Packers fall to the Bears 26-0 (Yikes)
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Hoorah, Brett Favre is back. However, there was nothing to cheer about as the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 26-0 at Lambeau Field.
Favre spent much of the first half on the sideline as quarterback Rex Grossman led Chicago on several long drives. Grossman found wide receiver Bernard Berrian for a 49-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive. THis was the Bears' only offensive touchdown of the day, but Chicago continued to move the ball well enough to keep out of Favre's hands.
When Favre was in the game, he mostly handed it off until it was too late. Favre threw only five passes in the first half, completing all five for only 70 yards. The Packers opened up the offense in the second half, but Favre couldn't find the end zone and threw interceptions to Charles Tillman and Danieal Manning in the fourth quarter.
New Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't blame Favre. He was more concerned about his team's inability to convert on third down they were 1-for-11 or protect Favre. McCarthy said the Packers' two rookie guards, a major concern going into the season, performed acceptably in run blocking. But Favre was sacked three times including once when rookie guard Jason Spitz stepped on his foot.
Grossman has been limited by injuries to only seven regular-season starts in his previous three NFL seasons, but seems to have no problem outdueling Favre at Lambeau Field when healthy.
Grossman was 18-of-26 for 262 yards as he ran his career record to 3-0 at Lambeau Field.
On the Bears' sixth play from scrimmage, Grossman heaved a deep pass to Berrian, who caught it in stride and turned it into a 49-yard touchdown.
After the Packers went three-and-out with three straight running plays to Ahman Green, Grossman threw an interception to linebacker Nick Barnett on the next series.
Green, who is returning from a torn quardriceps last season, carried 20 times for 110 yards.
Grossman and the Bears kept moving the ball with downfield passing plays, setting up kicker Robbie Gould for four field goals.
The Packers offense reached Bears territory only twice in the first half. They turned the ball over on a failed quarterback sneak by Favre early in the second quarter, and the half ended on a missed 53-yard field goal attempt by Dave Rayner.
The Bears scored their second touchdown on an 84-yard punt return by Devin Hester, giving the Bears a 26-0 lead early in the fourth quarter. The loss ruined the debut of McCarthy, who said young players must learn from their mistakes.
Source
- Packers.com
Date
Sun 09/10/06, 6:11 pm EST
