Green Bay Packers shrug off Chicago to reach the Super Bowl (Part 2)
The Green Bay Packers dominated the Chicago Bears through the first half of the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game this Sunday. The Bears were unable to score against the Packers, but allowed two touchdowns and were trailing 14-0 when the
third quarter began. Cutler had been able to complete just six passes in the first half and was intercepted once.
On the final play of the second quarter, Cutler threw a deep left pass to Johnny Knox, which was intercepted by Sam Shields giving the Packers possession in the third quarter.
Green Bay’s Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was intercepted for the second time in the third quarter. From Chicago’s 6-yard line, on 3rd and Goal, Rodgers tried to throw the ball towards Donald Driver. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher was stalking Rodgers and
waiting for him to throw the pass. He saw Driver cutting in from his left, ahead of cornerback Charles Tillman. He moved up a few steps anticipating a pass to Driver and intercepted Rodgers when he tried to make the pass. Urlacher ran the ball for 39 yards
and was stopped by Rodgers himself on Chicago’s 45-yard line.
Todd Collins then replaced the injured Cutler on offence after the Bears took back possession. Collins wasn’t able to complete a single pass in his four attempts. The Bears offence had possession four times in the third quarter. However, in the first three
possessions, the Bears weren’t able to complete a single pass. Cutler attempted once and Collins attempted four times. The first three possessions culminated in a total of just 14 yards gained by the Bears. Running back Matt Forte was responsible for all 14
of those yards.
The only yards for Chicago through the air came when third string quarterback Caleb Hanie replaced Collins. On his first play since week four of the 2010-11 regular season, Hanie connected with Forte for an 11 yard gain. The Bears continued that drive into
the fourth, and Hanie showed that it wasn’t the offence that was doing poorly, but just the quarterbacks.
Hanie scored the first touchdown for the Bears in his first series. He continued the drive from the third quarter and started the fourth on Chicago’s 48-yard line. Hanie passed eight yards to Forte and then rushed three yards himself for the first down.
Forte rushed 11 yards on the next play for the second down.
On 2nd and 13 from Green Bay’s 33-yard line, Hanie passed short right to Johnny Knox. The ball was caught on the 20-yard line while cornerback Tramon Williams was on Knox’s tail. Knox was able to get away from Williams and rushed towards the endzone.
However, he was pushed out of bounds by free safety Nick Collins, one yard short of the endzone.
On the next play, Chester Taylor forced his way through to the endzone for a one-yard touchdown; the first points for the Bears. Green Bay’s lead was cut in half with the extra point. Both sides’ defences picked up the game and didn’t allow significant gains
for either side in the next couple of possessions.
Six minutes after the first Bears touchdown, Hanie had possession on Chicago’s 10-yard line. Forte rushed two yards and Hanie passed three to take the Bears to the 15.
At the 15-yard line, Hanie was intercepted by Packers linebacker B.J. Raji. The pass was intended for Matt Forte who didn’t have any defensive backs on him. Raji pushed forward from the line of scrimmage, trying to put pressure on Hanie but then dropped
back and got in front of Forte for the interception. Raji carried the ball 18 yards into the endzone for touchdown before Hanie was able to knock the ball out of his hands. This was the first career touchdown for the 337 pound Raji.
Hanie bounced right back after the interception. He still had a little less than six minutes to do something about Green Bay’s 14-point lead. Starting on the 40-yard line, Hanie completed three consecutive passes for 25 yards, to take the Bears into Green
Bay’s half. From the 35, he threw a touchdown pass to Earl Bennett. Chicago now trailed by just seven points.
The Bears regained possession with less than three minutes of the final quarter still remaining on the clock. Hanie started on Chicago’s 29-yard line and led the Bears to Green Bay’s 29 in 11 plays. Hanie attempted to pass the ball nine times and was successful
on six occasions. From the 29-yard line, and with just 47 seconds remaining, the quarterback threw the ball to Johnny Knox but was intercepted by Sam Shields.
This was Sam’s second interception of the game and cemented Green Bay’s victory. Rodgers kneeled after the interception and the Packers won the NFC Championship, 21-14.
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