Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears offense had an opportunity to interrupt a virtually four-year shedding streak to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.
Down by some extent late within the fourth quarter, the Bears have been marching downfield when Fields threw a go towards Equanimeous St. Brown. Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander was there as an alternative to make the interception on the 28-yard line.
The Packers takeaway adopted by a landing and two-point conversion on the following drive sealed their 28-19 comeback victory — their eighth straight win in opposition to the Bears, who final received a sport within the rivalry on Dec. 16, 2018.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby made a 32-yard discipline aim with 4 minutes, 49 seconds to play to offer the Packers a 20-19 lead.
Christian Watson ran for a 46-yard landing after Alexander’s interception, and Aaron Rodgers threw a two-point conversion go to Marcedes Lewis for the ultimate rating.
Rodgers, who was enjoying by way of thumb and ribs accidents, threw for 182 yards and a landing. A.J. Dillon ran for 93 yards and a landing.
Fields, who was making a return from a one-game absence due to a separated left shoulder, threw for a season-high 254 yards and ran for 71 yards and a landing. He threw a second interception to Keisean Nixon on a last-minute drive.
The Packers scored 18 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter.
They pulled inside 19-17 when Dillon ran for a 21-yard landing early within the fourth quarter. The Packers drive was helped by two Bears penalties — a 38-yard go interference penalty on Jaylon Jones and a holding penalty on Jaylon Johnson.
The Bears had an opportunity to reply, attending to the Packers 28-yard line on Fields’ 49-yard go to N’Keal Harry. But the Bears misplaced 2 yards on a Fields go to Montgomery, and Montgomery then ran for 7 and 1 yards on second and third down.
Cairo Santos’ 40-yard field-goal try was then tipped by Dean Lowry and fell quick.
Santos made a 28-yard discipline aim for the primary factors of the second half to place the Bears up 19-10. The Bears obtained to the Packers 9-yard line on Darrynton Evans’ 21-yard run. But a Teven Jenkins holding penalty and a 5-yard loss on a Montgomery run pushed the Bears again, they usually settled for Santos’ second discipline aim.
Here’s how the Week 13 sport unfolded.
Inactives introduced
The Bears secondary can be lacking a number of key gamers Sunday in opposition to the Packers.
Cornerbacks Kyler Gordon (concussion) and Kindle Vildor (ankle) and security Jaquan Brisker (concussion) are all inactive. Those absences are on high of security Eddie Jackson happening injured reserve this week with a Lisfranc damage in his foot.
Also inactive for the Bears are quarterback Tim Boyle, fullback Khari Blasingame and offensive linemen Ja’Tyre Carter and Larry Borom. Blasingame was dominated out with an sickness this morning.
For the Packers, left deal with David Bakhtiari, huge receiver Romeo Doubs, security Darnell Savage, linebacker Krys Barnes, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles and defensive lineman Jonathan Ford are inactive.
Halftime: Bears 16, Packers 10
Justin Fields didn’t seem like held again by his left shoulder damage within the first half in opposition to the Packers.
After lacking the Bears’ Week 12 sport with the shoulder damage, Fields returned to throw for 126 yards and run for 70 yards and a landing within the first half because the Bears took a 16-10 lead into halftime.
Fields broke for a 56-yard landing run on the Bears’ second drive of the sport for a 10-0 lead. First, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon missed a deal with. Fields then shot by way of a gap and simply outran Packers defenders Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Adrian Amos and De’Vondre Campbell to the top zone.
Kicker Cairo Santos made a 40-yard discipline aim on the Bears’ opening drive for a 3-0 lead.
The Bears confirmed they nonetheless have been prepared to run Fields on the opening drive. He had carries of 9, 1 and 6 yards. The latter got here on a damaged play on third-and-8, and the Bears turned to Santos.
Later within the first half, David Montgomery ran for a 7-yard landing for a 16-3 lead after Santos missed the extra-point try. That capped a two-play drive, with the landing arrange by Fields’ 56-yard go to Equanimeous St. Brown.
The Bears protection was robust on the Packers’ first three drives.
Safety DeAndre Houston-Carson had an enormous deal with for a loss, and linebacker Jack Sanborn had a third-down cease on the primary drive. The Packers obtained to the Bears 11-yard line on the second drive. But Sanborn had a deal with for a loss, Aaron Rodgers ran for six yards and Rodgers threw incomplete whereas underneath strain.
Kicker Mason Crosby then made a 24-yard discipline aim to chop the Bears result in 10-3.
The Packers obtained a takeaway when Bears huge receiver Chase Claypool fumbled after a 17-yard catch, and the Packers obtained the ball at their very own 40. But Rodgers threw incomplete on three straight performs to finish the drive. On the third play on fourth-and-8 from the 37, Houston-Carson defended Randall Cobb in the long run zone.
But late within the second quarter, Rodgers hit Christian Watson with a 14-yard landing go on fourth-and-4 to chop the Bears result in 16-10.
Claypool was injured on the play throughout which he fumbled. He limped off the sector on his personal and went into the damage tent. He later was seen working on the sideline.
History lesson
Except for 2 years — 1922 and 1982 — the Bears and Packers have performed one another each season since 1921.
They are the 2 oldest groups in steady operation within the National Football League with a rivalry spanning 203 video games, together with two playoff conferences. The Packers maintain a slight lead within the collection with 104 wins to the Bears’ 95, with six ties.
Here’s a glance again, decade by decade, at how the groups have fared and the highlights — and lowlights — of their matchups.
The Bears have began 20 quarterbacks for the reason that Packers since 1992. That quantity will tick as much as 21 if anybody apart from Fields begins Sunday. On the flip facet, simply three quarterbacks have began for the Packers in opposition to the Bears since ‘92 (Brett Favre began 32 video games. Rodgers has began 29).
Read extra eye-catching numbers earlier than the Week 13 matchup right here.
QB updates — on each side
Bears quarterback Justin Fields was restricted in apply Wednesday however returned in full Thursday and Friday as he continues to recuperate from a separated left shoulder.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is recovering from a proper thumb fracture from earlier within the season and a ribs damage that knocked him out of the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12.
The final time Rodgers performed at Soldier Field, he was yelling “I own you!” to bird-flipping Bears followers in a 24-14 Packers win. It was one in every of Rodgers’ 24 wins as a starter in opposition to the Bears with simply 5 losses. He has a 108.1 profession passer score within the rivalry, together with a 125-plus score in every of his final 5 video games in opposition to the Bears.
Fields stated Wednesday that it’s not about being 100% however having the ability to carry out as much as his requirements.
“There’s a few people in this league that are quote-unquote 100% (in Week 13),” Fields stated. “So I’m just going to go out there and if I feel like I can help my team win … and put points on the board, then I’m going to go out there and play.”
The Bears have misplaced 5 consecutive video games and eight of 9, however with solely 5 video games remaining, they’re working out of alternatives for Fields and the offense to make enhancements with a watch towards subsequent season.
The Bears averaged 29.5 factors in a five-game stretch by way of the Falcons loss when Fields was injured, so issues have been trending upward. The passing sport stays very a lot a piece in progress, however the working sport with Fields concerned has been dynamic and dominant.
Injury information
The Bears positioned Eddie Jackson on injured reserve, chopping quick a resurgent season from the sixth-year security.
Jackson suffered a noncontact left foot damage within the second quarter of a 31-10 loss to the Jets. On Mike White’s 54-yard landing go to Garrett Wilson, Jackson was backpedaling when he slipped with no person round him. He limped off the sector with out placing weight on his leg.
Jackson, who can be 29 in December, was having his most efficient season since 2018. He had 4 interceptions, six passes defended, two compelled fumbles and 80 tackles in 12 video games.
The Bears additionally positioned huge receiver Darnell Mooney, who wants season-ending ankle surgical procedure, on injured reserve.
His damage leaves the Bears with out one in every of their most vital gamers as they attempt to make strides of their still-quiet passing sport. The 2020 fifth-round pick of Tulane had 81 catches for 1,055 yards and 4 touchdowns final season. He had 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns this 12 months.
“When you lose the production of those guys, number one, that always hurts and also the leadership part of it,” coach Matt Eberflus stated of Jackson and Mooney. “Those guys have been great in the locker room. They are great teammates. They really are encouraging to others and they really model the behavior we wish to see.”
Cornerback Kyler Gordon and security Jaquan Brisker haven’t practiced the final two weeks whereas within the concussion protocol and are out for Sunday. With Jackson out, the Bears once more can be skinny at security, at which veteran DeAndre Houston-Carson and rookie Elijah Hicks will begin. Cornerback Kindle Vildor additionally has been was restricted this week by an ankle damage and is listed as questionable.
Right deal with Riley Reiff was restricted in practices Thursday and Friday as he recovers from a again damage. But Eberflus indicated that Reiff remains to be in line to start out Sunday. Fellow offensive deal with Larry Borom, in the meantime, missed each practices didn’t apply this week with ankle and knee accidents and has been declared out.
Wide receiver Dante Pettis, who missed two practices this week with an sickness, was again as a full participant Friday and is obvious to play.
For the Packers, left deal with David Bakhtiari underwent an appendectomy Friday and was dominated out for Sunday.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com