Bears vs. Packers: 5 Observations From Green Bay's Playoff-Clinching Win
The Green Bay Packers didn't win pretty on Sunday afternoon, but by beating the Chicago Bears 10-3 at Lambeau Field, the Packers are playoff bound for the second straight season.
The Packers (10-6) locked into the NFC's sixth and final seed, and will travel to Philadelphia for a Week 1 rematch with the Eagles next Sunday.
Here are five observations from the Packers' playoff clinching win.
Defense Saves the Day
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The Packers' offense and defense were equally effective in beating the New York Giants a week ago, but for the better part of Sunday, only the Packers' defense showed up.
That was a good thing for Green Bay, because the defense played so well throughout the night that it didn't matter that the Packers' offense took the better part of 43 minutes to finally get on the scoreboard.
When it was all said and done, the Bears would only muster 227 yards and three points, and that was vital as the Packers were held to their second lowest scoring total of the 2010 season.
To be honest, however, it was a fitting way for the Packers to seal their playoff spot. Their underrated defense has kept this team afloat all season long, and Sunday was no different.
Time after time the Packers' defense made the big play when things were beginning to look dire, and Nick Collins' interception at the end of the game was a final statement to the NFC that this defense will be tough to crack come playoff time.
As the saying goes, "defense wins championships", and the Packers might possess the NFC's best in that category.
Erik Walden Is a Great Example of Why the Packers Made the Playoffs
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The Packers were probably hit harder by injuries than any team in the NFL this season, but still this team won 10 games and are playoff bound.
Why? Because no-name players like Erik Walden have played so well filling in for important injured players.
On Sunday, Walden—the Packers' fourth or fifth starting outside linebacker—had two sacks and a team-leading 11 tackles. Clearly an amazing effort, but it's become commonplace on this 2010 Packers team.
Just look up and down their roster: safety Charlie Peprah made a huge interception in the end zone. Howard Green sacked Jay Cutler. Desmond Bishop made big stop after big stop.
Did you ever expect to see what you've seen from these preseason backups?
But it doesn't stop there. Sam Shields has turned himself into a solid nickel corner and explosive return man.
John Kuhn went from a nobody to a Green Bay folk hero and an important piece to the Packers' offense.
Andrew Quarless, Jarius Wynn, and even Matt Flynn have done admirable jobs in their brief playing time as well.
Overall, the 2010 Packers have persevered through their injury woes because of performances like we saw from Walden on Sunday.
Special Teams Might Have Won the Packers a Game
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Throughout the 2010 season, the Packers' special teams have had their bumps and bruises. In fact, I called for the firing of coordinator Shawn Slocum after the Packers lost a game in New England partly because of another poor showing from the special teams.
While I'm not ready to say that Sunday's performance should save Slocum's job, his unit played as good as they have all season.
Devin Hester was held without a game-changing return, and Tramon Williams did his best Hester impression on a 41-yard punt return that set up the Packers' first points of the game.
Once the Packers finally took the lead at 10-3, punter Tim Masthay was also pivotal in making sure it stayed that way.
After several offensive drives stalled around midfield for the Packers, Masthay was able to pin the Bears inside their own five yard line. The Bears struggled on their first possession after being pinned, and the long field set up a tough final drive for Chicago as they tried to tie the game.
It's hard to believe after all their struggles this season, but the Packers' special teams were one of the driving factors in their win on Sunday.
Rodgers to Jennings Is Just Enough
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As frustrating a performance as the offense put on in the first half, that unit did just enough for the Packers to beat the Bears.
The running game struggled all afternoon long against the NFL's No. 3 rush defense, and Aaron Rodgers was solid but unspectacular.
However, Rodgers made two throws to Greg Jennings that made all the difference in the game's final scoreline.
Following Williams' punt return in the third quarter, Rodgers connected with Jennings on a pass play that took the Packers to the Bears' one-yard line. Green Bay couldn't find the end zone, but tied the game at three.
In the fourth quarter, Rodgers again found Jennings—this time for 46 yards—and the Packers were once again situated on the Bears' one-yard line. This time, however, Rodgers finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee.
In the end, those two throws were all the Packers needed to clinch their playoff birth.
No Matter How Ugly, a Playoff Birth Is a Pretty Ending
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To be perfectly honest, the Packers' 2010 season was a rollercoaster ride—full of ups and downs. But no matter how shaky the ride was, you have to be proud of this team after everything it has been through.
It's been a long journey to get to 10 wins.
Remember back to Week 1? How in the world were we ever going to replace Ryan Grant?
What about after losing to the Bears and committing 18 penalties? Or falling to 3-3 after losing to the Redskins and Dolphins in back-to-back weeks?
Weren't the Packers supposed to be all but dead after Jermichael Finley, Nick Barnett, Mark Tauscher, Morgan Burnett, and several others joined Grant on the injured reserve?
And wasn't Mike McCarthy due to be fired after the Packers lost close games to Atlanta and Detroit?
Wasn't Ted Thompson an idiot after standing pat at the trading deadline while the Vikings went out and got Randy Moss?
By no means are the 2010 Green Bay Packers the perfect team. They might lose in Philadelphia next week and it'll be all over.
But you can't give this Packers team enough credit. After all the injuries, heartbreakers and arguing about how bad the management is, the Packers have a chance to win a Super Bowl.
And after 16 regular season games, that's all any team can ever ask for in the NFL.
Looking Ahead
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When the Packers take the field next Sunday against the Eagles, Philadelphia will look like a much different team—and I'm not just talking about the jerseys they'll be wearing.
Throwbacks aside, the Eagles sport one of the NFL's most explosive offenses with Michael Vick solely at the helm. While the Packers got a brief preview of that offense in Week 1 (and struggled), Green Bay will get a full-game helping of it next Sunday.
The Packers' defense could make a similar argument, as they've transformed into one of the NFL's best as well. Eagles' O vs. Packers' D is just one of the fascinating matchups that will litter this game.
All in all, Sunday's game in Philadelphia should shape up to be one of the weekend's most exciting showdowns.
Because with the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick, Greg Jennings, Desean Jackson, Clay Matthews and Asante Samuel all sharing the same field, how could it not?
The NFL playoffs are finally here.
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