Chicago, IL— The last time the Green Bay Packers (1-0) defeated the Chicago Bears (0-1) on the road scoring 10 or less points you’d have to date back to Oct. 1932. However, this year, 10 points was all Green Bay needed as they defeated Chicago by a final tally of 10-3.
The NFL’s longest rivalry kicked off the league’s 100th season. This was a game where you could see that the first string guys were trying to shake off the rust as many didn’t play during the preseason. However, Aaron Rodgers picked up his 17th win against the Bears and the Packers have now won won 16 of their last 19 regular-season meetings vs Chicago.
Packers Defense
Defense was the driving force for Green Bay, as well as, Chicago. You’d expect nothing less. The Packers did a good job on that side of the ball and it’s what got them this win.
Green Bay held the Bears to only three points. Now, that was much in large part due to Chicago shooting themselves in the foot with their own mistakes, however, it was also due to the fact that this Packers defense made things hard for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
One thing that the gold, green and white looked at and spent a lot of money on this off-season was trying to establish a good defensive attack. Money well spent.
Preston Smith, and Za’Darius Smith, did a great job getting to Trubisky, who was sacked five total times in this game and finished contest 26-for-45 for 288 yards and an interception. Green Bay also forced a lot of three-and-outs. In fact, the Bears went only 3-for-15 on third downs in the entire game.
Chicago found themselves punting the ball more than they moved the ball down field for potential scoring opportunities.
In addition, when Chicago had a potential at tying the game in the fourth quarter, the defense of their archrivals stepped up again and came up with a huge interception made by former Bears safety, Adrian Amos.
Now all this was huge because Rodgers, Mr. two-time MVP, wasn’t his best in tonight’s contest. He finished the game 18-for-30 for 203 yards and a touchdown to Jimmy Graham in the second quarter, which accounted for the game’s only touchdown.
Although, if Rodgers has games like this where he can only get 10 points on the board for your team, which is his second fewest point total in a win, yet the defense gets him through the game, you have to be excited about what this team can be when everything is clicking.
Terrible Mental Errors
Boos rained down from Solider Field by the Bears fans and it was very justifiable. There were a lot of mental errors from this team.
Chicago had 10 total penalties that added up to 107 total yards. That’s something you want to more or less see and try to fix during the preseason. Not during the opening game of the season.
A lot of these penalties were unnecessary (Illegal use of hands, holding, offensive pass interference, etc). Also, to rub salt in the wound, the Bears had a drive where they started at the 13 yard line, got to about the 43 and three straight penalties brought them all the way back where they put themselves in a punt it in a first-and-40 situation.
The Bears only saving grace in his ball game was because of their great defense — who sacked Rodgers five times as well. Chicago was very much in the game until that point. Yet, mental errors cost this team.
Chicago had 12 total drives this game, finished with eight punts, one field goal, an interception and two turnovers on downs.
Yet, you have to credit Packers punt man JK Scott who did a great job in getting the ball to where many of the Bears offensive drives started inside the 15 yard line. Making it very hard for the team to convert on anything in this game.
The Packers lead this rivalry vs the Bears all-time (98-95-6) and they will now host the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 15. On the other end, Chicago will travel to Denver to take on Joe Flacco and the Broncos on Sept. 15.
