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GAMEDAY Open Thread/Live Blog: Packers 21, Bears 13 FINAL | Week 15
More postgame coverage to follow.
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Inactives
Bears
LB Danny Trevathan
RT Bobby Massie
WR Taylor Gabriel
DL Roy Robertson-Harris
DE Abdullah Anderson
OL Corey Levin
TE Eric Saubert
Packers
WR Ryan Grant
RB Dexter Williams
CB Tony Brown
CB Ka'dar Hollman
OT Jared Veldheer
OT Yosh Nijman
LB B. J. Goodson
First Quarter
Complete blocking breakdown on return and Cordarrelle Patterson stopped at 18.
Trubisky to Cohen on the option route for 7 yards on first down. They need to do that to work on Blake Martinez, who is slow. Kenny Clark killed the Bears in the first game and gets a tackle for loss but Trubisky to Robertson gets the first down on third-down throw in hurry up. RPO run not going anywhere leaves Bears in second-and-9 and facing tough down and distance. Trubisky throws behind the line to J.P. Holtz and they lose yardage and face third-and-10. Trubisky has to scramble for 7 yards and the Bears must punt. Punt leaves Packers starting at their 30 after Patterson misses a tackle on punt return.
11:25: Packers start first drive and Marques Valdez-Scantling short-arms easy deep catch on first down. They split the zone coverage but got nothing. Akiem Hicks prevents the cutback on second-down run and its third-and-6. Packers get Adams matched up on Buster Skrine for the first down. Whenever they did that in the first game it was a potential reception. Skrine can't cover a big receiver in that fashion, just the slot receivers. Two incompletions and Rodgers tries picking on Skrine again, this time in the slot, but it's dropped and Packers punt.
8:59: Tarik Cohen's 14-yard burst up the middle on a punt return gets the Bears better field position than on first drive. They start at their 25. David Montgomery cuts back a run but the blocking looked like it had developed. They get only a yard.
Clark sacks trubisky. Goes right around Rashaad Coward. The Coward-Lucas line on the right side just doesn't instill confidence. Bears lose yardage on third-down completion and have to punt. They netted minus-9 yards. Packers fumble the punt and Patterson gets hit with a terrible penalty. Patterson waited until the ball was touched to make the hit, cause the fumble and officials still called interferring with the ability to make the catch. Green Bay starts at Bears 35 after penalty.
6:55: Two runs net 2 years and Packers are at Bears 33. Packers get a pass for 6 yards and face fourth-and-4. Hicks rushed on the pass from a standing position. He came out on the fourth-down play in obvious pain in his arm. They get Adams matched up in the slot again on Skrine and Rodgers throws a touchdown pass to him on fourth-and-four. Packers 7, Bears 0. Remeber officials error started the drive and made it so they only needed to go 35 yards.
If the Bears offense doesn't do something more than they've shown so far, that touchdown will be plenty to win it.
4:33: Bears continue to have problems with second-down runs. They wind up punting on three-and-out. Tried a no-huddle approach on third down with a run and the Packers stuffed it. They're running the wrong type of runs again. They need to go to the I formation like they did when they were effective. Instead, they've come out using the stagnant offensive approach with Trubisky standing in the pocket and the pocket not moving that they used in the first game with the Packers. This is going nowhere.
2:58: Skrine's confidence appears shot. They're picking on him again right asway for an 8-yard reception. Packers face third-and-inches at their own 34. Williams gets the first down and the Bears are playing without Hicks. That can't be a good sign. That elbow may not have been ready. Packers get another first-down catch and officials fail to call an obvious pick to get Skrine off the play. Hicks returned to the game. Green Bay gets away with blocking downfield from receivers on second straight play. Quarter ends. Packers 7, Bears 0
Second Quarter
15:00: Green Bay obviously is going to continue working Skrine, who hasn't been a real problem this year except on one long play against the Rams. His head is on a swivel out there now. Hard to blame him when he's getting illegally picked and they get away with it though. The touchdown was just a good pass play against bad Bears coverage, no pick on that one. Kevin Toliver in for Prince Amukamara breaks up a pass with his head. Rodgers might have had first down on a scramble but Nick Kwiatkoski could have made him pay. So Packers punt and the Bears get a break with a relatively poor punt of 28 yards to the 15.
14:41: Bears go back to Cohen for the third time and he drops it. This attack isn't going up the field, it's playing prevent offense like in the losing streak. A 6-yard Patterson catch gives them a shot on third-and-4 and Anthony Miller gets the first down on a slant to beat the blitz. Charles Leno Jr. too far downfield on a screen blocking and Bears start out first-and-15. Tarik Cohen drops a pass right to him earlier and then makes a beautiful one-handed catch on a short pass to get the Bears a 7-yard gain. David Montgomery runs up the middle and sets up third-and-5. Trubisky finds Riley Ridley for a 13-yard completion throwing back across this body. Another 1-yard run leaves them behind the sticks again on second-and-9 from the 46. Trubisky with a determined scramble, lowers his shoulder and drives into Blake Martinez and leaves Bears with third-and-2. Then Montgomery powers foward for the first down off right tackle at the Packers 44. Toss left to Patterson nets only a yard but Martinez is out of the game with an injury and now a timeout as he leaves.
8:38: Bears have pulled even in first downs now at four apiece on this drive from their own 15 to the Packers 43. Montgomery gains a couple yards on a draw and Bears face third-and-7 at the 41. Trubisky has Miller running the route Taylor Gabriel loves across the field but the ball is just barely overthrown. Bears gamble on fourth-and-7 and they try the deep pass they threw against Washington to Gabriel, but this to Miller. He catches it but is out of bounds and Packers have the ball at their own 41.
7:41: Amukamara back on the field but is burned by Adams for a 17-yard catch.
Jones gets 3 yards on a run off right tackle. Packers face third-and-6 at Bears 36 and Rodgers throws an interception right to Nick Kwiatkoski and he drops it. But he isn't known for his pass coverage. Pass was for Jimmy Graham who was well covered. Packers going for fourth-and-6. Kwiatkoski blitzes and hurries Rodgers into an incomplete pass. Defense dodges a bullet. Skrine had Adams jersey on throw, but it was underthrown and he wouldn't have had it. If challenged, it never would have went for DPI the way they call it now. Rodgers had to throw it with Kwiatkoski barreling in on him.
5:08: Bears start at own 36. Miller catches a 43-yard pass from Trubisky throwing back across the field but hurt his shoulder on the play. Bears at Packers 28 and Trubisky fakes the Packers out with a zone read and gets 9. Charles Leno with a great block on the run. Tarik Cohen runs around another Leno block for a first down. At Packer 16 and Trubisky holds the ball far too long. Rashaan Gary gets the coverage sack. The 2-minute warning. Second-and-16 from the Packers 22. Dump off to Montgomery gets back 10 and leaves third-and-5 for Trubisky at the 11. Trubisky blitzed into incompletion with a slot blitz. Jesper Horsted was double covered and should have been an interception. Eddy Pineiro boots a 39-yard field goal. Nice 74-yard drive, took some momentum and got the defense a rest. Packers 7, Bears 3.
1:45:
Bears special teams gives up a 45-yard return by overpursuing to the left. Packers in business with plenty of time.
Packers at 46. Second down deflected pass by Aaron Lynch, and Packers face third-and-4. Rodgers rolls and throws for the first down as Khalil Mack is held. NO call though. Green Bay at Bears 31. Packers letting clock run. They're at the 31 third-and-4. Leonard Floyd had the sack but Rodgers flipped it and it's going for a ground call because ball didn't get close to the line of scrimmage. Gonna be a fourth down. Floyd the Rodgers hunter strikes again. Packers are left with a fourth down at the 41 and the Bears elect to have the runoff of time. This will be a Hail Mary. Instead he throws for a first down but it's incomplete and they couldn't have stopped the clock anyway. Likely Bears just down the ball here at their own 41. You're not getting a Hail Mary to the end zone from there. They try it anyway and it only hurts Trubisky's passer rating as it ends in an interception. Packers 7, Bears 3
Trubisky 11 of 16 for 92 yards with a pick.
Third Quarter
15:00: Packers receiving the kickoff. Footing hasn't appeared really poor, as had been advertised, but pass rushers definitely appear to be slowed a bit trying to get off the ball.
Packers with another good return start at own 27.
Brent Urban with a nice stop on first down run for no gain. They gave him a yard. Good play action and Kyle Fuller falls, maybe footing isn't as good as we thought.
34 yard gain and then Rodgers takes a third-down run up the middle to the Bears 21. Jones breaks off a 21-yard touchdown run off left tackle. Kevin Pierre-Louis totally blown out early on the play Drive went 73 yards but the key play was the 34-yard pass to Davante Adams. Packers 14, Bears 3
Bears are really missing Roquan Smith and also Taylor Gabriel in this one. Two incompletions to Miller were plays Gabriel's better speed normally allows him to get to the ball. Big throw to Allen Robinson for 34 yards on sidelines, but could have had another 20 if he stayed in bounds. Bears at Packers 38. A 5-yard Montgomery run up the middle and Bears are back at the edge of scoring position, but only a 1-yard pickup on a wide receiver screen, the play that went for a TD of 14 yards last week. Trubisky takes a sack and now the Bears have fourth-and-6. And it's incomplete over the middle to Allen Robinson as Trubisky threw it a bit too soon off Robinson's break. Packers ball.
There's not enough of a downfield threat and not enough running game in the Bears offense to give the Packers problems. Other teams with more of either or both have completely shredded Green Bay's defense.
9:41: Green Bay facing third-and-4 and Mack isn't on the field. Gets a long pass of 49 yards to South Elgin, IL native Jake Kumerow on a cover-2 beater. Bears challenging something on the play, possibly out of bounds but he was nowhere near the sideline.
On the last two plays Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Skrine missed tackle attempts. Packers at the Bears 3 Jones scores on a 3-yard run and the Bears are looking at an insurmountable deficit. Packers 21, Bears 3
7:44: Trubisky not exactly a comeback quarterback. But Montgomery cuts up the middle for 8 yards. NIce run that only helps Packers because clock keeps running.
Trubisky throws incomplete over the middle and the Bears have to punt.
Solid hit in open field by Eddie Jackson limits Packers to 5 on bootleg pass that broke wide open. Packers face third-and-3 after a 2-yard run and Williams picks up 3 up the middle. Hicks grabbed him but had him with the bad left arm and couldn't stop the run entirely. Packers working on the clock but face third-and-8
A third-and-long 19-yard pass to Miller by Trubisky gets the Bears to the 41.
Bears have just about completed seven quarters against Green Bay this season without getting in the end zone. They have third-and-7 and Trubisky finds Robinson for a 22-yard pickup. Trubisky to Miller gets it to the Packers 13 against zone again. Quarter ends. Packers 21, Bears 3
Fourth Quarter
Bears accept the field goal to get within two scores rather than challenge a pass Patterson caught. It was so close they weren't getting it overturned anyway. Packers 21, Bears 6
13:58: Hicks hurt his left arm again making a good stop on a Jones run. He's playing with guts but might be better just staying on the sidelines now. Mack lined up in coverage and then blitzed Rodgers into an incompletion. That's one way to beat the double teams. Packers have to punt. Bears have 13:12 left to get 15 points.
13:12: Bears at 33 get a 9-yard wide receiver screen to Miller. Bears offense is very experienced at playing from way behind, after the Eagles and Saints games. They're trying it now. Second-and-10 after incompletion to Patterson. Trubisky drills it like a bullet in a tight area of coverage to Miller to the Packers 37. Trubisky throws on the run high to Cohen. Could have had more yards on the play running it himself because Cohen was well covered. Charles Leno moves for a false start penalty and its second-and-15. Packers pass rush has been contained but gets after Trubisky on second down and forces near interception. Bears third-and-15 at the Packers 41. Trubisky scrambles to the 34. But a holding call on the Packers gives the Bears new life. Anthony Miller was held all the way down the field by Tramon Williams. Bears facing third-and-7 at the Packers 25 after short pass to Cohen. Back shoulder throw to perfection by Trubisky and Robinson. Usually not something Trubisky does well but was exactly where it had to be. Bears at the Packers 10 first down. Bears haven't quit. Montgomery runs for 6 to the 4 up the middle and then for 2 more and the Bears are third-and-goal at the 2.
Trubisky flips it to Miller slanting in off the slot against man coverage and beats former Bears safety Adrian Amos for a touchdown. Pineiro makes PAT and its 21-13. Bears within striking distance. Packers 21, Bears 13
It's been a season of fighting back for the Bears, from a four-game losing streak. They still have fight left.
8:09: Hicks somehow is back and Eddie Jackson blitzes and Hicks teams up with him to force incompletion on first down. Holding call on the Packers on a run puts Green Bay in a big hole. Another incompletion, Fuller nearly picked it off as it fell out of the arms of Adams. Packers face third-and-20.
Rodgers tried scrambling and fumbles. But replay shows it came out after his elbow hit the ground. The Bears had recovered it. Punt coming from the Packer 22. Bears get six more seconds back on the clock after the replay to 7:28. Short punt and fair catch. Bears at their 40 going for the tie.
7:20: Miller gets 6 on a screen, is over 100 yards on the day. Dean Lowery picks off Trubisky at the line of scrimmage and Packers have it at the Bears 32. Great catch bobbling it after hitting it like a volleyball. Blitz and Kwiatkoski sacks Rodgers out of field goal range on third-and-4. Packers have to punt. Bears dodged a huge bullet. All effort by Kwiatkoski as he ran right over the running back who was blocking.
Punt downed at the 5. Bears have to go 95 yards in 4:05.
Incomplete to Robinson. A run by Cohen nets only 2 yards and Bears face third-and-8. Trubisky has to go sidearm and back across the field to Allen Robinson for 13. Cohen takes a short throw for 15. Cohen gets 7 yards over the middle and clock is at 2:24 the ball at the 43. Cohen breaks a run for a first down and the Packers are flagged for something but the ref picks it up and you can't hear his announcement. Mic froze. Bears at midfield with 2:00 left.
Second-and-10 after an incompletion deep along sideline to Robinson.
Trubisky throws over the middle after bobbling the snap. Incomplete. No one open and he throws it away. Fourth-and-10 and Bears are against the way. Incomplete with no one open as Trubisky scrambles and throws. Packers ball. Bears have only two timeouts left. That challenge along the sidelines that was pretty wasteful because Jake Kumerow obviously hadn't stepped out is coming back to bite them now. They must be looking for DPI but it wasn't enough for a penalty. He was all over Robinson's back but he couldn't have caught it.
Booth review. It was ruled incomplete. Officials could have called illegal contact or holding during the play but didn't. Two runs, two timeouts and Bears are out of timeouts. Eddie Goldman comes out with some sort of arm or hand or maybe a neck stinger. Hard to tell. Rodgers tries to run a naked boot but Bears smelled it coming and he slid to keep the clock running. Bears will get the ball back with about 35 seconds remaining.
:36: Bears get it out to the 35 with 20 seconds left and throws for 22 yards to Green Bay 43 with 14 seconds left. Trubisky to Horsted for 9 with :09 left. Bears at the 34. Riley Ridley nearly catches deflected last-gasp throw by Trubisky. But still 1 second left. Trubisky gets another Hail Mary try. Instead they try a hook and ladder type play to Cohen and the ball ends up inside the Packers 7. Horsted couldn't lateral it at the end. Cohen was behind him uncovered but couldn't get it to him.
Final Packers 21 Bears 13
