Packers make a statement on D with a 10-3 victory at Soldier Field
What a way to start the NFL’s 100th season! The Green Bay Packers got the first win of the 2019 NFL season with a 10-3 win vs the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
The Packers got off to a terrible start offensively, registering -12 yards of total offense in the first quarter, but they started to get it going a bit in the second quarter. A 47-yard bomb to Marquez Valdes-Scantling set up a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham in the endzone for the game’s only touchdown. It was 7-3 for a long time before Aaron Rodgers led them to a field goal in the fourth quarter. Adrian Amos intercepted Mitch Trubisky in the endzone late in the game to end the Bears’ last realistic threat of the game. Although the Bears forced a punt, they were backed up due to a long punt and a penalty. Preston Smith sacked Trubisky on fourth down to seal the victory.
Some thoughts about the game and the win:
I had a feeling that the Packers would struggle offensively. Not only were they lining up against one of the best defenses in the league, but Aaron Rodgers also didn’t play at all in the preseason. Their offense is still a work in progress.
The fans at Soldier Field erupted when Eddie Pineiro nailed a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter. After the way their season ended last January, it was welcome news for Bear fans. It would turn out to be the only time they would be celebrating a score in the game.
Trubisky, who was selected over Pat Mahomes in the 2017 draft, struggled most of the night. His subpar performance in the first half could have been worse as he nearly had two passes intercepted. If he is going to take the next step this season, he sure didn’t show it in this game.
Allen Robinson was probably the only bright spot for the Bears on offense. They even faced a 1st and 40 on offense in the fourth quarter. No, that is not a misprint. First and 40!
It was former Bear Adrian Amos who made the interception to wipe out the Bears’ late threat. It has to be salt in the wounds of the Bears’ personnel and their fans.
In addition to Amos, Preston Smith made the sack on fourth down to preserve the win and Za’Darius Smith had a sack in the game as well. All three were signed in the offseason in an effort to improve the Packers’ D from what it was in recent years.
Punter JK Scott had his best punt of the night when the Packers needed it the most. His 63-yard punt and a penalty on the return backed Chicago up to their own 14-yard line. The Packers’ D took over from there.
Matt LaFleur’s offense didn’t do too much in his debut, but he did what Bears’ coach Matt Nagy couldn’t do last year, and that starts his coaching career with a win on the road vs the team’s most bitter rival. Nagy came close last year, but we remember what Rodgers did in that opening Sunday night game vs the Bears at Lambeau Field last September.
Time will tell if the defense is really this good or if the stats are inflated vs an average (at best) quarterback in Mitch Trubisky. I have a lot more confidence in this defense than I had in a while. They may have to lean on their defense a bit more, at least until the offense can get things going.
The Packers have another win at Soldier Field and are now 98-95-6 all-time vs the Bears. The last time they scored fewer points in a win at Chicago was in 1931 when they won 6-2. The last time the Packers scored 10 or fewer points in a victory was in Week 17 of the 2010 season when they also defeated the Bears and by the same 10-3 score. If you remember, the Packers would clinch their spot in the playoffs with that game and go on to win the Super Bowl.
I don’t want to make a huge deal out of just one win, but I really think the Packers showed the rest of the league that they won’t go down easily. The Packers can hardly get off to a better start to the season than with a win at Soldier Field. With the game on Thursday night, we have some extra time to enjoy the win before the team gets back to business. Next up for the Packers is their home opener vs the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday the 15th. Until then, enjoy the win and try to take it easy on the Bears’ fans, or not.
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
