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The result was expected, and the game was somewhat perfunctory, but there were a lot of strange things that happened during the game. The outcome of the game was even more important considering teams like the Vikings, Redskins, Cowboys, and Seahawks all won. Not good for the Bears. Good for the Packers, though, because I was figuring their loss to Seattle would end up costing them a playoff spot. Anyway, lots to discuss about the coaches.
*The most obvious difference of the game was Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler. Rodgers was very good, Cutler was very bad.
*Bears had success early attacking the outside of GBs defense, especially running away from Matthews. Forte had some solid outside runs, and a couple screen passes worked well. After they went up 7-0, the Bears spent the rest of the game unsuccessfully trying to run Forte between the tackles, and never called another screen. Very odd.
*The Packers could pretty much move up and down the field on the Bears. The fumble by Ryan Grant was one of the biggest plays of the game, because the Packers were on their way to go up 28-7 and put the game away. Why McCarthy felt the need to insert Grant into the game at that point is beyond me.
*Another big play, and the most puzzling call from McCarthy was the botched home run throwback punt return. Why? The offense could move the ball. No need to risk giving the Bears a short field. At worst, you punt the ball back to Chicago, wait 3 downs, and get the ball back.
*Midway through the game, the Packers had a 1st and goal on the 1-inch line...and then get called for a delay of game. What is McCarthy doing? Just snap the ball and walk into the endzone.
*Cutler was terrible. Here is what I don't get about him...he throws into coverage, then when he gets picked off he bitches at the WR. For example, the INT to Hester was unexplainable. Even if Cutler expected Hester to stop his route and wait for the ball, Hayward was already standing in front of Hester. That route was not open. Hester then ran to an open area of the field, but Cutler's lame-ass throw got picked off anyways. Several questions...what is Hester doing on the field? Why do the Bears allow Hester to run option routes? Why is Cutler throwing to Hester when he's blanketed in coverage?
*Another unexplainable play was Cutler's lob into the endzone for Jeffery that was almost picked off by Shields. Sure, Jeffery was called for 3 OPIs, but it should have been at least 5, and this non-call was another big play in the game. Before Shields can intercept, Jeffery grabs the inside of his shoulder pads and is pulling Shields backwards before the ball arrives. By the time Shields can get his hands on the ball, he's already horizontal to the field. Smart play by Jeffery, because it saved a sure INT and he wasn't flagged. The Bears were able to salvage a FG and make it a one score game. On the play, though, Evan Rodriguez was wide open at the 5. He was in front of Jeffery, and could have walked into the endzone, yet Cutler elected to lob the ball to a well-covered Jeffery. Terrible read.
*A big part of the game was Alshon Jeffery pushing off every play. He made it work a couple times...once on the INT-saving play, another by grabbing Shields facemask, slinging him to the ground, and getting the refs to call the penalty on Shields. But 3 other times he was called OPI. I thought they were pretty obvious, because Jeffery wasn't open, Cutler would lob the ball, and Jeffery would shove Shields away and then make the catch. Two things. One, it was funny to hear Troy Aikman bitch about the calls, because he benefitted from the greatest push-off artist in NFL history (Michael Irvin). Two, do the Bears actually have diagrammed pass plays? It seemed like every play was to have Jeffery or Marshall jog to an area of the field, stand there, and shove the defender to the ground as Cutler lobs the ball up.
*Mason Crosby single-handedly kept the Bears in the game. If he hits either of those short FGs, the Bears have no chance to win. I would much rather have Olindo Mare on the Packers at this point.
*What was up with the Bears final possession? Yeah, the odds of tying the game were about 75:1, but a little effort would have been nice. As usual, the Bears had already burned 2 timeouts "getting the play in" on offense, and they were out of timeouts at this point. But a 5-yard checkdown to Forte in the middle of the field probably wasn't a good drive-starter. The next play looked like an old Sega Genesis Madden glitch, where the QB freezes up and no matter what button you hit nothing happens until the QB gets sacked. What was Cutler doing? Then to not get another play off before the final gun was inexcusable. Did Cutler just give up? Thats what it looked like.
*The most obvious difference of the game was Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler. Rodgers was very good, Cutler was very bad.
*Bears had success early attacking the outside of GBs defense, especially running away from Matthews. Forte had some solid outside runs, and a couple screen passes worked well. After they went up 7-0, the Bears spent the rest of the game unsuccessfully trying to run Forte between the tackles, and never called another screen. Very odd.
*The Packers could pretty much move up and down the field on the Bears. The fumble by Ryan Grant was one of the biggest plays of the game, because the Packers were on their way to go up 28-7 and put the game away. Why McCarthy felt the need to insert Grant into the game at that point is beyond me.
*Another big play, and the most puzzling call from McCarthy was the botched home run throwback punt return. Why? The offense could move the ball. No need to risk giving the Bears a short field. At worst, you punt the ball back to Chicago, wait 3 downs, and get the ball back.
*Midway through the game, the Packers had a 1st and goal on the 1-inch line...and then get called for a delay of game. What is McCarthy doing? Just snap the ball and walk into the endzone.
*Cutler was terrible. Here is what I don't get about him...he throws into coverage, then when he gets picked off he bitches at the WR. For example, the INT to Hester was unexplainable. Even if Cutler expected Hester to stop his route and wait for the ball, Hayward was already standing in front of Hester. That route was not open. Hester then ran to an open area of the field, but Cutler's lame-ass throw got picked off anyways. Several questions...what is Hester doing on the field? Why do the Bears allow Hester to run option routes? Why is Cutler throwing to Hester when he's blanketed in coverage?
*Another unexplainable play was Cutler's lob into the endzone for Jeffery that was almost picked off by Shields. Sure, Jeffery was called for 3 OPIs, but it should have been at least 5, and this non-call was another big play in the game. Before Shields can intercept, Jeffery grabs the inside of his shoulder pads and is pulling Shields backwards before the ball arrives. By the time Shields can get his hands on the ball, he's already horizontal to the field. Smart play by Jeffery, because it saved a sure INT and he wasn't flagged. The Bears were able to salvage a FG and make it a one score game. On the play, though, Evan Rodriguez was wide open at the 5. He was in front of Jeffery, and could have walked into the endzone, yet Cutler elected to lob the ball to a well-covered Jeffery. Terrible read.
*A big part of the game was Alshon Jeffery pushing off every play. He made it work a couple times...once on the INT-saving play, another by grabbing Shields facemask, slinging him to the ground, and getting the refs to call the penalty on Shields. But 3 other times he was called OPI. I thought they were pretty obvious, because Jeffery wasn't open, Cutler would lob the ball, and Jeffery would shove Shields away and then make the catch. Two things. One, it was funny to hear Troy Aikman bitch about the calls, because he benefitted from the greatest push-off artist in NFL history (Michael Irvin). Two, do the Bears actually have diagrammed pass plays? It seemed like every play was to have Jeffery or Marshall jog to an area of the field, stand there, and shove the defender to the ground as Cutler lobs the ball up.
*Mason Crosby single-handedly kept the Bears in the game. If he hits either of those short FGs, the Bears have no chance to win. I would much rather have Olindo Mare on the Packers at this point.
*What was up with the Bears final possession? Yeah, the odds of tying the game were about 75:1, but a little effort would have been nice. As usual, the Bears had already burned 2 timeouts "getting the play in" on offense, and they were out of timeouts at this point. But a 5-yard checkdown to Forte in the middle of the field probably wasn't a good drive-starter. The next play looked like an old Sega Genesis Madden glitch, where the QB freezes up and no matter what button you hit nothing happens until the QB gets sacked. What was Cutler doing? Then to not get another play off before the final gun was inexcusable. Did Cutler just give up? Thats what it looked like.
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