January 3, 2011 in Sports

Packers do just enough

Win over Bears earns playoff berth
Chris Jenkins Associated Press
 
Tags:Chicago BearsfootballGreen Bay PackersNFLplayoffsprofessional football

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers are in the playoffs thanks to their 10-3 victory over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

As might be expected in a season that began with Super Bowl expectations but nearly was derailed by injuries and inconsistency, it wasn’t easy.

“I’m very proud of our football team, just what we’ve accomplished,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Nothing’s come easy for us, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Aaron Rodgers’ 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Lee gave the Packers the lead in the fourth quarter, and their defense did the rest. Nick Collins’ interception of Jay Cutler stopped the Bears on a late drive.

The Packers (10-6) will play at Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.

“Tonight was a struggle, but it’s nice to keep that momentum going,” Rodgers said. “We’ve won two in a row and now we’ve got to go (on the road). And we can’t have the kind of inconsistent performances we’ve had this year that have forced us to be the No. 6 seed.”

Needing a win to get into the postseason, the Packers trailed 3-0 at halftime and were tied going into the fourth quarter with the Bears (11-5) – a team that didn’t have anything to play for in terms of playoff seeding but still played its starters, just as Bears coach Lovie Smith promised he would all week.

“Knowing that we had the bye week we weren’t playing for a lot,” Smith said. “We just wanted to keep momentum going. “

Now that the Packers are in, Donald Driver believes they can be a dangerous playoff foe.

“Those guys told us during the game they didn’t want us in,” Driver said. “That tells you how much people are scared of us. They didn’t want to see us, and now they’ve got to see us.”

Packers 10, Bears 3

Chicago0300—3
Green Bay0037—10

Chi—FG Gould 30

GB—FG Crosby 23

GB—D.Lee 1 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick)

A—70,833.

ChiGB
First downs1314
Total Net Yards227284
Rushes-yards20-11023-60
Passing117224
Punt Returns2-355-50
Kickoff Returns2-312-47
Interceptions Ret.1-422-24
Comp-Att-Int21-39-219-28-1
Sacked-Yrds Lost6-512-5
Punts8-45.58-43.5
Fumbles-Lost0-02-1
Penalties-Yards6-464-30
Time of Poss.30:4029:20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Chicago, Forte 15-91, Taylor 3-11, Cutler 2-8. Green Bay, Rodgers 7-21, Starks 5-20, Jackson 7-19, Kuhn 4-0.

PASSING—Chicago, Cutler 21-39-2-168. Green Bay, Rodgers 19-28-1-229.

RECEIVING—Chicago, Forte 8-60, R.Davis 7-63, Olsen 5-29, Hester 1-16. Green Bay, Driver 5-41, Jennings 4-97, Nelson 2-39, Jackson 2-16, Starks 2-15, J.Jones 1-8, Kuhn 1-7, Quarless 1-5, D.Lee 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Get stories like this in a free daily email

Recent stories in Sports

Please keep it civil. Don't post comments that are obscene, defamatory, threatening, off-topic, an infringement of copyright or an invasion of privacy. Read our forum standards and community guidelines.

You must be logged in to post comments. Please log in here or click the comment box below for options.

comments powered by Disqus