Packers and Bears Play 2nd Punt-Less Game in NFL History

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears played a unique contest Sunday, making it through an entire game without a punt for just the second time in NFL history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Given the unique circumstances, Sunday's game wasn't all that high-scoring, as the Packers emerged with 38-17 victory.

Green Bay's seven drives resulted in five touchdowns, a field goal and a missed field goal, while the Bears weren't quite so fortunate. Chicago did manage two touchdowns and a field goal from its eight drives, but also saw two end in interceptions, with another culminating in a turnover on downs.

Chicago's other two drives were ended by halftime and the final whistle, with the first of those likely to haunt the team throughout the coming week. Down 21-17 with no timeouts and the ball at Green Bay's nine-yard line, the Bears decided to take a shot at the end zone with just nine seconds remaining. Tight end Martellus Bennett caught a pass at the one-yard line, and the clock ran out when he was stopped short of the end zone.

It was all Green Bay from that point forward, even though the Bears finished the day with a remarkable 496 yards of total offense. Green Bay had 358 yards, needing just 47 offensive plays in a near-flawless performance.

The NFL's other punt-less game occurred back in 1992, when the Buffalo Bills beat the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 34-31 in a contest featuring 1,086 yards of total offense. As was the case this past Sunday, the losing team won the yardage battle, with San Francisco accounting for 598 yards, compared to Buffalo's 488. Each team turned the ball over three times, and 49ers kicker Mike Cofer made just one of his three field-goal attempts.