Possession by Possession Analysis of the Bears-Packers Game

First Quarter

Green Bay to receive. Gould kicks to Trammon Williams, who is wrapped up at the 28-yard-line by Adrian Peterson, who is a much better special teams player than a second-team running back. Holding on Green Bay during the return.

Packers: 242 straight starts for Favre. Rookie DeShawn Wynn with a 12-yard run on first down. Green Bay has no rushing attack thus far this year and will need more balance to be a Super Bowl contender. Favre hits Donald Driver for seven yards on a slant on first down. 2nd and 3 from Green Bay 36 — Favre play action, hits Greg Jennings for a first down. Green Bay attacking Peanut Tillman on the pass. Tillman missed last week’s game against Detroit. First and 10 Green Bay from own 48 — DeShawn Wynn 44-yard run to Chicago 10-yard line. 1st and Goal — Wynn run for a yard. 2nd and Goal — Favre time? 423? Favre in shotgun, hands off to Morency, who brings it to the 2-yard line. Tackle by Lance Briggs. Big third and goal here — play action? Nope DeShawn Wynn over the top for a touchdown. Crosby kick is good. Packers 7, Bears 0.

Analysis: That’s all on the Bears front four that drive. They got destroyed off the line, making Wynn look like he’s Walter Payton, who broke the NFL’s All-Time rushing record 23 years ago today. About as bad of a start that the Bears could have imagined. Running game will open up passing game even more for Favre. Let’s see if the offense can pick up a first down here. Not likely. Green Bay with 64 rushing yards on first drive…10 more yards than season average.

Bears: Green Bay short kicks to Israel Idonije, who is hit at the 30-yard line. Glad to see that one team has figured it out: don’t kick to Devin Hester. He’s all Chicago has. T.V. timeout. Griese pass to Desmond Clark for minus-one yard. Note to the Bears. You’re supposed to move forward. Benson run for four yards on second down before getting swallowed up. 3rd and 6 — Chicago has been brutal on third downs all year long. Hester in the game. Griese’s pass is knocked down at the line. Maynard punt to Charles Woodson, who returns for nine yards to Packers 22.

Analysis: 3 plays, 3 yards does not equal touchdown football. Looks like my 17-12 prediction may get blown out of the water. Just a sad offense, in the simplest of terms. Looking at the positive, at least Chicago did not turn the ball over…yet.

Packers: Favre’s pass to Driver is underthrown. Nice pressure from defensive line and coverage by Tillman. 2nd and 10 — Typical Favre, fake jump pass. Morency run for four yards, Tommie Harris with the tackle. 3rd and 6 — Favre in gun, hits James Jones for a 23-yard gain and first down. No blitz from Chicago. The Bears need to pressure Favre or get picked apart. 1st and 10 from 48 — Morency run for two yards. Wynn out momentarily with cramping in his left leg. It is tiring running all over the Bears (and watching the Bears get run over). Favre hits Ruvell Martin for a gain of 17 yards. 1st and 10 from 33 — Favre is sacked by Harris. 2nd and 14 — Favre fires to Donald Driver for ten yards. 3rd and 4 from Chicago 24 — Favre in gun and fires to Donald Lee for six yards and a first down. Chicago bringing no pressure. 1st and 10 from 19 — Favre hist Jones on a 11-yard slant, who fumbles the ball. Ricky Manning Jr. with the recovery. Tillman with the strip. Green Bay will challenge. This play should not be overturned. TV timeout.

Analysis: Big turnover saves embarrassing effort by Chicago defense thus far? We shall see after the break. The ruling on the play stands. Chicago saved for at least the moment.

Bears: 1st and 10 from 16 — Benson big run for…two yards. In his defense, no blocking. 2nd and 8 — Benson run for two yards. Offensive line once again doing nothing. 3rd and 6 from the 20 — Griese in shotgun and hits Benson for five yards. Fourth and 1 from 25 — Chicago to punt. Woodson minimal return deep in Green Bay territory. Brendan Ayanbadejo with another tackle. At least one guy on Chicago remembers how to play football.

Analysis: Six plays, not one first down for the Bears offense. How does Ron Turner still have a job? Bears really take advantage of forced turnover with yet another miserable drive. Chicago’s defense looks bad tonight and will be on the field once again. Add that with a stagnant offense and there’s a formula for a blowout.

Packers: 1st and 10 from 24 — Darwin Walker out. Tommie Harris with a tackle of Morency on a two-yard run on first down. Harris is not fully healthy and yet playing the best of anyone on defense. Favre slant to Donald Driver for 26 yards. A whole lot of missed tackles on that play, beginning with D. Manning and Adam Archuleta. 1st and 10 from Chicago 48 — Favre slant to Jones, who fumbles once again. The Bears recover. Tillman punched it out again. Archuleta recovery.

Analysis: Even though the Bears suck, rookie James Jones needs to realize that Chicago likes to strip the ball. That’s Lovie’s philosophy. Bears surviving on forced turnovers. This game could be much worse but will still be a blowout. Chicago’s offense revving up for another three-and-out. TV timeout.

Bears: Packers with 189 yards, Chicago with 12. That’s just embarrassing. Benson run for a yard on first down. 2nd and 9 from Bears 39 — Griese’s bomb is way overthrown to Bernard Berrian, who didn’t even have the opportunity to drop that pass. Griese actually had decent pass protection. Stop the presses. The offensive line blocked on a play. 3rd and 9 –Griese hits Rashied Davis for eight yards. 4th and 1 from 48 — Chicago needs to go for it. It’s time for Lovie to take a chance. Measurement will be way short. More time for Lovie to punt the ball. Go for it. Nope. Lovie’s content with losing this game. Watch for a crappy fake here. Maynard punts into the end zone.

Analysis: Nine plays, not one first down. Maybe the Bears do need an offensive consultant?

Packers: Morency stuffed on first down by Mark Anderson. End of first quarter. Packers 7, Bears 0.

Analysis: Green Bay dominates and should be up anywhere from 14 to 17-0 but only lead by a touchdown due to turnovers. Will Packer’s youth on offense eventually be its downfall? Most likely yes. Chicago’s defense follows up bad fourth quarter performance against Detroit with nearly as bad of a one in the first quarter tonight. Chicago’s offense still MIA. Pretty sad all around.

Second Quarter:

Packers: Morency run for a yard. 3rd and 7 from 22 — Favre in gun and hits Morency for about five yards. Chicago defense finally with a stop. Briggs with the tackle. Haven’t heard Urlacher’s name all night. John Ryan punts to the Chicago 10, Devin Hester returns to 27 after 61-yard punt. Flag on the play. Illegal block in the back on Jamar Williams.

Analysis: Chicago’s run defense finally stiffens on this drive. Still the Bears defense has been on the field way too long. That doesn’t bode well for the second half.

Bears: First and 10 from 18 — Griese nine-yard pass to Greg Olsen. Do you smell a first down? Benson runs for three yards and a first down. It only took 17 minutes. Back to the Olsen play, it’s about time Chicago gets this kid the ball. Now what about Desmond Clark. 1st and 10 from 30 — Benson runs for three yards. 2nd and 7 — Griese, under pressure, throws incomplete to Benson. 3rd and7 — Special teams tying their shoes and getting ready. Griese in gun. Holy cow. Griese hits Adrian Peterson out of the backfield for 30 yards. Nice block by Devin Hester. 1st and 10 from GB 36 — finally a creative play call. Reverse to Hester for six yards. 2nd and 4 — Griese to Jason McKie for a first down. Finally some rhythm for the Bears anemic offense. Griese the Game Manager playing dink and dunk game. Griese pass to Greg Olsen is incomplete and out of bounds. At least, Chicago is throwing to him. 2nd and 10 from 25 — Benson run for four yards. 3rd and 6 — Can the Bears keep the drive going or will they settle for yet another field goal (granted that they don’t turn the ball over). 3rd and 6 — very conservative, garbage call by Ron Turner. Peterson draw for two yards. Gould field goal attempt from 36 yards is good. Packers 7, Bears 3. However, a penalty on the play. Looks like it will be against Green Bay. Illegal formation gives the Bears a first down and wipes off field goal. Just like Detroit last week, Green Bay lined up under center. Can the Bears punch it into the end zone now? Benson run to the 10- yard line on first down. 2nd and 6 — holy cow. Cedric Benson ten-yard touchdown run. Bears with an 82-yard scoring drive. Gould PAT is good. Bears 7, Packers 7.

Analysis: Finally, an offensive touchdown off of a long drive. Benson finally running like a man, at least on that play. Chicago lucky to be tied due to turnovers and a generous call by the officials on the Gould field goal. Beggars can’t be choosers at this point. Slightly less than eight minutes to go in the half.

Packers: Williams return to Green Bay 25. TV timeout. Favre will need to get Green Bay offense back in gear after two turnovers and a three-and-out stagnated early momentum. Favre from 26 –Morency run for eleven yards to Green Bay 37. Walker limping off the field again. Injury bug has really taken a toll on Chicago defense this year. 1st and 10 — Morency run for 15 yards. Once again, the Chicago defense getting blown off line of scrimmage. Madden asks “Where’s Brian Urlacher?” Getting taken out of the play by a block once again. Urlacher can not disengage from blocks. No one points this out about Urlacher, who is having a relatively quiet season thus far. First and 10 — Favre to Jennings for two yards. 2nd and 8 from 48 — Green Bay takes a timeout. Favre screen to Morency for five yards. Nice pursuit by Briggs. 3rd and 3 from 43 — Favre in gun, fires deep and hits Greg Jennings for a touchdown. D. Manning got burned on that play, bringing back memories of Reggie Wayne in the Super Bowl. Crosby PAT is good. Packers 14, Bears 7.

Analysis: Chicago’s defense fails to respond after rare offensive touchdown. Packers surprising running game gets momentum back and lets Favre go to work with the deep ball. Bears defense has looked terrible tonight.

Bears: Packers squib kick to John Gilmore. Bears first down in good field position. Griese hits Muhammad for a first down. Facemask by Al Harris at the end of the play. First and 10 from Green Bay 43 — Benson with a very nice run for 11 yards. 10 rushes for 41 yards. Finally, some running downhill from Benson. 1st and 10 — False start on Ruben Brown. 1st and 15 from 37. Benson is hammered on a terrible call. Yet another draw. Blitzing Packers results in a loss of five. What is Turner thinking? 2nd and 20 from 42 — Griese trying to go down field to Berrian, pass is once again overthrown. Play never had a chance. Charles Woodson blanketed Berrian. 3rd and 20 — another Turner draw (just joking); nope, but he does call a halfback drop pass for two yards. Pathetic. Turner is a joke. 4th and 18 — Woodson fair catch at 15 with 2:09 go to.

Analysis: Favre and Packers can put this game away with a touchdown in two-minute drill. Chicago offense has momentum and then shoots itself in foot with penalty and poor play calling.

Packers: Morency run to the 18-yard line. Urlacher finally with a tackle. Two minute warning. Favre will come out slinging on slants. Chicago needs to jump Favre’s passes here…this could be a prime opportunity for an INT and touchdown. Fate of the game rests on these final two minutes. Packers score means ballgame. Bears stop gives Chicago little, but at least, some hope. 2nd and 7 — Favre fake to Morency, throws a scary pass to Driver for eight yards. Penalty on the play. Offensive pass interference on Driver. 10-yard penalty. Green Bay should be conservative and not let Favre make a mistake. 2nd and 16 from 8 — Favre is 13 for 14 tonight. Morency run for about eight yards and stupidly runs out of bounds. Holding on Chicago on the play, gives Green Bay a first down. First bad play of the year by special teams stalwart, Israel Idonije. 1st and 10 from 14 — Favre to Morency to the 30-yard line. Poor tackling by Chicago. Clock running. Favre to Morency for five yards. Briggs with the tackle. Green Bay with only one timeout. Clock running. 1 minute left. 2nd and 6 from 35 — Favre to Ryan Grant to the 43-yard line and a first down. Favre spikes the ball with 32 seconds left. Green Bay playing for a field goal here. Flags on the field. Chicago with too many men on the field. Add five yards to 47 yard line of Green Bay. Chicago knows how to shoot itself in the foot. The Bears have been undisciplined this season (in addition to stupid and embarrassing on offense). Play reviewed up-stairs. You’ve got to hate replay sometimes. Chicago only had 11 guys on the field. Will go back to 2nd and 10 from Green Bay 42 — 32 seconds still remain, halftime can’t get here fast enough for Chicago, Favre in gun, refs stop the game to put 15 seconds on the play clock. Favre to Morency for three yards, who gets out-of-bounds with 27 seconds left. Green Bay needs to go down the middle for 20 yards and use a timeout. Favre avoids the sack and hits Greg Jennings at the 26-yard line. Green Bay uses timeout. Favre upset, he wanted to spike the ball. 18 seconds left. Favre in gun and hits Bubba Franks at the 20. Clock running. Favre spikes the ball at the 20. Crosby field goal attempt from 37 yards is nearly blocked by Urlacher but good. One second left. Green Bay has 341 yards in the first half. Packers 17, Bears 7.

Bears: Packers squib kick is recovered by Chicago. Halftime. Packers 17, Bears 7.

Analysis: Chicago lucky to only be down 10 in this game and are yet still done. Chicago is not a come-from-behind team. Worst effort by the defense in the first half this season. 341 yards for Green Bay. Bears defense has been bad from the get-go. Offense has gotten some rhythm and is now expected to get the team back in the game, beginning on first drive of half. Not likely, especially considering that Green Bay is wisely not letting Hester touch the ball. Chicago will need a defensive touchdown to win this game. It’s not going to happen. The Packers have left of opportunities on the field and yet will survive against a sad Bears team. However, Green Bay won’t win like this in the playoffs. Favre is still amazing though. He is 19 of 22 for 239 yards, numbers that would be a wet dream in three games for Bears quarterbacks.

Third Quarter

Chicago to receive. Biggest half of the Bears season rests on offense doing something and defense waking up. Squib kick to Idonije, who is down at the 36 yard line.

Bears: Benson run for two yards on slow developing play. 2nd and 8 — Griese hits the underutilized Desmond Clark in the middle of the field to the Packers 34-yard line. Griese pass to Greg Olsen is incomplete. That looked like defensive holding. Nice play call by Turner, taking a chance down field. Time for Chicago offense to continue momentum. Benson run for three yards creates another third and long. 3rd and 7 from 31 — Griese under center and a delay of game on offense may push away a Gould field goal. Expect Turner to call a dump pass to a running back to get a field goal. 3rd and 12 from 37 — Griese slant to Berrian for nine yards. Field goal attempt coming. 4th and 2 — Gould from 44 yards is good. Packers 17, Bears 10.

Analysis: That hurts. Chicago’s offense comes out looking strong and has to settle for a field goal after a delay of game penalty. Little things like that especially hurt when Chicago can’t consistently score and the defense is struggling. It’s time for the defense to get going after an embarrassing first half.

Packers: Williams returns deep into Chicago territory to the Bears 33. Typical Bears. Chicago never plays a solid game in all three phases. Just when one unit steps up, the other steps back. Favre screen pass to Wynn for 13 yards to the Bears 20. Hunter Hillenmeyer gets drilled on that play. Hunter has done nothing the last couple of weeks. Wynn run for six yards on first down to Chicago 14. Madden with second “Where’s Brian Urlacher?” Wynn run for two yards, Urlacher with initial hit, Adams with finisher. 3rd and 1 — Wynn is swallowed up by Briggs for a loss of three yards. Green Bay field goal attempt coming. Can Idonije do it again? Delay of game on Packers. Crosby from 37 yards is right down the pipe. Packers 20, Bears 10.

Analysis: Special teams puts defense in precarious position. To credit of defense, Packers held to a field goal. Yet this game is not looking good. Offense needs a touchdown, which isn’t coming from Hester on special teams as the Packers will squib once again. Mike McCarthy is apparently a better coach than Herm Edwards and Rod Marinelli.

Bears: Kick squibbed to John Gilmore. 8:58 remaining. TV timeout. First and 10 from 40 — Benson swarmed by Packers. Loss of one yard. This offensive line is pretty sad. Griese 10/16 for 115 yards. Griese’s pass is through the hands of Desmond Clark. Could be defensive holding? Nope. Illegal contact. Automatic first down for Chicago. 1st and 10 from Chicago 44 — Benson run for three yards. Nowhere to run for Benson. Griese playaction fake to Olsen to the 50-yard line. Illegal hands to the face on Al Harris of the Packers. Another automatic first down for Chicago. 1st and 10 from GB 49 — Griese under pressure throws over the head of Mark Bradley. It turns out that Jerry Angelo said he traded Thomas Jones because Benson and he couldn’t coexist in locker room. Looks like the Bears picked the wrong back. With that said, Jones wouldn’t have had much of a chance with this offensive line. Bears call a timeout on second down. Saints versus Seahawks next week on SNF. Another snoozer. Benson run for two yards. Another third and long for Chicago. It’s time to go shotgun. 3rd and 8 — Griese in gun, steps up and is sacked by Nick Barnett. Maynard punt to Packers ten. Flag on the play. Penalty against Green Bay. 12-men on the field. Bears decline it.

Analysis: Ron Turner loves to get the Bears in those third and longs. Offense has looked slightly better tonight but is still nowhere on par with a professional unit. Bears defense needs a turnover badly. Game is still in reach but is slipping away. One Favre big play from putting this game away. Remember his 99 yard touchdown pass to Robert Brooks against the Bears on MNF in 1994. Sunday Night Football has been really bad this season.

Packers: Wynn run for four yards on first down. Favre with another hard count. Wynn stuffed for nothing. Big third and five here — Favre in gun, rolls out and throws an INT to Urlacher. Bad decision gives Bears life.

Analysis: Favre is now tied with George Blanda all-time for interceptions. Chicago defense gets the turnover. That’s the bad Favre, that’s been missing so far this year. Dumb throw. Urlacher finally makes a big play.

Bears: Griese touchdown pass to Olsen, who is forced out of bounds. The Bears finally use Olsen. Force out is not reviewable. Gould PAT is good. Packers 20, Bears 17.

Analysis: Bears finally convert off a turnover. Nice throw by Griese, and Turner finally takes a chance five games into the season. Green Bay with three turnovers, Chicago with none. Bears have been turning the ball over all year long.

Packers: Williams wrapped up at the 20 yard line. Wynn run for two yards. Chicago is energized here with four minutes in the quarter. 2nd and 9 — Wynn hammered at 25 by Briggs after three-yard run. 3rd and 6 –Conservative play call. Winn runs for four yards. What is Green Bay thinking? Besides his one mistake, Favre has been excellent tonight. Let him throw the ball. Hester time? Green Bay would be better suited to kick to sidelines. Ball is kicked out at 36 of Chicago.

Analysis: Chicago with momentum. Time for the offense to seize the day with great field position.

Bears: Griese to Greg Olsen for two yards. At least they’re using this kid. With that said, Bears fans are tired of this dink and dunk garbage. Don’t run and set up a long third down. False start on Desmond Clark will likely set up long third down. 2nd and 13 from 33 — Griese in gun and Chicago runs to Benson for a loss of three yards. Ron Turner back to his old self after Olsen touchdown pass. This guy is garbage as an offensive coordinator. 3rd and 16 — Griese downfield to Muhammad. The pass is incomplete. Charles Woodson fumbles the ball after return to Packers 41. Brad Maynard recovers. Ayanbadejo with another big play.

Analysis: Chicago’s offense fails to seize momentum again because of dumb penalty and dumb play calls. Special teams makes up bad coverage early in third by forcing fourth turnover of the night. Ayanbadejo is spectacularly solid in coverage once again.

Bears: Griese 17-yard pass to Bradley. 1st and 10 from 24 — Benson run for nothing. End of third quarter. Packers 20, Bears 17.

Analysis: Chicago’s season comes down to the final 15 minutes. The Bears are starting to look like a team here. Anything less than a touchdown on this drive would be considered a failure. Even though a field goal would tie the game, Chicago needs to put the pressure on Green Bay from behind. That’s when Favre is susceptible to mistakes.

Fourth Quarter

Bears: Griese throws the ball away on third down. 3rd and 9 from 23 — expect conservative call to keep field goal in line. Griese in gun, hands off to Peterson for a run of six yards. Gould field goal attempt of 36 yards is good. Bears 20, Packers 20.

Analysis: While Chicago has fought back to tie the game, will conservatism on third down hurt the Bears in the end? Favre is coming out throwing here. Bears defense, especially in the middle of the field, needs to be ready. 4th quarters have been nightmares for the Bears defense. Chicago finally winning the turnover game after being awful in this phase since Super Bowl XLI.

Packers: Williams from three out to around the 25. Holding on Green Bay. That was just flagrant. 1st and 10 from 10 — Wynn is swarmed by Briggs and Alex Brown (forget about this guy? I have). 2nd and 10 from 10 — Favre’s pass is knocked down by Adewale Ogunleye, who has been quiet after a great game against Detroit. 3rd and 10 — Favre in gun , hits Franks for five yards. Briggs with another tackle. Please sign this guy to a contract tomorrow. Green Bay with only 37 yards in second half. Defense has responded, for now, after terrible first half. Hester back to return and is taken down at the 35. Flag on play. Green Bay player ran out of bounds. Five yards added to end of the play.

Analysis: The game is here for the taking. Can Chicago’s offense get it down? Bears need a touchdown as Favre will give the Packers at least one chance to win this game.

Bears: First and 10 from Chicago 40 — Benson run for four yards. 2nd and 6 — use the tight ends here…Benson run for nothing. Ron Turner is being too conservative. The guy is just a terribly inconsistent coordinator. 3rd and 6 — Griese throws out to Garrett Wolfe. Hate the call. The guy hasn’t been in all long. Bears get bailed out by facemask on Green Bay, of the 15 yard variety. Packers are giving this game to the Bears; Turner refuses to take it. First and 10 from 39 — Griese throws off his back foot and is intercepted by Brady Poppinga. Olsen was the intended receiver.

Analysis: This is where the game swings. Deja vu. Chicago’s defense has held throughout the second half and the Bears offense has been unable to take the lead on two poor excuses of drives. Griese was due for a mistake and made it. Turner continue to handcuffs the offense with conservative calls after the game was tied. If this guy is around after this season, then Lovie doesn’t have a clue. It’s Favre time.

Packers: 1st and 10 from 22 — Favre dump pass negated by another Green Bay penalty. Green Bay is shooting itself in the foot. 1st and 20 from 13 –Favre underhand throws the ball out of bounds with Ogunleye chasing. Packers second-half play calling leaving a lot to be desired. 2nd and 20 — Favre shovel pass is incomplete. The bad Brett Favre is showing up here in the second half. Another questionable decision. This game is showing that Green Bay is a pretender rather than a contender. 3rd and 20 — Favre dump pass to Morency for four yards. Punt coming. Hester back to receive. Returns to Green Bay 35. Holding on Rod Wilson of Chicago. 1st and 10 from Chicago 47 — T.V. timeout.

Analysis: Killer penalty negates great field position for Bears. It’s time for Ron Turner to get some guts and let the Bears win this thing. It’s now or never for Turner and the Bears offense. If they don’t get it done here, they have no one to blame but themselves. The Chicago defense has responded in the second half.

Bears: Benson run for two yards. Come on Turner. Get your head out of your butt. Second and 8 from 49 — Benson run for two yards. Yet another third and long. Turner just doesn’t get it. Use your tight ends. Both teams are playing not to lose. 3rd and 6 — Griese in gun and is sacked. This is just pathetic. The offensive line breaks down again, but Turner’s brain farts and inability to take chances is killing the Bears. Maynard punt to Green Bay 26. He shanked it.

Analysis: Turner is a gutless wonder. Chicago’s defense is once again giving them this game and the Bears offense can’t even sustain anything. Ineptitude from the guy calling the plays is going to result in a Green Bay victory. Favre is just too good. A sinking feeling is developing in the stomachs of Bears fans.

Packers: Favre to Franks for seven yards. Green Bay looking to spread it out. 2nd and 3 from 33 — 7 minutes left, Wynn is stuffed by Briggs. It looks like another holding on Green Bay and it is. 2nd and 13 from 23 — Green Bay has been way too conservative after getting the running game on track early. Favre in gun, avoids the sack and hits James Jones for a gain of 11 yards. 3rd and a long 3 from 34 yard line — Favre in gun, Bears finally bring pressure, Favre hit by Mark Anderson and the pass is incomplete. Briggs has 15 tackles tonight. Ryan punt to Chicago nine, Hester returns to 20. How conservative does Turner get?

Analysis: Is this where a Griese INT or Benson fumble comes into play? Chicago deep in its own territory.

Bears: Benson run for one yard. Turner just doesn’t get it. How this guy still has a job in the NFL is mind-boggling? Five minutes left. Griese hits Greg Olsen for a big gain of 27 yards. Greg Olsen’s coming out party. Imagine if he had a competent offensive coordinator. First and ten from 47 — Benson sweep to the Packers 46. 2nd and four — Benson is eaten alive and gets back to the line of scrimmage. Packers stuffed the line. Benson at least broke a tackle there and showed some fight. Benson 25 carries for 56 yards. He’s ran harder tonight but doesn’t have what it takes to be a number-one back. Chicago’s offensive line is still not that good enough and hasn’t done much for Benson, to his defense. But he’s still not the guy. 3rd and 4 — Griese under center and Peterson looks to have gotten the first down on the draw. 3:15 left. Bears pick up first down at Green Bay 42. Chicago can’t think field goal, must think touchdown. Green Bay is challenging the spot of the ball. Should be interesting where the ball was considering when Peterson’s knees hit the ground. The ball will be moved to the 42 and remeasured. If Chicago doesn’t have first down, the Bears must go for it. QB sneak. Nothing too complicated. Doesn’t matter. The nose of the ball is at the stick. Chicago gets the first down. 1st and 10 from 42 — do the Bears have confidence here that Benson can hold onto the football? Madden and Michaels are talking field goal. Chicago will lose with that philosophy. Benson run for seven yards. Wow. It’s about time. Nice tough run. Clock running at 2:30. 2nd and 3 — Benson for a yard. And Green Bay takes the timeout. 3rd and 2 from 34 — If Turner had any guts, a play-action pass to Desmond Clark or Greg Olsen. Expect a run considering his conservative nature. Wow. Turner finally got it right. Play action fake to Desmond Clark for a 34-yard touchdown pass. It’s about time Turner took a chance. Jeezus. Turner still sucks. Gould PAT is good. Bears 27, Packers 20.

Analysis: The Bears finally use Clark. As much as Turner is despised and needs to go, he finally made the right call. It only took him about a quarter here to figure it out. Don’t let this play fool you about Turner. He’s still incompetent. Now this is where Brett Favre specializes: the two-minute drill. This is also where Favre is dangerous and can force things and be picked. Chicago’s defense has been a different unit in the second half. It all comes down to this.

Packers: Williams returns to 26. Two-minute warning. First and 10 from 26 — Green with one timeout. Favre in gun and hits Driver for nine yards. 2nd and a long 1 — Clock running, Favre hits Donald Lee to the GB 42 for a first down. 1:20 left. Favre Hits Lee to the 50. Chicago is letting Green Bay get this small stuff over the middle of the field. Under a minute here. A lot of time running here. Favre is nearly intercepted by Tillman on 2nd and two. Bad throw. 3rd and 2 with 41 seconds — Favre in gun and fires a strike to Jones, who makes a great catch. Clock running 25 seconds left. 1st and 10 form 41– Favre dumps to Morency to the 33 yard line. Green Bay calls final timeout with 13 seconds left. 2nd and 1 — NBC detailing how Tillman saved this game in first half. Favre in gun and the pass is dropped by Jones at the 13. 3rd and 1 with eight seconds left — Packers got to take a chance in the end zone, unless using sidelines. Favre in gun, fires to end zone and is picked by Brandon McGowan with an interception. One second left. Bears will win and salvage season for a week. Excuse me. That pick tied Favre with Blanda.

Bears: Griese takes knee. Chicago wins. Bears 27, Packers 20.

Analysis: Awful clock management by Green Bay on the last drive. Used too much of the middle of the field rather than the sidelines. Packers came back down to earth. Chicago’s playoff aspirations alive for the time being. Green Bay doomed by turnovers, five in the game to be precise. Chicago with only one turnover, and offense finally made a big play after leaving too many opportunities on the table. This game was won by the defense. Tillman’s two strips in the first half saved a blowout, and the Bears defense responded in the second half. Green Bay got way too conservative in the second half, thus helping the Bears. Chicago will take this, but a lot of problems remain. The offensive line is old, the running game nonexistent and the play calling very choppy. But the Bears are 2-3 rather than 1-4. Chicago is now only two games back in the division, but a lot of work remains. And that’s an understatement. Are the Bears a playoff team at this point? Not yet. But their aspirations are at least still alive.

For at least one night, life as a Chicago sports fan is decentt. The Bears won and the Cubs are done, and the Bulls begin preseason play on Tuesday night.