Holding a 24-20 lead, the Chicago Bears took over on their 11-yard line with 9:48 left to play. The Green Bay Packers didn’t touch the ball again on offense until less than a minute to play in the game.
Matt Forte, Michael Bush and Josh McCown led the Bears’ offense on a masterful 18-play, 80-yard drive that spanned nearly nine minutes of game time to help Chicago earn a 27-20 victory over the Packers on Monday night.
The game-clinching drive for Chicago featured a gutsy call from Bears’ head coach Marc Trestman to go for it on 4th and inches at their own 32-yard line. Forte gained three yards to extend the drive and the Packers defense just couldn’t manage to force the Bears offense off the field. Robbie Gould’s 27-yard field goal gave the Bears a seven-point cushion.
Seneca Wallace, playing in place of an injured Aaron Rodgers, had 46 seconds to attempt a miracle comeback but was sacked twice on the Packers’ final possession as time expired.
McCown was efficient in relief of Chicago starter Jay Cutler. McCown completed 22 of 41 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears.
The Packers rushing attack and a surprise onside kick recovery helped keep Green Bay in the game as Wallace struggled in the passing game.
Trailing 17-10, Eddie Lacy broke free for a 56-yard gain down to the Chicago 1-yard line on the Packers first offensive snap of the third quarter. Lacy finished the deal on the next play to score the Packers’ second rushing touchdown of the night to tie the game. Lacy had a stellar performance for the Packers with 150 yards on 22 carries. James Starks also had six carries for 40 yards and a touchdown.
The Packers then pulled out a surprise onside kick to re-gain possession of the ball. Mason Crosby’s kick was lifted high into the air where Micah Hyde jarred the ball free from Blake Costanzo. Jamari Lattimore made his second major special teams contribution of the night for the Packers is recovering the loose ball. He also blocked a punt for the Packers in the first half.
Green Bay got lucky to be able to take the lead as a pass from Wallace went right through the hands of Bears’ linebacker James Anderson and into the waiting arms of James Jones deep in Bears’ territory. The Packers moved to the Bears 5-yard line but the drive stalled after two Wallace incompletions as Green Bay settled or a 23-yard field goal from Crosby to give them a 20-17 lead.
The Bears quickly responded to jump back on top. McCown connected with Alshon Jeffery for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Bears a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The more pressing matter for the Packers in the health of Rodgers, who left the game in the first quarter with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Packers’ guard T.J. Lang also left the game with a concussion.