Mike McCarthy
Losing to a pair of division rivals is tough enough, but losing twice in the last two weeks at Lambeau Field has become a problem for the Green Bay Packers.
After closing to within 14-13 on a Mason Crosby 52-yard field goal at the end of the first half, the Packers would fail to score in the second half and lost to the rival Bears 17-13. The loss came less than two weeks after the Packers fell to the Detroit Lions, seeing Detroit’s 13-game losing streak against the Packers come to an end. Detroit hadn’t beaten the Packers in Green Bay since 1991 until two weeks ago.
The Packers were coming off a divisional win at Minnesota and were looking to dispatch the Bears, who hadn’t beaten the Packers previously under Jay Cutler in Green Bay. That streak too, would come to an end as Cutler and the Bears didn’t turn the ball over once, while Green Bay gave up the football twice.
Cutler won for just the second time against the Packers and for the first time since Mike McCarthy arrived, the Packers dropped two home games to N-F-C North foes in the same season for the first time.
For the fifth straight game, Rodgers’ passer rating (62.7) was worst than the opposing quarterback. Cutler turned in a rating of 90.7.
Mike McCarthy said the main issue on offense had to do with dropped passes. Davante Adams was targeted eleven times and caught just two passes. He had several drops along the way and now has 15 receptions over the last three games after being thrown to 37 times.
The Packers picked up 177 yards rushing but after they had a perfect balance against the Vikings last week (34 runs and 34 passes), the Packers passed the ball 43 times and ran it just 28 times. Running the ball was the most efficient way of moving the ball for the Packers on the night, yet they ran it 15 less times than they threw it.
The Packers have their running game fixed, but the pass game is a mess. Aaron Rodgers has completed 38 of 77 passes over the last two games, completing less than 50% of his passes (49.4%).
The Packers had one last chance, taking over at their own 20-yard-line with 2:45 to play. They moved it to the Chicago eight-yard-line where they had first and goal. Four incompletions later and the Bears had themselves a win.
Injuries
Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and defensive back Damarious Randall (knee) left the game with injuries and didn’t return.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he was hit on the funny bone and was still waiting after the game to get feeling back in all of his fingers. Backup Scott Tolzien warmed up but never got into the game.
Good week for Cutler
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler started the week on Monday when his wife gave birth to a daughter.
Cutler last night completed 19 of 31 for 200 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers to lead the Bears to victory at Lambeau Field.
AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers said they had their chances :24
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on the loss :16