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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Bears |
0 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
15 |
| Packers |
0 |
10 |
0 |
11 |
21 |
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Live Stats | Watch Game Online (NBC Sports) | Halftime Story | Game Photos
PACKERS-BEARS POST-GAME NOTES & QUOTES
PACKERS OPEN SEASON WITH WIN OVER BEARS
- Green Bay's 21-15 win over Chicago evens the teams' season-opening record at 10-10-1. The Bears hold a 90-81-6
advantage in regular-season play.
- The Packers extend their home opener record to 50-36-3 all-time and 3-1 under coach McCarthy. Green Bay's 50th victory
on Kickoff Weekend ties Chicago (also 50 victories) for the most all-time in season openers.
- The last time the Packers recorded four interceptions in a game was the 2006 regular-season finale at Chicago, when
they intercepted five passes.
- Green Bay did not have a turnover tonight, putting an end to the Bears' impressive takeaway streak. Chicago had registered
at least one takeaway in 25 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the league.
- The Packers improved to 5-0 all-time in prime-time openers. The previous four had all come on Monday Night
Football.
OTHER POSTGAME NOTES:
- Tonight's paid attendance was 70,920, the 278th consecutive sellout (262 regular season, 16 playoffs) at Lambeau
Field.
- Jordy Nelson took the opening kickoff 46 yards, longer than any kickoff return the Packers had in 2008.
- Nick Collins picked off his first pass of the season. For his career, it was his 12th interception.
- Donald Driver surpassed No. 3 Don Hutson (7,991) on the franchise's all-time receiving yards list. Driver now has
8,028 career receiving yards.
- Mason Crosby hit his seventh career field goal of 50 yards or more with his second quarter field goal (52 yards).
- Johnny Jolly's second-quarter interception was the first of his career.
- Prior to Chicago's second-quarter safety, Green Bay last allowed a safety at Minnesota on Nov. 9, 2008.
- Tramon William's 67-yard second quarter interception return was the longest of his career.
- Ryan Grant's 1-yard touchdown dash was his 13th career rushing touchdown and 14th overall.
- Brandon Chillar and Cullen Jenkins each recorded their first sack of the season.
- Greg Jennings' 50-yard touchdown catch was his 25th career touchdown catch and his 11th TD of at least 40 yards
in length. Long catches are nothing new to Jennings. Over the past two seasons (2007-08), he led all NFL players with
15 catches of 40-plus yards.
- The fourth quarter Rodgers-to-Jennings two-point conversion is the duo's second career. They converted last season on
Nov. 30, 2008 vs. Carolina.
- Al Harris' interception to seal the victory was the 20th of his career and 13th in a Green Bay uniform.
GREEN BAY PACKERS HEAD COACH MIKE McCARTHY:
(on come-from-behind win boosting Aaron Rodgers' confidence) "Winning boosts confidence for every member of our football team. No different for a quarterback. To have a two-minute win under his belt definitely just gives you gratification for the extra time that we put in, in the two minute drill. Actually we scored on a short yardage play situation, but we were in two minute offense so it definitely boosts his confidence."
(on what the Bears defense did to stymie the Packers offense) "I thought they did a very good job disrupting our front. That's something that we felt was going to be part of the plan. I thought Lovie called an aggressive game, which is really what he did in preseason. They went a little different coverage than he's done in the past on third downs, but I mean there was nothing we haven't seen. Actually we see it every day versus our defense. We just didn't handle our protection very well. We were in not in rhythm offensively, the long down and distances time and time again, unable to get into a balanced run-pass attack…for our offense we were playing uphill. So I thought they did a good job disrupting us up front. "
(on the difference of being able to get this win compared to struggling to win in these situations last season) "Well, frankly, we've talked about it time and time again. I think it starts with the identity of our football team. And our identity starts with our defense. To be plus four in the turnover ratio versus the Chicago Bears, that speaks volumes. That was our number one emphasis coming into the game and number two was special teams. And I thought our special teams played big tonight. I definitely felt that we won the battle on special teams and defense. Offensively, we definitely struggled and we need to get that cleaned up."
(on Rodgers' game-winning touchdown pass) "Well, we were in a short yardage situation that they actually played cover two coverage. But we felt it was an opportunity to get some protection off the full fake. It was an excellent route by Greg (Jennings) and Aaron did a great job with the throw. So, it was a big play opportunity that we felt was the time to take the shot and they did a great job executing it."
PACKERS KICKER MASON CROSBY:
(on missing a 49-yard field goal and making a 52-yard field goal) "It's nice getting that 50-plus in there after the preseason and stuff. I didn't hit those all day, it's one of those I just have to hit it smooth and make sure it goes through. I was looking up there for a sec(ond) though, hoping it wasn't going to come down to that miss I had earlier. But the offense, defense, everyone played so well, it was a great win. We got to build off of this and carry it on."
PACKERS CORNERBACK AL HARRIS:
(on the 3-4 defense and how it got off to a good start) "We won. That's all that matters. You know what I mean? Anything besides that, we really don't need to talk about. We won the game and that's what we were trying to do."
(on four interceptions, including his own) "That's what this defense is designed to do. Like I said, we won the game."
PACKERS WIDE RECIEVER GREG JENNINGS:
(on how it felt to win the opener in dramatic fashion) "It felt good man. It's frustrating, the performance we gave as an offense, I know guys are frustrated about that. But just to come out on top, anytime you come out on top against a division rival, it's huge. It's a huge win. It just shows that we're a complete team. We got tested out there on offense, and then the defense closed it out. That's what Mike (McCarthy) has been emphasizing, we're a defense-oriented football team. Defense first, and they shut it down for us today."
(on his 50-yard touchdown play) "It actually was a play action for Donald Lee on the other side. I just had the backside post. And for whatever reason, they played a man, cover-3 look, and I slipped (Nathan) Vasher inside and went up the seam."
(on the offense coming up with the big play at the end of a game) "It was a huge play, a huge play. We kept our poise, we stayed confident in one another and when it came down to it, we made the play. The line protected and that was a big thing. We hadn't protected well all night, but when it counted, when it came down to it, and we needed them the most, they showed up. That's what it's all about, finishing the game strong."
PACKERS CORNERBACK TRAMON WILLIAMS:
(on what he saw on his interception) "I saw the receivers coming up field, they had one who stopped and the other one was going to run a choice route off of us. So I was on the outside, and he ended up going inside. So he tried running inside and ‘Big' (Atari Bigby) was over the top and I just cut underneath that route. There was no need for me to be on top also, he (Jay Cutler) just put it on a rope and I was just going to get it."
(on if he thought he was going to get into the end zone on his interception return) "Yeah, I thought I was, but you know, I'm just glad I was able to help out the offense to get in the end zone."
(on if this defense is priding itself on creating turnovers) "Yes, that's what we did last year, we just didn't have much success at rushing. We're getting pressure and that makes it a lot easier. We're going out there getting pressure, and once the ball goes in the air, guys just got to go up and hawk it down. That's what we're taking pride in."
(on the defense closing out the game) "We knew we had to finish the game. We knew in all the close games last year, we didn't get them, we lost about seven games like that. I felt good about this game. It was such a big game. Not just because it went down to the wire, but because we won it on a situation that we wasn't able to win it last year. That was big."
CHICAGO BEARS HEAD COACH LOVIE SMITH:
(on the loss) "It is pretty simple what happened tonight. Anytime you have four turnovers you normally aren't going to win the football game, especially against a good Packers team."
(on the fourth quarter fake punt) "It was a mistake on our part. We thought they had 12 guys on the field. We shouldn't have done it. Our team didn't execute it the way it should have been done."
(on if Cutler was trying to make too much happen) "He was trying to make plays. Sometimes when you get off to a tough start and you have a couple of bad plays you want to make amends for it. We needed to make plays throughout. Jay will play better the next time out."
BEARS LINEBACKER LANCE BRIGGS:
(on the loss) "When you're ahead in the game in the fourth quarter with a chance to win, you have to keep them out of the end zone, and we didn't do that. It didn't really matter what else happened in that game, our offense gave us a chance to win and we didn't finish."
(on Brian Urlacher's injury) "It's always tough to have your leader go down. He knows the defense better than anybody and he communicates everything to everyone else. In football (injuries) can happen any day, and it happened today, so guys have to come up and have to play big."
BEARS QUARTERBACK JAY CUTLER:
(on the turnovers) "It was a rough first half. The three turnovers put the defense in a hole. They gave us a chance and we kind of bounced back, but ultimately the turnovers got us in the end."
(on his Chicago debut) "It is tough. I'm sure the city of Chicago is disappointed. I'm disappointed and we have 90 people in the locker room who are disappointed. It is tough, but we have 15 more to play and I think we will ultimately overcome this one and we will be fine."
(on why the offense didn't play better) "It's still a learning process. We haven't been together that long in game situations so we are still learning, but that is no excuse for what happened out there."
(on the Al Harris interception) "He is a good football player. He has been around a long time."
BEARS CORNERBACK NATHAN VASHER:
(on the Jennings touchdown) "It was a good route and I just kind of lost my footing a little bit. We have no room for error, especially on the back end. Today we had done a good job containing it. It's just really tough."
(on the close loss) "That's the way the NFL goes sometimes. Most games come down to a two-minute drill. That's something that we work on every week in practice – getting off the field and getting our offense back on the field."
**
SCORING SUMMARY & GAME NOTES
4th Qtr
GB 21, CHI 15
GB: Greg Jennings, 50 pass from Rodgers (Rodgers pass to Jennings), 1:11
5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:17
Key plays: A 7-yard pass to Jennings picked up a first down, and Rodgers scrambled for 9 before the long pass for the score.
CHI 15, GB 13
CHI: Robbie Gould, 21 field goal, 2:35
14 plays, 69 yards, TOP 7:35
Key plays: An illegal contact penalty on Al Harris wiped out a third-down incompletion and kept the drive alive for the Bears. On the next snap, Cutler hit Hester for a 23-yard gain. An 8-yard pass to fullback Jason McKie on third down moved the chains again. Forte moved the ball inside the 5 with five straight rushes before an incomplete pass on third-and-goal forced the field goal.
Injury update: Packers DE Johnny Jolly had the wind knocked out of him. His return is probable. Packers S Atari Bigby has a knee injury. His return is questionable. Bears TE Desmond Clark is out with a back injury.
GB 13, CHI 12
GB: Mason Crosby, 39 field goal, 10:10
4 plays, 9 yards, TOP 2:29
Key plays: A failed fake punt by the Bears gave the Packers the ball on the Chicago 30. A holding penalty on Josh Sitton wiped out a run for a first down by Rodgers, and the ensuing pass to Jennings came up 1 yard short of the first down.
Injury update: Packers S Nick Collins and Bears G Frank Omiyale have both returned to the game.
Injury update: Bears G Frank Omiyale has an ankle injury. His return is questionable.
3rd Qtr
CHI 12, GB 10
CHI: Robbie Gould, 47 field goal, 3:51
8 plays, 35 yards, TOP 4:44
Key plays: A 15-yard completion to Earl Bennett started the drive, and a 23-yard grab by Desmond Clark converted a third-and-2 and moved the ball into the red zone. Clark was hurt on the play but left under his own power. A sack by Cullen Jenkins pushed the Bears back, but Gould made the kick.
Injury update: Packers S Nick Collins has gone to the locker room with cramps. Bears LB Brian Urlacher is out with a wrist injury. Bears LB Pisa Tinoisamoa has left the game witih a knee injury, and Bears CB Trumaine McBride is also out with a knee injury.
GB 10, CHI 9
CHI: Devin Hester, 36 pass from Jay Cutler (Robbie Gould kick), 10:14
10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:46
Key plays: A 21-yard pass to Earl Bennett picked up a third-and-9, and a sneak by Cutler converted a fourth-and-short one snap before the TD pass.
**
End of half.
**
SCORING SUMMARY & GAME NOTES
2nd Qtr
GB 10, CHI 2
GB: Ryan Grant, 1 run (Crosby kick), 4:36
1 play, 1 yard, TOP :03
Key plays: Tramon Williams' interception and 67-yard return gave the Packers a first-and-goal on the Chicago 1.
GB 3, CHI 2
CHI: Safety, Danieal Manning sacked Aaron Rodgers in end zone, 5:52
Key plays: On third-and-13 from the Green Bay 11, Manning came untouched on a blitz and got Rodgers for the safety.
GB 3, CHI 0
GB: Mason Crosby, 52 field goal, 8:18
9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:56
Key plays: Consecutive completions to Donald Driver and Greg Jennings picked up first downs, and Ryan Grant broke off a 17-yard run. But a holding penalty on Jason Spitz stalled the drive, leading to the long field goal.
1st Qtr
No scoring.
***
The Packers won the coin toss and elected to receive.
Weather at kickoff:
Calm wind, 76 degrees.
Tonight's attendance: 70,920
**
PACKERS INACTIVES:
27 CB Will Blackmon
32 RB Brandon Jackson
33 CB Brandon Underwood
45 FB Quinn Johnson
59 LB Brad Jones
62 G/C Evan Dietrich-Smith
68 T Breno Giacomini
90 NT B.J. Raji
BEARS INACTIVES:
17 WR Juaquin Iglesias
19 WR Devin Aromashodu
30 CB D.J. Moore
36 S Josh Bullocks
60 G Lance Louis
75 DT Matt Toeaina
86 TE Michael Gaines
90 DT Jarron Gilbert
BEARS STARTING LINEUP CHANGES:
On defense, Charles Tillman (#33) starts at LCB for Trumaine McBride (#26). |
 | Badger Mutual Family of the Game
Seventh-graders in the state of Wisconsin are eligible to enter an essay contest to see their family named the Badger Mutual Insurance Family of the Game. Winners will receive four game tickets, pre-game VIP on-field passes, recognition on the video board during the game and much more. To enter, Wisconsin seventh-graders should write an essay of 500 words or less that tells "Why Education Is Important to Me." Print out a registration form on packers.com. |
|
 | Coldwell Banker "Take it to the House"
Two lucky couples will have a chance to win a house courtesy of Coldwell Banker during halftime at every home game. Visit one of Coldwell Banker's Open Houses to sign up!
"Take it to the House" TV Commercial - Real | Windows |
|
 | Crunch Time Catch
The Crunch Time Catch presented by Copps and Pick 'n Save gives two contestants the chance to show their skills catching punts. Both contestants will attempt to catch a thirty yard punt. If they succeed they move on to a sixty yard punt for the chance to win an Ariens® snow thrower or lawnmower. |
|
 | Kohl's Fan of the Game
Four randomly selected fans will be selected at every Packer home game to win Kohl's Gift Cards. |
|
 | Kraft Best Seats in the House Sweepstakes
Watch the game from the "Best Seats in the House". Winners and a guest will watch the game from recliners in the stands. The area will also include a color TV and a fully catered picnic lunch. Entry forms available at participating retailers. |
|
 | MasterCard Fan Photographer
All Associated Bank customers who make a signature-based transaction will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes. You and a guest will receive passes to be on the field for the Packers warm-up to take pictures that will be posted on Packers.com. |
|
 | Miller Lite End Zone
Watch for Miller promotions throughout the season for a chance to be part of this exciting section. |
|
 | Nicolet Water Boy/Girl Sweepstakes
Win a chance to be the Official Water Boy/Girl of the Green Bay Packers. Children between the ages of 8 and 14 may enter by sending in an official entry form available at participating retailers. |
|
 | Novartis "Blood Pressure Success Zone"
Stop by the Novartis "Blood Pressure Success Zone" located in the Atrium to have your blood pressure screened. While you are there be sure to pick up information on how you can be eligible to win Packers home game tickets, Packers Pro Shop gift cards and a trip for 2 to the Packers away game in Jacksonville!
To learn more about the program, visit www.packers.bpsuccesszone.com |
|
 | Operation Fan Mail
The Green Bay Packers and Festival Foods this season are recognizing military families separated by active duty with a new program, 'Operation Fan Mail.' The families will be recognized on the field during home pregame activities.
To choose families, the Packers and Festival Foods are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted. Essays can be sent to: Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628, or by clicking here. |
|
 | Shopko Kickoff Kid promotion
Packer fans 12 and under can win the opportunity of a lifetime: Packers Honorary Kickoff Kid! One lucky fan will be selected for each 2006 home game to run onto the field after the Packers first kickoff to retrieve the tee. Each winner will receive the opportunity to be on the field during pre-game warm-ups, four (4) game tickets for the winner and his/her family, and a Packers Goodie Bag. Visit participating Shopko stores for your chance to win! |
|
 | Verizon Jr. Captain
For every home game one lucky Packers fan between the ages of 7 and 14 is selected to be the Verizon Jr. Captain of the game and join the team captains on the field during the coin toss. Sign up at participating Verizon Wireless locations. verizonwireless.com |
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