Julius Peppers: How A Blocked Field Goal Won the Bears-Packers Game

Julius Peppers of the Chicago Bears certainly earned his paycheck on Monday night, as the Bears knocked off the Packers 20-17 at Soldier Field. 

Peppers was a key contributor on the evening, but it was his block of a Mason Crosby field goal in the third quarter that won the game for the Bears. Let's take a look at the block and what it did. 

The Stage Is Set

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 03: Kicker Mason Crosby #2 of the Green Bay Packers looks on from the sideline against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Green Bay led Chicago 10-7 midway through the third quarter, when Crosby lined up to take a 37-yard field goal that would give the Packers a six-point lead. 

Peppers had been all over the field all game long, but it was this play that made him MVP. 

The Block

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 12: Tommie Harris #91 and Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears await the start of play against the Detroit Lions during the NFL season opening game at Soldier Field on September 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the

As the ball was snapped, Peppers breaks through the offensive line and blocks the kick.  

What It Meant

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 27: Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears looks on against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on September 27, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The blocked field goal wound up being the difference in the game, as the Bears managed to take a 20-17 lead before forcing a fumble to bring the Packers' hopes crashing down.

While it was Urlacher who forced the fumble, without Peppers' block of Crosby's field goal, the Packers would have been playing for overtime. Even if Urlacher forced the fumble, the score still would have been tied, and, as we all know, overtime is a completely different ball game.