Chicago Bears defeat Green Bay Packers 20 to 17 - Fourth Quarter
In the first 3 quarters on Monday night’s competition between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears there was no clear leader. Granted the Packers had a 3 points lead but that didn’t count for much and they were about to
lose that lead early into the 4th.
The 3rd quarter ended with the Packers on their 5 yard line. Rodgers attempted a pass but that didn’t work out so the Packers took the punt. That would turn out to be a greater mistake thanks to Devin Hester’s 62 yards
touchdown punt return. Tim Masthay took the 57 yards punt.
Hester was quick as lightening. He caught the ball centre of the field as the Packers came up on him. Running back Korey Hall, linebacker Desmond Bishop and free safety Derrick Martin were coming at him strong and there were no
Bears to protect him against the three. Seeing fewer yellow jerseys on his right than his left, Hester took off. Brett Goode was the first Packer Hester would have to slip through. Brandon Chillar tried to cut off Hester’s path on the right but he lunged inwards
to evade him. The manoeuvre also put Hester in the sights of the approaching Packers. Goode and cornerback Charles Woodson were on Hester’s left and Chillar on his right. Hester sped through the middle of the three barely avoiding them.
He ran alongside the edge of the field and kept his distance from all Packers. When everyone else had failed Masthay himself tried to stop Hester before he got to the end zone. Masthay dived at Hester’s feet but Hester jumped over
him instead of tumbling to the ground and ran clear for touchdown.
The extra point was good and the Bears had taken the lead over the Packers.
The Packers came back with a touchdown of their own in the very next drive. In six flawless passes Rodgers brought Green Bay from its 26 yard line to Chicago’s 25 yard line. John Kuhn followed that up with an 18 yard run. Kuhn
covered good ground before he was stopped but he still didn’t go down quietly. Packers and Bears converged on Kuhn. The Packers pushed forward while the Bears tried to bring the huddle of men down finally succeeding at the 7 yard line.
One yard gain and a 3 yard penalty later the Packers were almost at in the end zone. Cutler ended the drive with a 3 yard scramble past the line. Cutler at first looked for a receiver but after finding no one he took to the right
only barely making it into the end zone before being pushed out of bounds. Crosby made the extra point attempt and it was good. Eight minutes and a drive after the Bears took the lead, the Packers took it back bring the score 17 – 14 in their favour. The Packers
wouldn’t score again in the game.
Chicago however would.
When Chicago regained possession again, it was the Packers penalties that lead the yardage. Even before the first play of the drive, the Packers gave away 15 yards for roughing the passer. An incomplete pass later, the Packers
helped the Bears again giving away another 15 yards this time for unnecessary roughness. Chicago made it to the Packers 29 yard line without a single completed pass or a rush. Cutler passed 24 of the 29 yards while Matt Forte lost two yards. Without taking
any chances, the Bears got into field goal formation and the attempt was good. The scores were level again with just 4 minutes of play remaining.
In the next drive, the turning point of the game, Rodgers threw a pass at James Jones but Jones fumbled it under heat from Brian Urlacher. Chicago’s cornerback Tim Jennings recovered the ball for no gain. Two minutes remained,
time enough for one more drive and it was Chicago’s turn. Cutler was aided by a 24 yard penalty for defensive pass interference. In the final minute the Bears charge slowed down. The Bears had 8 seconds left and were short just one yard from the end zone.
They took the field goal and it was good.
In the last seconds the Chicago Bears took a three points lead over the Green Bay Packers to win the game in a thrilling climax.
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