Morning Box Score: Bears Fall to Packers in Finale
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jan 3, 2011 4:00PM
Having wrapped up the second seed in the NFC playoffs, the Bears could have played safe yesterday and rested their starters to keep everybody healthy for the postseason. Instead, trying to keep the Packers out of the playoffs was apparently incentive enough for Lovie Smith to decide to go with his starters for the entire game. Even so, the Bears fell to Green Bay 10-3 at Lambeau Field, finishing their season with an 11-5 mark.
The first half was a defensive battle, and the Bears took a 3-0 lead into the locker room. The Bears managed a field goal after a 10-play drive, their only extended drive until their final possession of the game. Robbie Gould connected from 30 yards out. In the second half, Green Bay tied the game at three on a Mason Crosby chip shot after the Bears held Green Bay out of the end zone after a deep pass to Donald Driver set up first-and-goal from the one yard line. On Green Bay's next possession, Aaron Rodgers again connected with Driver on a 46-yarder that also placed Green Bay on the Bears' one yard line. This time, Green Bay found the end zone with a TD pass to tight end Donald Lee that gave the Packers a 10-3 lead.
The game showed that, in spite of their 11-5 record and division champion status, the Bears are still not that much different of a team than they were early on this season. While the defense played tough throughout, the offense continues to be a concern. Jay Cutler was sacked six times as the offensive line continues to be an issue. Cutler also threw two interceptions and had a couple more passes that should've been picks. He completed 21 of 39 for 168 yards. Matt Forte had a big day, rushing for 91 yards on just 15 carries -- a 6.1 yards/carry average. With his performance on Sunday, Forte eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark and finished with 1069 yards for the year. But with the success of the run, why didn't Mike Martz call more running plays? Over the past eight weeks, in which the Bears had gone 7-1, he called a higher percentage of runs than any offensive coordinator in the league. And it's not like they were playing from behind all afternoon.
Ultimately, the loss means little, as the playoffs begin a new season. The Bears still have the bye week to rest up and prepare for their next opponent. On January 16, they'll host either Philadelphia, Seattle or New Orleans at Soldier Field in the divisional playoffs. The last time they made the playoffs, in 2006, they went to the Super Bowl. This time, the Bears feel more like a one-and-done playoff team. But they've surprised us all season long, so maybe they'll surprise us once more.