am
i should add that, YES, growing up in Wisconsin and then having to move to Illinois for work does suck.
November 06, 2013 at 10:23 am
This is a great post but I still don't believe this is THE Cow42 we all remember. The pace and style of writing is not what I remember reading.
So, whoever you are, welcome to the site! Oh, and come up with your own name.
November 05, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Great post Cow42. My sentiments exactly. I wood have worn my jersey but I'm in Navy so I can't but I feel same way n working in Great Lakes with a lot of Bear fans is tough. I smile in don't say much which makes them pissed off even more. One I talked to did day they got lucky Rodgers got hurt. But u said it perfectly. Thanks for being a great fan.
November 05, 2013 at 09:28 pm
Im truely sorry for your lost. The better team will find the way to win, no matter if they have their starting QB or not. No excuses, and step up like a man. Bears Down. Im a cowboys fan.
November 06, 2013 at 10:31 am
Our coverage unit in week 1 was terrible, our coverage unit is still terrible. They aren't helped out at all by the D's inability to pressure QBs. I know we have some sacks, pressures and hits, but our D doesn't 'scare' them into making mistakes. Once AR was out we lost our balanced attack and left a lot scoring opportunities on the field. This also meant that the D spent way more time on the field than usual. At the end everyone was tired and just unable to stop much of anything. One point I do want to make though: In each of our losses we have had the ball and a chance to score in the last moments of the game, we just didn't score. Thankfully our run D is still fantastic. I still believe this team will be competitive without AR at the helm. Despite being competitive I don't think we will win a single game that he doesn't play in this year.