Packer Post -- Installment 55

Week5: October 17, 2007
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Deanna Favre is an honorary captain for National Breast Cancer awareness month.

RB-DeShawn Wynn starts the running game out hot with three rushes for 56 yards and an opening drive touchdown. NBC shows a stat that 21 quarterbacks have started for the Bears durng Brett Favre's 15 year tenure.

Bears go three and out..

Favre throws to WR-James Jones for 23-yards. Wynn leaves the game for cramping but is expected to return. Favre is sacked on first down but the Packers then drive down the field with a first down pass to TE-Donald Lee. Jones fumbles the pass and the Bears recover on their own 16, but go three and out.

Jones fumbles on the slant, but again the Bears aren't able to captialize.

* First Quarter: 7-0 ~ Packers *

Chicago converts their first, first down 17 minutes into the game. Bears put their first points on the board with a RB-Cedric Benson 10-yard touchdown run.

On a third and two, Favre passes to WR-Greg Jennings for a 41-yard touchdown. K-Mason Crosby closes the half with a 43-yard field goal.

* Second Quarter: 17-7 ~ Packers *

QB-Brian Griese connects with TE-Desmond Clark for 20-yards, but the Bears settle for a 44-yard K-Robbie Gould field goal.

Packers returner Tramon Williams returns the kick off for 65-yards. Wynn is back in the game and makes a 16-yard gain on a screen and then rushes for six-yards. Crosby kicks a 37-yard field goal.

A Favre pass intended for Jones is intercepted by LB-Brian Urlacher on the Green Bay 19. Griese hits the end zone, passing to TE-Greg Olsen for a 19-yard touchdown.

* Third Quarter: 20-17 ~ Packers *

Neither offense can put points on the board early in the fourth quarter. Griese propels the Bears to the lead with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Clark.

With a 1:58 left on clock, Favre tried to mount a comeback. Poor time management, short yardage gains and a interception deep downfield brought the Packers their first loss.

* Fourth Quarter: 20-27 ~ Bears *

Injuries
Tampa Bay RB-Cadillac Williams is out for the season with a knee injury.
San Francisco QB-Alex Smith out for 2-3 weeks with a separated shoulder.
Carolina QB-Jake Delhome out for the season with an arm injury that requires surgery.
St. Louis QB-Marc Bulger out with knee and rib injuries, with no indication of return.
New Orleans RB-Deuce McAllister is out for the season.
Miami QB-Trent Green has a concussion on low block on a defensive end on an interception return. He's placed on IR in Week 7--With a history of concussions his career in the NFL is in jeopardy.
Arizona QB-Matt Leinert is out with a broken collarbone, Week 6-back up QB-Kurt Warner injured.

Commentary
Good quarterbacks find a way to win, even if the team (or the quarterback himself) make mistakes. With the Bears former QB-Rex Grossman in the game everyone else needs to play perfect because he'll find a way to screw it up. The team gets that mentality and it's hard to break.

I've felt the same way when the Pack is losing--I will them to not make mistakes, because hwo are they going to get out of it if they do?

Dallas QB-Tony Romo plays like Brett Favre--he has fun playing. New England QB-Tom Brady dowsn't have that pure passion and joy. He throws a touchdown like how other people get a cup of coffee. It's a mundane experience, because it's happened before and it'll happen again.

ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd's Guarantees:
- Dallas scores
- Peyton Manning is great
- The Moss-Brady thing is working
- The rest of the league is up for grabs

So, why is it that when New England, (the former) St. Louis, Vikings (in the Moss Era) offense is pass-heavy, high powered and "the best show on turf" but without a running game no one makes a fuss about it? But the Packers or the Colts last year don't have a run game and they're one-dimensional?

The Packers run screens for short yardage which effectively operates as a run game moving the ball down the field. Wynn is getting bursts of yardage and improving by the carry, but he's not at the point where the Packers need to be to have a consistent rush attack. So why when you're pass game isn't hurting you, and even more, scoring points, why would you try to pound out the run when it's not working?