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Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears - 12/09/01
Game Summary - Packers Win 17-7
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| WR Bill Schroder almost makes a spectacular TD catch |
It's an age-old rivalry and for the first time since 1963, both teams were playing for the division lead. Green Bay pounded out a 17-7 victory over Chicago to take over the front-runner position in the NFC Central race.
Last week it was Brett Favre who stole the show and today it was Ahman Green's turn. Green became the first running back since October of last season to gain 100 yards on the Bears defense. He mustered 125 yards on 29 carries scoring one touchdown. Green became the first Packers running back since John Brockington to record back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
"Our confidence is real strong in our running game," Green said. "The offensive line has been doing its job all year and it makes our jobs a lot easier."
On the opening possession, the Packers (9-3) drove 64 yards in nine plays on a drive culminating with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Antonio Freeman. Things were relatively quiet for the rest of the first quarter except for a muffed punt by Leon Johnson that he recovered for no gain.
The Packers flirted near the red zone in the second quarter, but Ryan Longwell hit the right upright on a 41-yard field goal attempt. He connected on a 27-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter.
The Bears (9-3) drove inside the Packers' 5-yard line as the second quarter ended, but Jim Miller overthrew wide receiver David Terrell on two straight fade patterns. Kicker Paul Edinger shanked a 23-yard attempt wide left as time expired to keep the Green Bay lead at 7-0.
The Bears opened the second half with a three-play, 55-yard drive that was buoyed by a pass interference call on a pass to Marty Booker. anthony Thomas rumbled 19-yards around left end to tie the score at 7.
Chicago twice started in Green Bay territory following the score, but was turned back without points by the stingy Packers defense.
"We had to go in there and recognize what we had to work with," defensive end Cletidus Hunt said. "We sort it out and put it in our head that we're going to stop them right here even though they already have good field position."
Working from their own 9-yard line, the Packers took 4:42 off the clock in a drive ending with Green's 19-yard touchdown scamper.
"I think every play in that drive was critical that moved the chains," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "I can't picture just one play that was the pivotal play. They're all pivotal when you're moving the length of the field. That was a 91-yard drive if I'm not mistaken right after they had scored so I think the pivotal thing was that we responded to the momentum change."
Two plays after taking the lead, safety Darren Sharper intercepted Miller's pass intended for Booker and returned it to midfield. That turnover led to 3 more points for the Packers and allowed them to bear down and run time off the clock when they had the ball in the fourth quarter.
The Packers defense, playing without two starters on the defensive line, held Thomas to 54 yards rushing and one score. The Michigan rookie was the only Bear to gain positive yardage with Miller accumulating -3 yards rushing and Johnson -1 on two attempts.
The defensive line was missing Gilbert Brown and John Thierry both out with injuries. Jim Flanigan and Hunt started in place of Brown and Thierry, respectively.
"We've had a good rotation going all year long," Flanigan said. "We've got a lot of depth. That's what you have to do at this time of year. When people get dinged up, you have to have people that can step in and not lose a step."
Neither team lit it up through the passing game with Green Bay getting the better end of the stick. Favre completed 15-of-27 for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Favre did set a new NFL record by posting his 10th consecutive season of 3,000 or more yards passing. Miller charted only 139 yards with one interception, going 18-of-33.
Green led the Packers with 49 yards receiving, while Bill Schroeder hauled in three passes for 34 yards. Freeman finished with two catches for 36 yards including the touchdown in the first quarter.
Wide receiver Dez White paced Chicago with five receptions for 48 yards. Tight end Fred Baxter caught five passes for 36 yards with Booker adding two receptions for 14 yards.
Green Bay did struggle on punt returns. Robert Ferguson was not activated for the game after sustaining an injury late in the week. Charles Lee and Sharper split return duties with Lee making two returns for a 1.0-yard average. Sharper fair caught one punt and did not make any returns.
Notes: The Packers now hold the first tiebreaker against the Bears having swept Chicago in the season series...Starting Linebacker Nate Wayne was forced to leave the game in the first quarter and did not return. He bruised his hip and will be further evaluated this week.
Packers-Bears archived complete game broadcast
(Real audio)
Post-Game / Locker Room audio Clips
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman (Realaudio)
Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell (Realaudio)
Special Teams Coach Frank Novak (Realaudio)
OT Earl Dotson (Realaudio)
DT Santana Dotson (Realaudio)
QB Brett Favre (Realaudio)
DT Jim Flanigan (Realaudio)
WR antonio Freeman (Realaudio)
RB ahman Green (Realaudio)
LB Bernardo Harris (Realaudio)
FB William Henderson (Realaudio)
CB/S Bhawoh Jue (Realaudio)
K Ryan Longwell (Realaudio)
WR Bill Schroeder (Realaudio)
S Darren Sharper (Realaudio)
OT Mark Tauscher (Realaudio)
LB Nate Wayne (Realaudio)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
GBP: A.Freeman 3 yard pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick)
2nd Quarter
No Score.
3rd Quarter
CHI: a.Thomas 19 yard run (P.Edinger kick)
GBP: A.Green 12 yard run (R.Longwell kick)
4th Quarter
GBP: R.Longwell 27 yard Field Goal
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