Morning Buzz: The Bears are still inadequate
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers after their thrilling victory over the Chicago Bears, from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
As usual, Bob McGinn does a great job setting the scene and going over the main plot points of the Packers’ last game, and what it means going forward.
One deadly heave, one cold-blooded catch, one clutch kick.
From Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson to Mason Crosby, the Green Bay Packers sustained their playoff hopes in the final minute Sunday at icy Soldier Field with an enthralling 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Crosby’s 32-yard field goal as time expired was preceded by Rodgers’ thunderbolt of 60 yards through the 11-degree air (wind chill -4) on third and 11 when it was starting to look like the Packers were destined to blow a fourth-quarter lead of 27-10.
Instead, for the first time, the Packers control their post-season chances. Defeat Minnesota (7-7) Saturday at Lambeau Field and Detroit (9-5) Jan. 1 at Ford Field and Green Bay (8-6) would win the NFC North Division and reach the playoffs for the eighth straight year.
While the day fell into place the way the Packers needed it to, the Packers are still struggling to adjust to life without Sam Shields, all these weeks later, as illustrated by Pete Dougherty.
McCarthy and Rodgers have done well to finally find a way to move the ball and put up points with Lacy out for the season and James Starks both diminished and/or absent because of age and injury. It’s a big reason the Packers now control their playoff fate and have a real chance to do something in the postseason.
But making up for Shields has proven more elusive. Randall and Rollins are young players with ability, but whether they and Capers can help turn this into a special season for their team is very much an open question.
If the Packers weren’t having problems on the back end, they were having problems up front as their pass rush all but disappeared against the Bears. Tom Silverstein writes that the Packers can ill-afford to play defense the way they did against the Bears if they want to make any kind of meaningful run to and through the postseason.
Tom’s Insider column is also well worth your time. Its full of great tidbits and analysis.
Ryan Wood chronicles the dramatic 3rd and 11 heave from Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson.
Michael Cohen writes on how Ty Montgomery and Christine Michael were able to run all over the Bears defense.
I chatted with readers after the game via Facebook Live. You can see a replay below:
Be sure to check out our gallery for all the great shots our guys got throughout the game. Dan Powers got a fantastic post-game shot of Rodgers:
Elsewhere, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote on Rodgers adding another heroic late-game moment to his resume.
Speaking of that big play, Nelson knew he had it:
Is Nelson the Comeback Player of the Year? One of his teammates thinks so:
Good point from Wilde here on an unsung hero of yesterday’s game:
Brad Biggs took the Bears to task for playing it safe at the end:
Jake Ryan’s helmet was a little worse for wear following the game:
In fact, the cold made it a rough day for helmets all around:
Ty Montgomery turned a lot of heads with his performance yesterday. He caught one discerning eye in particular:
Montgomery was making fans with plays like this:
Christian Ringo’s celebration dance is not to be missed:
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix added another INT after this Tweet was published. Needless to say, the former Alabama safety is turning into a bit of a ballhawk.
The Packers could very well be the proverbial “team no one wants to face” heading into January: