Jacob
  • Jacob
  • Rookie Topic Starter
16 years ago
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-6-128/A-beatdown-at-Lambeau.html 


GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Tailback Ryan Grant turned the corner and was rumbling toward a mess of players near the goal line Sunday. The pile kept moving backward, and upon closer inspection there was a clear reason: Jordy Nelson, the Packers' rookie receiver, was driving Chicago cornerback Corey Graham backward with a block that would have made the great Packers lineman Jerry Kramer proud.

Graham wound up on his back at the 1-yard line -- a full 22 yards downfield from the line of scrimmage. If there was one visual that demonstrated how Green Bay overpowered the Bears in a 37-3 victory, it was the sight of a 217-pound receiver pancaking a cornerback known for his run support.

"Just part of our job as receivers," Nelson said afterward. Veteran Donald Driver, however, knew better.

"Our coaches told us we needed to have a swagger about ourselves today," Driver said. "We had to come in this week and prove it. Our job as receivers was to come in and block more than we had in previous games. I think we went out and did that."

The Packers didn't just beat the Bears, they beat them up. Nelson's block was only one in a series of physical mismatches Sunday. Green Bay's lines outmuscled the Bears, leading to a 117-yard differential in rushing production (200 to 83), and the its defense limited Chicago to nine first downs and 22 minutes, 32 seconds of possession.

The Bears played into Green Bay's hands by inexplicably pulling back on their run defense. But in the end "we just stunk it up," quarterback Kyle Orton said.

"When you get beat by 30 points," Orton added, "you don't have to look too far."

The Packers, for one, looked inward during practice last week after Minnesota manhandled their lines at the Metrodome. Coach Mike McCarthy elevated the intensity of practice, requiring players who typically rest chronic injuries to participate fully, and made clear he was expecting more fight from his team.

"We were challenged, as we should have been," center Scott Wells said. "We probably had our poorest performance last week and we had a solid performance today. We challenged ourselves. The team challenged us, and it worked out."

McCarthy did his share by calling 38 running plays versus 30 passes, the second-largest differential the Packers have achieved this season. Grant (145 yards) and backup Brandon Jackson (50) typically were 3 or 4 yards downfield before the first Bears defender touched them.

"This is November football and this is how you have to do it," McCarthy said. "There's no doubt about it."

Apparently, someone forgot to give the Bears a calendar. After shutting down Tennessee's vaunted running game last week, the Bears believed they could do the same against Green Bay -- even if they watered down their run defense to protect against the pass.

Coach Lovie Smith and defensive coordinator Bob Babich employed a three-man defensive line in certain situations, using linebacker Nick Roach near the line of scrimmage. But the gamble backfired, much to the delight of the Packers.

"To be honest," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, "I was a little surprised by the way they played us. ... I think they felt like their front seven was going to be able to stop us running the ball, [but] early on we established the line of scrimmage."

The Bears' postgame locker room was a surly place after absorbing the type of beatdown they have long applied to their opponents. Smith denied he had overlooked the Packers' running game -- "They just dominated us today -- period," he said. But safety Mike Brown sounded the alarm.

"[It's] perception and reality," Brown sad. "Our perception is that we have a good defense. The reality is we don't."

Brown, who has been speaking honestly about the defense's diminished state for two weeks, reiterated: "Our defense isn't what it used to be."

He added:

"Everyone wants it to be what it used to be, and it's not that. It's all about performance and we haven't been performing well. Wherever we're ranked that's where we deserve to be ranked. It is what it is. Once we come to grips that our defense isn't what it's supposed to be, we'll all be better off.

For the record, the Bears entered Week 11 with the 17th-ranked defense.

The collapse deprived the Bears of an opportunity to establish some distance with the rest of the division. A victory Sunday would have given the Bears a one-game lead over Minnesota and two games above the Packers. Instead, all three teams are 5-5 with six games remaining.

"Somebody has to emerge from the pack," Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson said. "Hopefully that will be us."

The Packers have as good of a chance as anyone, especially with the Bears reeling and the Vikings facing the possible imminent suspensions of their Pro Bowl defensive tackles. It seemed like an increasingly possible outcome Sunday, especially after watching the Packers throw the Bears all over the field.

Which brings us to another visual, one that puts a book-end on Nelson's block. (We started with an image. Why not finish with one?)

Late in the second quarter, Bears kick returner Devin Hester was knocked out of bounds after a 22-yard kickoff return. Hester ran full speed into Packers defensive tackle Colin Cole, who was standing on the sideline and wasn't involved in the play. The collision stopped Hester cold, knocking him to the ground so violently that officials flagged Cole for unnecessary roughness.

"He ran into me," Cole said. "He fell backwards. I don't know what they expect to happen. He's 185 pounds. I'm 325 pounds. You had a little guy running at me and coming to an abrupt halt. I guess it was a little too abrupt."

That's the kind of day it was for the Bears. They were the little guys. The Packers were the brick wall.

Kevin Seifert wrote:

Zero2Cool
16 years ago
Sorry dude, some jerk barely beat ya to the post.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (8h) : From what I'm reading, MM is under contract through the 14th of January; after that he's free game
Zero2Cool (9h) : McCarthy let go or not extended??
Mucky Tundra (9h) : Chicago Bears have asked the Dallas Cowboys permission to interview Mike McCarthy for head coaching vacancy
Zero2Cool (14h) : The winners page that is
Zero2Cool (14h) : I was not hoping for that. It messes up the page lol
beast (15h) : Thank you, and I was really opening we were going to get 4 or more tied for the top 3.
beast (15h) : Thank you, and I was really opening we were going to get 4 or more tied for the top 3.
beast (15h) : Thank you, and I was really opening we were going to get 4 or more tied for the top 3
Zero2Cool (15h) : congrats beast on 2024 !
Zero2Cool (15h) : congrats porky on winning 2023 pick'em! (oops sorry)
Zero2Cool (16h) : Packers have $60M+ of 2025 cap space on paper TODAY.
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : Missed FG into a Lions TD; that'll do pig, that'll do
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : That might be it for the Vikings
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : Oh so the refs do know what intentional grounding is
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : what the hell was that Goff?! Not much pressure and he just air mails it to Harrison
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : They really need to to get rid of the auto first down for illegal contact
Martha Careful (6-Jan) : watching the Vikings and Lions it's understandable why they swept the Packers. So much better product
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : Even when GB got pressure he was throwing darts; vs no pressure on that last pass he just air mails an open guy
Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : didn't have guys in his face ... pressure makes difference
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : Where was this Darnold vs GB?
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : BALL DON'T LIE
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : how was that not a safety? Goff throws it at an offensive lineman
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : Zero, I thought that was a given! ;)
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : Zero I looked through earlier and noticed the same thing. Bonkers year. I just wonder if beast put any money on games
Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : I'm hoping for BLOODBATH. Pummel one another.
Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : 8 people in pick'em would have won any year with their total lol
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : I'm rooting for the Lions to lose.
Mucky Tundra (6-Jan) : God help me but I'm rooting for the Vikings to...Vikings to...Christ I can't say it
Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : 4 td for Rodgers
Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : Chiefs got shutout
Zero2Cool (6-Jan) : Rodgers passes for 3rd TD. might be last game of an amazing career
Mucky Tundra (5-Jan) : "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."
Zero2Cool (5-Jan) : Owner ... love it
Zero2Cool (5-Jan) : Mayo was the guy they groomed for HC and one of the reasons they let Bill go.
Mucky Tundra (5-Jan) : Pats have the #4 pick, lots of cap space and Maye at QB; should fetch some attention
Mucky Tundra (5-Jan) : Well that didn't take long; Jerod Mayo out as Patriots HC
Zero2Cool (5-Jan) : I would expect it to be higher in favor of Eagles
Mucky Tundra (5-Jan) : Thst line seems...generous
Zero2Cool (5-Jan) : Eagles -3.5 over Packers in Wildcard Round
Mucky Tundra (5-Jan) : Did it though? Pokes beat the Commanders on the road with Cooper Rush previously
Zero2Cool (5-Jan) : That gives them their best chance
Mucky Tundra (5-Jan) : Cowboys starting Trey Lance at QB vs Commanders; GB vs Philly in the Wild Card incoming!
Mucky Tundra (4-Jan) : Stinks for Lloyd. Hoping he comes back strong for next year
Zero2Cool (3-Jan) : Packers placed Marshawn Lloyd on reserve non-football illness list
Zero2Cool (3-Jan) : Luke Getsy been helping Packers defense. He's former OC Bears/Raiders and our old QB coach
beast (2-Jan) : Thanks dfosterf, I'm still kicking myself for last week, as I forgot to change to pick Vikings and Lions... after putting in a holding spot.
Zero2Cool (2-Jan) : First alternate: Elgton Jenkins Other alternates: Jordan Love, Kenny Clark, Keisean Nixon, Tucker Kraft, Josh Myers, Jaire Alexander
Zero2Cool (2-Jan) : Pro Bowl still a thing? Guess Packers have three. Jacobs, Gary, McKinney.
dfosterf (2-Jan) : It's a mine field with all the players sitting, etc
dfosterf (2-Jan) : There was quite a bit of "chalk" matchups this year it seemed, but not this week coming up
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
6h / Fantasy Sports Talk / Zero2Cool

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

15h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

15h / Fantasy Sports Talk / Zero2Cool

17h / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

6-Jan / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-Jan / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-Jan / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

3-Jan / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

3-Jan / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

2-Jan / GameDay Threads / Zero2Cool

2-Jan / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.