Following the Packer vs Cardinals Possessions

 One of my main methods of breaking down the game is the possession charts.  Here they are:

A simple comparison:

     Packers 10 Possessions - 3 Punts, 3 TD's, 1 FG, 1 Downs, 1 End of Half & 1 End of Game

     Cardinals 8 Possessions - 3 Punts, 3 TD's, 2 Interceptions

The first obvious deciding factor, TWO Cardinal drives end in interceptions & 1 Drive never started because of a fumbled Punt!  Packers NO TURNOVERS!

And the drives Total Time - Packers 37:25 & Cards 22:25 - Hey Folks, that an entire NFL quarter - 15 minutes!!!!!

Now, players that made a difference on offensive drives?

1 - AJ Dillon - WOW - some physical runs!

2 - Wide receiver - Winfree, just up from the Practice Squad!  Nice job!!

3 - Again, offensive Line, without TWO starters!  AGAIN!!

4 - Oh, and Aaron Rodgers

Players on defense

1 - Our new cornerback, Douglas, interception to seal the game!!

2 - Our inside linebacker - Campbell, still FLYING around the field!

3 - Rookie Cornerback, Stokes, still hanging tough!

4 - How about defensive tackle Dean Lowry, another solid game!

And, last BUT not least, our new Punter - Corey Bojorquez!  SOLID!

Packers over Cardinals, How Was Your Heart Rate?

 If you have been following the Packers for a long time, there have been some games that will make your heart stop!  As mentioned in earlier posts, we have had TWO quarterbacks for the past 29 years, Rodgers & Favre and both have been fun to watch!  Last nights game was another in the long list of Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

So, first the finish!

*  Packers have the ball with less than 5 minutes, first and goal from the 1!  Winning 24-21, a TD ices it!!!  Guess what - 1st & Goal from the one & NO SCORE!!!!!

*  Cardinals have the ball on their one!  99 yards to go!  No problem??  Uh Oh!  Cardinals go over 90 yards with 12 seconds left - Cardinal QB throws and interception!  Our newly acquired corner, Douglas comes up BIG! (Could Kevin King have pulled this off????)

So, the Packers are 7 wins & 1 loss.  And, the injuries and COVID and football continues!!!!

Who will be the next HERO??????

The Ups & Downs of the NFL!

 Well a lot has happened since my last post!  

1 - Packers take care of business with a win over the Redskins 24-14

2 - COVID is still a part of the NFL game plan!

3 - Adversity is a weekly part of every NFL team!

4 - Thursday Night Football is STUPID & GREEDY!

First, #1 - the Packers over the Redskins, SORRY the Washington Football Team!  More and more this season is reminding me of the Packers last Super Bowl Season!  Not pretty, survive from week to week, and just win!  Injuries continue to make life interesting!  And, for all the "CRAP" that Rodgers gave the Packer Management, they are going out and picking up the pieces to survive 2021!  A few points of interest.  The Packers offensive line continues to impress!  With Bakhtiari & Myers, continued shuffling, the line continues to make it work!  The Washington defensive strength, defensive was neutralized!  The Packers defense fills the injury holes!  No Z Smith, no Alexander, two all pros & the defense holds up under the weekly grind!  

#2 - COVID - No Davante Adams, No Allan Lazard, no Defensive Coordinator.  This is just part of the landscape!  Accept it, next man up, and under Matt LaFleur, the Packers are 6 wins & 0 losses without Adams!

#3 - All teams have injuries, all teams have COVID issues, all teams are NOT perfect.  The survivors win!

#4 - The NFL continues to experiment with the season schedule & go for the $$$$$$$!  Games, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and at times Saturday is NOT smart! Games in London, entering Europe, crazy.  It produces money, but at what expense!  I predict, in the end, this will destroy the game as we know it!

All in all, the Packers continue to be successful.  Will this season be special?  Maybe it already is!

Packers vs Redskins, a "Trap Game"!

 Whenever a team "SHOULD" win, is when they "DO NOT" win!  This is one of those games, that is always dangerous in the NFL Schedule!  What I would like to see this Sunday?

1 - A balanced offense!  Running game continue to use Jones & Dillion and DO NOT abandon the run game early!  150 yards would be nice with two TD's!

2 - Passing Game - get Tonyan involved!  Lazard & Cobb!  Our running backs!  And, how about our rookie, Amari Rodgers!  Spread the wealth!  30 yards, two TD's!

3 - Packers Run Defense.  Lowry & Clark continue to have good season!  The play of Campbell has been great - KEEP flying around the field!  Newcomer Jaylon Smith!  Make some BIG plays!!  Hold the Washington team under 100 rush yards!

4 - Packers Pass Defense - this has been interesting, injuries have MADE it interesting!  Stokes, as a rookie has played well.  King is back, is that a GOOD thing??  Newcomer, Douglas, continue to help!  Will Black be needed to fill in for Savage??? (Concussion Protocol)

5 - Special Teams??  NO long returns given up!  And, when will we see a Packer Kick or Punt Return for a TD??  In fact, Packer Fans, when was the last time the Packers returned a kick or punt for a TD?????

So, score prediction??

Packers 31 - Redskins 13

Packers Over Bears, Never Gets Old!

 Yes, The 203rd Packer - Bears Game is in the books!  A 24-14 win.  Packers record stands at 5 wins and 1 loss.  The Packers are two games up on the Bears & Vikings in their division.  The 2021 Packers are in control of their own destiny. "Just win baby!"

As a Packer Fan out there, enjoy the moment!  Smile!  Have a beer!  Remember, some fans that have not enjoyed a Favre or a Rodgers, or even a Starr!  Some NFL fans, do not have a Super Bowl.  Some NFL fans, have NEVER been to Lambeau Field!  Or Green Bay!!!  

So, enjoy the moment Packer Fans!

Go Pack Go!

Packers vs Bears, 2021 Version?

 If you are a football fan, you should study your football history!  The Bears & Packers are a major part of the NFL history!  So, some major moments over the past 100 years?

-  Bears were founded in 1919, as the Decatur Staleys

-  Packers joined the NFL in 1921

-  Rivalry began in 1921, 

-  Soldier opened in 1924, Bears did not call it home till 1971

-  Lambeau Field opened in 1957

-  Two teams have won a total of 22 NFL Championships, Packer 13 & Bears 9

-  Two teams have won 5 Super Bowls, Packers 4 & Bears 1

-  The 202 game series stands at 101 Packer wins, 95 Bear wins and 6 ties

-  People, Curly Lambeau(Packers), George Halas(Bears), Vince Lombardi(Packers).......

And, from Wikipedia:

1920s–1950s

• Bears 20, Packers 0 (November 27, 1921) – The two organizations played for the first time in 1921 at Chicago, when the Bears were nicknamed the Chicago Staleys. Bears' Gaylord "Pete" Stinchcomb scored the game's first touchdown on a 45-yard run. The Bears shut out the Packers 20–0 in their first meeting, and the rivalry was born. A year later, the Staleys changed their team name to the Bears.
• Bears 3, Packers 0 (November 23, 1924) – The Bears–Packers rivalry can be credited for the first ever ejection of players for fighting during an NFL game. The Bears' Frank Hanny and Packers' Tillie Voss were ejected before the end of the first half as verbal exchanges led to punches being thrown. Two years later, Hanny was ejected once again in a game versus Green Bay.^[2]
• Packers 7, Bears 0 (September 28, 1930) – The Packers shut out the Bears for the fifth consecutive game in this contest which is the longest such streak in the series. The streak began in 1928 when the Packers defeated the Bears 6–0 on December 9 of that season.^[3] In 1929, the Packers shut out the Bears three times, 23–0, 14–0, and 25–0 en route to their first NFL championship.^[4][5] On November 9, the Bears finally scored on the Packers although they came up short in the final score 13–12.^[6] The Packers then went on to win their second consecutive NFL title that season.^[7]
• Packers 16, Bears 14 (November 2, 1941) – The Bears came into the game undefeated and seemingly invincible. Over their first five games, they defeated their rivals by an unprecedented 157 points.^[8] However, the Packers upset them in this game which was the Bears lone defeat that season. The Associated Press wrote of the game that the "Chicago Bears myth is broken".^[9] Chicago fans made accusations that the game had been fixed,^[10] and it was suggested that the Packers had employed a "secret" defensive scheme.^[11] The Packers had built a 16–0 lead through the first three quarters of play before the Bears mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter coming up just short of a win.^[12]
• Bears 33, Packers 14 (December 14, 1941) – In the first playoff meeting between the two rivals, the Bears defeated the Packers 33–14 in a one-game-playoff to determine the Western Division championship. After the Packers, the Bears defeated the New York Giants en route to their fourth NFL Championship. Until the 2010 post-season, this remained the only playoff meeting between the teams.
• Bears 52, Packers 31 (November 6, 1955) – The Bears and Packers played the highest-scoring game of their series at Soldier Field in the 1955 season. The Bears created a huge 45–3 lead, but the Packers were able to score 28 points in the fourth quarter; by the game's end, the Bears beat the Packers 52–31, with the two teams combining for 83 points. This was also the last game that George Halas coached the Bears in against the Packers until 1958 due to a temporary break from coaching.
• Packers 21, Bears 17 (September 29, 1957) – The Packers hosted the Bears in the inaugural game of their brand new stadium, initially called New City Stadium (later changed to Lambeau Field in 1965). Among the attendees to the game included NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, United States Vice President Richard Nixon, actor James Arness, and Miss America 1958, Marilyn Van Derbur. Playing behind several times during the game, the Packers finally were able to gain the lead in the 4th quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Babe Parilli to Gary Knafelc for the winning points.
• Packers 9, Bears 6 (September 27, 1959) – In the debut game of new Packers head coach, Vince Lombardi, the Packers fell behind the Bears 6–0, until Jim Taylor scored on a 5-yard touchdown run, giving the Packers the lead. Dave Hanner followed the touchdown with a safety, sacking Bears quarterback Ed Brown in the Bears' endzone to cap off the victory. The Packers celebrated their first win under their new coach by carrying him on their shoulders after the game.

1960s–1970s

• Packers 31, Bears 28 (November 12, 1961) – The Packers built up an impressive 31–7 lead in the game, but the Bears made a furious comeback with three unanswered touchdowns to make the score 31–28. Still, the Packers were able to win the game; they would go on to win the NFL Championship that year against the New York Giants.
• Packers 49, Bears 0 (September 30, 1962) – Vince Lombardi's Packers shutout George Halas' Bears, 49–0 at City Stadium, the Packers largest margin of victory in the rivalry. The team repeated that score against the Philadelphia Eagles six weeks later on Nov 11, 1962. The games remain a Packers team record for most points in a shutout victory. After again defeating the Bears later in the season, this time by a score of 38–7, the Packers won their 8th NFL championship. Motivated by the two humiliating losses to the Packers, Halas spent the off-season focusing on beating the Packers.
• Bears 26, Packers 7 (November 17, 1963) – The Bears and Packers, both with 8–1 records, met at Wrigley Field to play for first place in the Western Conference. Chicago, behind a dominant defense, got a 26–0 lead and held on to win 26–7, completing a sweep of the Packers in the 1963 season and handling Green Bay only two losses of the season. The Bears finished the season with an NFL championship victory over the New York Giants once again, claiming their 8th NFL Championship.
• Packers 23, Bears 12 (September 13, 1964) – Remembered as the "Free Kick Game" because the Packers invoked the surprising "Fair catch kick rule", which allows for a place or drop kick field goal attempt from the spot of a fair catch. Elijah Pitts fair caught a Bears punt on the Bears' 48-yard-line just before the end of the first half. Packers' coach Vince Lombardi opted to attempt a free kick. Confusion ensued as neither team had ever so much as even practiced a free kick. The Packers lined up at the line of scrimmage with Bart Starr holding for Paul Hornung. Hornung made the 52-yard field goal as the first half ended. The Packers stunned all in attendance with the kick, and won the game 23–12.
• Bears 13, Packers 10 (November 3, 1968) – The Bears got their revenge on the Packers, beating them 13–10 on a fair catch free kick by Mac Percival at the 43-yard line after a Packers punt with :26 left in the game. Percival kicked a game-winner the week before against the Minnesota Vikings.^[13]

1980s

• Packers 12, Bears 6 (September 7, 1980) – With the score tied 6–6 and the game in overtime, Packers kicker Chester Marcol was called in to attempt a game-winning field goal. The Bears' Alan Page managed to break through and block the field goal, with the football hitting his helmet. The ball rebounded to Marcol, and, carrying the ball, he crossed the goal line to score the winning touchdown for the Packers.
• Bears 61, Packers 7^[14] (December 7, 1980) – In the game, the Bears scored eight offensive touchdowns. After the Packers had suffered the second-most lopsided defeat in their history, Bart Starr charged across the field to confront Bears coach Neill Armstrong. Starr was upset because Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan had the Bears blitzing from all angles in the fourth quarter, even after the Packers inserted backup quarterback David Whitehurst with the score 48–7.^[15] "Bart Starr was upset," Armstrong said after the game. "He did the talking and I did the listening. He said he'd rather not hear what I had to say, something to that effect, and he left." Two years later, Bill Tobin, the Bears' vice president of player personnel at the time, revealed that he had been instructed by general manager Jim Finks during the off-season to study film and decode the Packers' signal system for relaying plays to the quarterback. Tobin, who had been in the Packers' front office during the Devine years, had been fired by Starr in 1975 as part of a wholesale housecleaning. "I went at it like a tiger does good meat," Tobin said at the time. "We wanted 100 points," defensive end Dan Hampton said. "It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of pricks."
• Bears 23, Packers 7 (October 21, 1985) – The world was introduced to rookie defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry on Monday Night Football.^[16] In goal line situations, Bears head coach Mike Ditka used Perry, who weighed roughly 300 lbs. in the fullback position. Twice, Perry led the way for Bears legend Walter Payton on two- and one-yard touchdown runs. In the second quarter, "the Fridge" was given the ball and plunged into the end zone for one of the heaviest touchdowns in NFL history. The Bears won 23–7, and "The Fridge" was born.
• Bears 16, Packers 10 (November 10, 1985) – Before the game, the Packers placed horse manure in the Bears locker room.^[16] Two weeks after the Monday Night Game, tempers reached a boiling point in the rivalry. Packers cornerback Mark Lee was ejected after he and Bears running back Walter Payton went flying over a bench in the first quarter.^[17] A few minutes later, Packers safety Ken Stills was flagged for leveling Matt Suhey, Payton's backfield mate, well after the whistle.
• Bears 12, Packers 10 (November 23, 1986) – In Week 12 of the 1986 season Green Bay defensive tackle Charles Martin wore a towel with a hit list of specific Bears numbers written on it, such as No. 34 Walter Payton, No. 9 Jim McMahon, and others.^[18] Following a McMahon interception Martin came up from behind and body slammed him to the turf,^[17] separating McMahon's shoulder, ending the quarterback's season. Martin was suspended for two games, at the time the longest suspension in NFL history.^[19]
• Packers 14, Bears 13 (November 6, 1989) – This became known as the "Instant Replay Game".^[20] Packers quarterback Don Majkowski led the Packers to a comeback with an apparent game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. The play was called a touchdown, but line judge Jim Quirk had called a penalty on Majkowski for being beyond the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass. A nervous and tense crowd at Lambeau Field waited as the call went up to the instant replay official. Several minutes later, the call came down and the touchdown was awarded as recorded by instant replay, providing the Packers their first victory over the Bears since 1984. This led to a change in the "illegal forward pass" rule which defined when to consider a passer past the line of scrimmage.^{[citation needed]} The rule used to be judged by the position of the ball instead of the passer's feet. Bears coach Mike Ditka ordered that an asterisk be placed next to the result in all team publications.

1990s

• Packers 33, Bears 6 (October 31, 1994) – Playing with a severely bruised hip in a driving rainstorm at Soldier Field on Halloween Night, Brett Favre rushes for a career-high 58 yards – including a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter when he leaped over a Bears defender.^[21] After the game Favre said "Maybe Gale Sayers (who had his number retired that night along with Dick Butkus) got excited about that one".^[22] With a win in that game, Green Bay began a ten-game winning streak against the Bears as Favre was considered a "Bear-killer"^[23] by members of the Chicago Bears media and fans alike.^[24] This game marked the beginning of two streaks in the series. The Packers won ten consecutive games in the series (the longest between the two clubs) and also eleven consecutive away games – a streak that did not end until the 2005 season.^[25] Throwback uniforms were worn by both teams.
• Packers 27, Bears 24 (September 11, 1995) – Packers QB Brett Favre throws a 99-yard touchdown pass to Robert Brooks – one of only 13 times in NFL history a 99-yard TD pass has ever been completed.^[21] Green Bay stormed to a 27–7 lead and had 431 yards on offense compared to Chicago's 243, Although Chicago scored 17 unanswered at the end, they came up just short as time expired. The game was featured nationally on Monday Night Football.^[26]
• Packers 35, Bears 28 (November 12, 1995) – Coming into this much-anticipated matchup, first place in the NFC Central division was on the line. A victory would give the Packers the same record as the Bears (6–4) and would mean a series sweep, giving Green Bay the head-to-head tie-breaker should the teams be tied at season's end. Brett Favre had a badly sprained ankle, which kept his status for the game uncertain. Not only did Favre start, but he had his best game of the season up to that point. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 336 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Bears QB Erik Kramer also had a solid game, going 23 of 38 for 318 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The teams combined for 800 yards of offense. The game was not decided until Kramer threw an incomplete pass in the Packers' end zone on the final play of the game.^[27]
• Packers 24, Bears 23 (October 12, 1997) – In one of the more back-and-forth contests in the rivalry, the Bears got off to a 10–0 lead thanks in part to a rushing touchdown by Raymont Harris in the first quarter before the Packers came back to take a 14–10 halftime lead due to a rushing score by Dorsey Levens. In the third quarter, Erik Kramer ran for a three-yard touchdown to put the Bears back in front, 17–14. However, in the waning seconds of the third quarter, Brett Favre connected with Mark Chmura for a touchdown. The Packers led, 21–17, then extended their lead to 24–17. The Bears marched down the field and scored when Kramer connected with Chris Penn with less than two minutes left. In an "all-or-nothing" maneuver, the Bears went for a two-point conversion. The pass fell incomplete, essentially preserving the win for the Packers.^[28]
• Bears 14, Packers 13 (November 7, 1999) – The Bears defeated the Packers for the first time since 1993 on a blocked field goal by defensive tackle Bryan Robinson and was the first game in the series played after the death of Walter Payton. This was also the game in which Brett Favre surpassed Ron Jaworski's record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback.

2000s

• Packers 34, Bears 21 (October 7, 2002) – This Monday night contest at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, was the only Bears home game in the entire series that was played outside of Chicago. Brett Favre threw an 85-yard TD pass to Driver in the first quarter—the second longest of his career to that point (both against the Bears). At the time, Soldier Field was undergoing a major renovation; the renovated stadium would later reopen in 2003 between the Bears and Packers.^[29]
• Bears 26, Packers 0 (September 10, 2006) – In the opening week of the season, the Bears handed Brett Favre his first shutout in his 16-year career, winning 26–0 in Green Bay. The Bears' offense, criticized for being conservative, opened the game with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian. This also marked the first game in which the Bears' Devin Hester returned a punt for a touchdown.^[30]
• Bears 20, Packers 17 (December 22, 2008) – The coldest game in recorded Bears history featured a temperature at kickoff of 2 degrees and −13 degrees with wind chill. The Packers traveled to Soldier Field on a Monday night, where a victory against the Bears would have ended their playoff hopes. The Bears had to rally from a 14–3 score at the half. The Bears were able to score after a turnover on a Packers punt return. The Packers were on the verge of finishing a game-winning drive when Mason Crosby's field goal attempt was blocked by Alex Brown, pushing the game to overtime. The Bears took the first possession in overtime and won the game on a 38-yard field goal by Robbie Gould.

2010s

• Bears 20, Packers 17 (September 27, 2010) – The 2–0 Packers traveled to Chicago for an early season showdown with the 2–0 Bears for the NFC North lead. Aaron Rodgers threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings to open the scoring in the first quarter. Mason Crosby made it 10–0 with 4:45 left in the second quarter, but Jay Cutler drove the Bears down and connected with Greg Olsen for a touchdown with 31 seconds left. Late in the 3rd quarter, Julius Peppers blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by Mason Crosby to keep it 10–7 Packers. Devin Hester then opened the 4th quarter with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 14–10 Bears. Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on a drive that resulted in him getting into the end zone on a 3-yard scamper to make it 17–14. However, the Packers were left to regret a sloppy performance, as they recorded a team record 18 penalties. The Bears took advantage, with Robbie Gould kicking a field goal with 4:03 left and then 0:08 left to claim a 20–17 victory. This would be the last time the Bears beat the Packers at Soldier Field until the 2018 season.
• Packers 10, Bears 3 (January 2, 2011) – The 9–6 Packers hosted the 11–4 Bears in a must-win game in order to enter the playoffs. With both teams coming off of high scoring victories, a shoot-out was anticipated. However, the frozen tundra yielded a defensive battle, as the teams were tied 3–3 late in the fourth quarter. With 2:50 remaining, Aaron Rodgers hit tight end Donald Lee for a 1-yard touchdown pass to take a 10–3 lead.^[31]
• Packers 21, Bears 14 (January 23, 2011, NFC Championship Game) – This was the first time the two teams had met in the playoffs since 1941. The Green Bay Packers started off strong with an early 14–0 lead on an Aaron Rodgers rushing TD. Bears' quarterback, Jay Cutler, was injured late in the second quarter, and was unable to continue. After Bears' quarterback Todd Collins proved ineffective, going 0 for 4 on two drives, the Bears brought in Caleb Hanie, who led them to a 1-yard touchdown run by Chester Taylor to make it 14–7. On the very next Bears drive, however, Hanie would be intercepted by B. J. Raji, who took it to the endzone to make it 21–7 late in the game. The Bears would answer with another TD. With one more drive to tie the game, Hanie threw his second interception, this time to Sam Shields to end the game and send Green Bay to the Super Bowl.^[32] The Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the NFC's first sixth-seeded team (and second wild card team) to win the Super Bowl.^[33]
• Bears 27, Packers 20 (November 4, 2013) – Heading into this Monday Night match-up at Lambeau Field, Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler was sidelined with a groin injury. Thus, backup quarterback Josh McCown played in Cutler's stead. In the first drive of the game, Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked by Shea McClellin, which fractured Rodgers' left collarbone and sent him out of the game. McCown threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Packers backup quarterback Seneca Wallace threw for 114 yards and no touchdowns, with one interception. The Bears won the game 27–20 to end a six-game losing streak to the Packers. Aaron Rodgers would be out for 7 weeks, eventually returning in Week 17 against the Bears for the NFC North title.
• Packers 33, Bears 28 (December 29, 2013) – In a game with the NFC North Championship on the line, the Packers faced off against the Bears. The game was notable for a Rodgers fumble to touchdown that occurred when most players from both teams believed the play to be an incomplete pass. The game also showcased an offensive shootout in the second half, including Bears quarterback Jay Cutler throwing for two touchdowns. However, the Packers ended their last drive converting on 4th down three times, most notably in a long 4th and 8 completion to Randall Cobb for a touchdown that would win the game and deliver Green Bay its 3rd consecutive NFC North title. The loss would keep the Bears out of the playoffs.
• Packers 55, Bears 14 (November 6, 2014) – Aaron Rodgers tied an NFL record with 6 touchdown passes in the first half in a blowout win for the Packers, the most lopsided win for the Packers over the Bears since 1962 and their highest point total in a game since 1945. Bears' kickoff returner Chris Williams tied an NFL record with 10 kickoff returns in a game, one of which went for a 101-yard touchdown.
• Bears 17, Packers 13 (November 26, 2015) – On the night of Brett Favre's jersey retirement, the Bears met the Packers at Lambeau Field for a Thanksgiving match-up. With a 4–6 record and having lost to the Packers earlier in the year, Chicago entered the game as huge underdogs. While the Bears' offense stalled in the first quarter, the Packers took a 7-point lead on a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Eddie Lacy. In the second quarter, the Bears scored two touchdowns, while the Packers settled for two field goals, making the score 14–13 at halftime. The Bears scored one more field goal in the fourth quarter while their defense pitched a second half shutout, including a goal line stand in the game's final seconds.
• Packers 30, Bears 27 (December 18, 2016) – With the Packers needing a win to move within a game of the NFC North lead, they entered Soldier Field during one of the coldest Chicago Bears games on record. Tied 10–10 at halftime, Green Bay surged to a 27–10 advantage in the third quarter, before the Bears made a run of their own in the fourth quarter to bring them within 3 points and in striking distance of the Green Bay end zone. Green Bay held the Bears to a field goal after a goal-line stand. During the Packers' ensuing possession, quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed a 60-yard pass to Jordy Nelson which led to a Packers field goal as time expired.
• Packers 24, Bears 23 (September 9, 2018) – After an off-season in which both teams made massive player acquisitions, most notably the Bears having acquired linebacker Khalil Mack, the two teams met on Sunday Night Football for a highly anticipated Week 1 matchup. The Bears struck first with a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. After the two teams exchanged three and outs, Chicago ended the 1st quarter up 7–0. The Bears would later add to the lead with a Cody Parkey field goal to make it 10–0. Late in the second quarter, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris knocked Aaron Rodgers out with a knee injury and the Bears capitalized with Mack getting a pick-six off Packers backup DeShone Kizer. Rodgers would return to the game in third quarter down 20–0, and led the Packers on a scoring drive culminating in a Mason Crosby field goal to end the third quarter with the Bears leading 20–3. However, the Packers outscored the Bears 21–3 off three Rodgers touchdown passes, to take a 24–23 lead with just over 2 minutes left. The Packers would hang on to win by that score. The 17-point fourth-quarter comeback for the Packers represented their largest in franchise history. However, the teams would head in opposite directions going forward.
• Bears 24, Packers 17 (December 16, 2018) – Following their Week 1 meeting, the Bears and Packers had gone in opposite directions during the 2018 season. The 5-7-1 Packers and 9-4 Bears met in Soldier Field for a Week 15 showdown with major implications in the playoff race for both teams. The Bears needed a win to clinch the NFC North, while a Packers victory would keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the NFC playoff race. Led by a dominant defensive performance and two touchdown passes from Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears would win the game 24-17 (their first win over the Packers at Soldier Field since 2010) and clinched the NFC North while eliminating the Packers from playoff contention. Linebacker Khalil Mack would sack Aaron Rodgers 2.5 times while safety Eddie Jackson intercepted Rodgers late in the fourth quarter to seal the Bears victory (and also breaking Rodgers' NFL-record streak of 402 consecutive passes without an interception). The Packers would finish the season 6-9-1 (their first time since 1990–91 with back-to-back losing seasons) while the Bears would finish 12–4, losing in the Wild Card round to the Eagles in the Double Doink Game.
• Packers 21, Bears 13 (December 15, 2019) – The Bears and Packers would meet at Lambeau Field in a Week 15 matchup that, like the 2018 matchup, would have major playoff implications for both teams. The Packers needed a win to keep their hopes for an NFC North title alive, while the Bears needed a win plus a Vikings loss to stay alive in the playoff hunt. After the Packers raced to a 21–3 lead in the third quarter, the Bears would score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 21–13. It took until the game's final play to seal the game, as the final play of the game was a botched lateral by the Bears that was recovered by the Packers' Tramon Williams. In a role reversal of 2018, the Packers eliminated the Bears from playoff contention with the win and clinched the NFC North a week later with a Monday Night win at the Vikings. The Packers would finish the season 13–3, falling to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, while the Bears finished the season 8-8.

Packers Making Roster Moves as Injuries Keep Things Interesting!

 I know during the off season, will all tried to deal with the "Aaron Rodgers Feelings Hurt Drama!"  Handling the the 53 man roster, the practice squad roster, and the salary cap is a constant job!  We as fans, must understand the difficulties!  As a quick example..............

- The season begins with David Bakhtiari starts the season on the PUP list, this is your all pro left tackle!

- Za'Darius Smith, your sack leader the passed few years has back issues, then season ending surgery!

 - Your young stud lineman, Elgton Jenkins misses the last few games, he is your second best lineman and can play any position on the line!

- Your shaky staring corner, Kevin King, suffers a concussion,  and is hurt again!

- Your young and improving SPEED receiver goes on the IR, with hamstring issues!

- Back on June 9th, the Packers pick up DeAndre Thompkins, he is quickly becoming your BEST linebacker & a great leader!

- Punter Corey Bojorquez acquired from Rams (He has been a BIG help to special teams!)

- Linebacker Jaylon Smith signed as a free agent (Cowboys are paying almost ALL of salary!

Many moves, most have helped begin the season on the UP side!  The shuffling of the offensive line, to this humble fan, has been amazing (Offensive Line Coach - Adam Stenavich NEEDS a raise!)

Constant shuffling at Cornerback - Alexander & King start season, King gets hurt, rookie Stokes steps in,. All Pro Jaire Alexander on IR, Sullivan, Jean-Charles, & Yiadom step in!

MVS, our speedy wideout goes on IR, old Vet Randall Cobb steps in!

The NFL is a constant chess match!  And, with 5 games into the season the Packer coaches & front office are constantly trying to stay on top!

Stay tuned!  More football, more moves, more excitement to come!

Packers Win Over Bengals, Remember This Game in December!

 Like many NFL games, winning the close ones usually is BIG!  BIG for the Division Title, BIG for the NFC seeding & BIG for the team (WE WIN THE CLOSE ONES!!!!)  So, after 5 games what have we learned about the 2021 Packers??????

1 - Depth is Developing!  Offensive Line - Without starting LT-Bakhtiari, whatever Jenkins is asked to play & rookie Myers, 3 of 5 starters we WIN!

2 - The team is able to win with our "old reliable" kicker having a bad night!

3 - Missing our young  All Pro - cornerback(Alexander), our All Pro - outside linebackerZ Smith), and newcomer inside linebacker(Campbell) our defensive gets a WIN!

And, as I always do, have a look at our Packers offensive drives:

1 - 8 plays - 2 first downs - PUNT

2 - 2 plays - 1 first down - Intercepted

3 - 3 plays - 0 first downs - PUNT

(THIS WAS A BAD START!)

4 - 7 plays - 4 first downs - TD

2nd Quarter

5 - 6 plays - 2 first downs - FG

6 - 9 plays - 4 first downs - TD

3rd Quarter

7 - 12 plays - 3 first downs - FG

8 - 7 plays - 2 first downs - FG

4th Quarter

9 - 5 plays - 1 first down1 - MISSED FG

10 - 3 plays - 1 first down - MISSED FG

Start of Overtime

11 - 3 plays - 0 first downs - MISSED FG

12 - 8 plays - 2 first downs - FG  (GAME WINNER!!!!!)

Packers vs Bengals, What to Expect?

 Every game in the NFL is important!  And, every week in the NFL is part of a journey!  And like Packer Head Coach says every week, "Our goal is to go 1-0"!  What ti Expect in Week 5?

1 - Rodgers vs Burrow?  This is your typical "old pro" vs "young gun"?  The Bengals QB has demonstrated that he can play in the NFL and will certainly attack our cornerbacks during this game!  So, the question is, how will the rookie Stokes & the returning King hold up under this attack?  For Rodgers, we know he will find Adams during the game, but the receivers Cobb, Lazard & Tonyan need to shine!

2 - The Packers offensive line vs the Bengals defensive line?  Bad news, our rookie center Myers is out with an injured finger - who will fill in?  Will Jenkins our young stud lineman be back?  Will the Packers be able to allow Aaron Jones to get his first 100 yard game?

3 - The Packers Pass rush??  This NEEDS help!  Z Smith our fot the season!  Who will step up??  My focus will be Kenny Clark and his push from the inside & Rashan Gary on the edge?  It would be great to see Gary make a statement!!

4 - Special Teams!!!  Simple!  Do NOT give up any big Punt Returns & Kick Returns!! And, win the field position battle!!!  The Packers NEED to focus on trying to make Special Teams SPECIAL!

5 - Packers need to maintain the ownership of the NFC North!  This weeks schedule - Bears VS Raiders and the Lions VS Vikings.  The present standings:

NFC North Division

Green Bay Packers 3-1-0

Chicago Bears  2-2-0

Minnesota Vikings 1-3-0

Detroit Lions  0-4-0

2021 Packers Roster Continues to Evolve!

 The NFL Teams need to be constantly on "Injury Alert!"  And, players that are on the market, on other team practice squads, and become available every week!  So, the Packers have been busy!!!  Let's review:

PUP List

1 - David Bakhtiari - still healing from off season ACL Surgery - should SOON be available!

Injured Reserve

1 - Dominique Dafney

2 - Randy Ramsey

3 - Will Redmond

4 - Chauncey Rivers

5 - Za'Darius Smith - had back surgery - probably done for season

6 - Marquez Valdes-Scantling - Hamstring - our for a few weeks

On Injury Report this week - Oct 7

1 - Jaire Alexander - DNP - Shoulder - decision being made to have surgery on not

2 - Krys Barnes - Full Practice - Concussion

3 - AJ Dillon - Full Practice - Back

4 - Jack Heflin - Limited Practice - Ankle

5 - Elgton Jenkins - Ankle - Limited Practice - (Should be back soon)

6 - Aaron Jones - Limited Practice - Ankle

7 - Kevin King - Limited Practice - Concussion

8 - Dean Lowry - Full Practice - Ankle

9 - Josh Myers - DNP - Finger

10 - Chauncey Rivers - DNP - Knee

11 - Isaac Yiadom - Full Practice - Quadricep

12 - Marcedes Lewis - DNP - Rest

13 - Dennis Kelly - DNP - Illness

That is 19 Players!  And, all teams in the NFL face the same battle!!

New Additions this week:

CB - Rasul Douglas - signed off the Arizona Practice Squad.  With the injury to Alexander, this was a no brainer - the Packers NEED help losing their All-Pro Cornerback!!  This player, Douglas has experience!  Drafted by the Eagles, started 11 games for the Panthers, has good size - 6'2" - 209 lbs.  Should help the Packers for the moment!

ILB - Jaylon Smith - WOW!  For some crazy reason, the Cowboys released him?  A 5 year veteran, 2 time All Pro - has the experience needed to help our inside linebacker depth!  Along with Campbell, Smith may make the inside of the Packer Defense a strength!

So, a lot of moving parts!  The good news - the offensive line is playing well with the youth movement!  And, Bakhtiari & Jenkins are coming back!!!!  This is GREAT NEWS!  As mentioned, Campbell & Smith may be two of the BEST inside linebackers in the league!  Now, the bad news, cornerback.  Losing Alexander is BIG!  This will be worth watching how a rookie Stokes, a recovering King, and a newcomer Douglas play the next few weeks!

GO PACK GO!

Packer Buddies 2021 - Another Successful Adventure to Green Bay

 We did it again!  My Packer Buddies completed a SUCCESSFUL adventure to our "Happy Place!"  This was my 40th Packer Game Trip!  I started in 1998 when I was searching for a new team to follow - a quick review of my journey...................

I WAS a Dallas Cowboy Fan!  I started way back in the 60's - "Dandy" Don Meredith, Roger Staubach, Bob Lily, Bob Hayes, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and the leader of the pack, Tom Landry.  Super Bowls, Thanksgiving Day Traditions.... Life was good!  Then, February 25, 1989 Jerry Jones purchased the Cowboys and hired Jimmy Johnson as head coach!  Wow!  I tried to adjust, BUT, I failed.... so, in the 1990's I was without a team!!!!  Lonely, dejected, heart broken, I wandered through the channels, with my primitive TV Remote searching............  And then, November 29, 1998!  My friends talked me into visiting Green Bay & a Packer Football Game!!!  Now, put this into perspective!!!  Remember, the Ice Bowl????  What team did the Packers defeat??  Of course, the Dallas Cowboys!!!  HOW IRONIC!  To make a long story short, I fell in love again!!  After more trips, it was easy!  The history, Lambeau Field, the legends, the PEOPLE OF GREEN BAY!!  And, here I am, a Green Bay Packer Football Fan!!!

Now, back from my 40th Packer Game - a successful win of another great franchise - the Pittsburgh Steelers!!!  First, our trip was missing our Packer Buddies, Terry & Phil!!!  COVID has made travel crazy!  And, our adventure was NOT the same!  

So, Terry & Phil - 

WE MISSED YOU!!!!!!!

Traveling along with Jim & Bill?  John, on his 4th Trip!  He LOVES it!  And, Jared, Jim's son a Steelers Fan!!!  

Now, a few Packer Adventure Pics!  

Saturday at Lambeau Field!

Prime Quarter Dinner!! (Cook your own steak!)

Tradition - Pre-Game Breakfast!

Bay Motel & Family Restaurant

A walk across the street from Lambeau!

Titletown!!!!

Titletown Walk!

Titletown - PreGame Beer!

Titletown Football Field - new Condo's in Background!

Title 40 Yard Dash Area - Jim VS Bill???

Titletown Arien Hill! (Tubing in the Cold!!)

Titletown Pumpkin Tree!!

Our Tradition - A Lambeau Pre-Game Pic!!

#12 Pre Game!

Honoring the Packers 1996 Super Bowl!!

MVP Desmond Howard!

Honoring the Packers 1996 Super Bowl!!
#4! - Brett Favre!

And, just south of Green Bay?  The home of the 2021 winning Ryder Cup venue, Whistling Straits!  An incredible golf course located in Wisconsin!!!!

2021 Ryder Cup - Whistling Straits!

Whistling Straits - Hole #18

The Whistling Straits Clubhouse!

What a GREAT weekend!

And, a Packers Win!

Packers 27 - Steelers 17!!!!!