BLUE 1,026 Posted September 26, 2014 By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer (AP) -- Aaron Rodgers delivered a bitter ending to the Chicago Bears' 2013 season, but he returns to Soldier Field after one of the worst performances of his career. The Green Bay quarterback will seek to bounce back while denying the Bears a third consecutive victory and their first at home this season Sunday. It looked like the Packers might fall short of a fifth consecutive playoff berth in December when they faced fourth-and-8 from the Chicago's 48-yard line with 46 seconds left. Instead, Rodgers connected with a wide-open Randall Cobb for a touchdown to give Green Bay a 33-28 victory over its archrival and the NFC North title. Rodgers and the Packers have some early ground to make up after starting 1-2, and they were largely ineffective offensively in their 19-7 loss at Detroit last Sunday. Green Bay was held scoreless in the final three quarters and finished with 223 yards, its second-lowest total in the last six seasons. Rodgers had 162 for his second-fewest in any game that he's been healthy. The Packers also allowed a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown and a safety. "We haven't been a sharp offense. I haven't been as sharp," Rodgers said. "We've all got to do better." Rodgers will face a Bears defense that's dealt with a bevy of injuries but had enough depth to pull out a 27-19 win at the New York Jets on Monday night. Ryan Mundy returned an interception 45 yards for a score on the second play from scrimmage but was in and out of the game after suffering a stinger. Safety Chris Conte, who was burned by Cobb for that winning touchdown, also has an ailing shoulder. The Bears (2-1) played without defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion), linebacker Shea McClellin (hand) and veteran cornerback Charles Tillman, who is out for the season with a torn right triceps. "That's a credit to our coaches," Mundy said. "We get coached hard day in and day out. And we make sure that everyone is ready to play. "And I think that has been evident over the past two weeks." McClellin has been ruled out for this game and the statuses of Ratliff, Mundy and Conte are unknown. Coach Marc Trestman was "not optimistic" center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson could end their two-game absences due to ankle injuries, and fullback Tony Fiammetta has a hamstring injury. The Bears have lost seven of eight in the NFL's longest-running rivalry, including the NFC championship game in January 2011, but earned that lone win in Trestman's first matchup Nov. 4. Rodgers broke his collarbone on the opening drive of that 27-20 defeat on a sack by McClellin. He didn't return to action until the win at Soldier Field, throwing for 318 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Rodgers has averaged 282.0 yards while totaling 14 TDs and four interceptions in his last five full games against Chicago. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has 18 interceptions - seven more than against any other opponent - and 11 touchdowns in 10 career meetings with Green Bay, including the postseason. He missed last season's victory over the Packers because of a torn groin muscle. Like Green Bay, Chicago is trying to get its top rusher back on track. The Bears' Matt Forte has 54 yards in the last two games after running for 82 in their Week 1 loss to Buffalo, but he's second on the team with 19 receptions for 145 yards. Chicago has a league-low 192 yards on the ground and has been held to 106 in the last two games. Forte topped 100 yards in both meetings last season, totaling 235, and added nine catches for 101 yards. Green Bay's Eddie Lacy has 113 rushing yards this season after gaining 1,178 and winning the league's offensive rookie of the year award. Lacy had 216 yards in last season's two matchups, including 150 in the loss. The Packers haven't topped 80 yards on the ground in 2014 after reaching triple digits in all but four games last season. Green Bay has not started 0-3 on the road since dropping its first four there in 2005. The Packers haven't lost three in a row on the road in one season since Nov. 28-Dec. 19, 2010, but are seeking a fifth consecutive win in Chicago, including the NFC title game. The Bears haven't opened with back-to-back home defeats since an 0-3 start in 2004. Their last set of consecutive losses at Soldier Field came at the end of 2012. This game marks the return of former All-Pro Julius Peppers to Chicago, where he had 37 1/2 sacks from 2010-13. He has one this season, while his replacement Jared Allen has yet to record one for Chicago. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted September 27, 2014 One of the few rivalries better than Steelers-Ravens. I love watching these two teams go at it. I'll take the in this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted September 28, 2014 This is a must win game for Green Bay who has gotten off to an incredibly bad start. Being a division game, it can go either way but it's hard to choose Green Bay here with how they've been performing. Going with Chicago and I'm predicting that Kyle Fuller will make this his 3rd consecutive game with an interception. 31 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 28, 2014 Brandon Marshall (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 4 game against the Packers. Marshall didn't practice at all this week, but looked good in warmups and the Bears said they're treating the gameplan as if he's 100 percent. It's impossible to bench him in this matchup. Meanwhile, the Bears will surprisingly be without RE Jared Allen (illness). The rest of their inactives: DT Jay Ratliff (concussion), LB Shea McClellin (hand), CB Sherrick McManis (quad), C Matt Garza, LG Matt Slauson and OT Charles L Packers declared Jarrett Boykin (knee, groin) inactive for Sunday's Week 4 game at Chicago. Already trending down due to a poor start to the season, Boykin is now really in the dumps. It's a monster opportunity for talented rookie Davante Adams, who projects to play at least 70 percent of the snaps as Aaron Rodgers' No. 3 wideout. He's a WR3 with upside. Jeff Janis is also active for the first time in his career. The rest of the Packers' inactives: QB Scott Tolzien, CB Demetri Goodson, LB Carl Bradford, LB Brad Jones and C Garth Gerhart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted September 28, 2014 Rodgers clearly knew what he was talking about when he told everyone to relax. Having a typical Aaron Rodgers day and capitalizing on everything Cutler does wrong. Cutler really needs to clean up his game when he plays GB. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 28, 2014 They are who we thought they were!!!! Not very good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Packers Dynasty 2010 116 Posted September 28, 2014 Gotta love dominating the Bears in the 2nd half. Still concerned about the run game on both sides as Lacy had nowhere to go and Forte had plenty of space for the majority of the game. Shields was allowing some of the easier shorter passes but held his own against 2 great WRs. Rodgers looked great and dominated the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 28, 2014 Ya,... I am not sure what was more sickening... Our lack of a run game (yet again, but this time against a crap run defense) or how putrid we were stopping the run. Granted, Forte's success didn't really surprise me because we ran 5 or 6 DBs on the field most of the day, that plus our smaller Dline and there are going to be holes to be found.Nice to see Cobb get more involved. Nice to see Richard rodgers with a couple of nice catches. Wish we could have gone back to him a few more times throughout the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Turry 755 Posted September 28, 2014 A terrible depleted secondary just got carved not much of a surprise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
