Packers at Bears
Soldier Field
Chicago, Ill.
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2001
AT A GLANCE: With the Bears stuck in the NFC Central
basement, the NFL’s longest rivalry had lost its luster — until now. Chicago
(6-1) sits atop the division, one game ahead of the Packers (5-2). They meet for the 162nd
time overall.
|
| OVERVIEW: For several years now, Bears-Packers, the
most-storied rivalry in the NFL, had lost much of its intensity. While the Packers
remained competitive, the Bears remained in the NFC Central cellar. Green Bay dominated in
the latter half of the 1990s, at one time winning 10 straight. But slowly the rivalry
has come back to life. The teams have split their last four meetings, with each winning on
the other team’s field. The rivalry will come to a head Sunday, with the Bears
leading the division standings and the Packers just one game back.
Last week both teams pulled off comeback wins. Green Bay trailed Tampa Bay by 10 points
in the third quarter and six points in the fourth before Allen Rossum returned a punt 55
yards for a touchdown with 3:03 left. The Packers held on for a 21-20 win.
For the second week in a row, Chicago rallied in the final minute of regulation and won
in overtime, with Mike Brown scoring on his second game-winning interception return in as
many weeks. The Bears trailed Cleveland 21-7 before scoring two touchdowns in the final 30
seconds of the fourth quarter.
When the Packers have the ball:
The Packers’ running game had been held in check the previous four weeks when RB
Ahman Green exploded for 169 rushing yards (7.0 average per carry) last week. Green
Bay’s offensive line had struggled previously against some formidable defensive
fronts, including Tampa Bay and Baltimore, before righting the ship. The Bears present
another formidable front, allowing only 77.1 rushing yards per game.
The strength of Chicago’s defense lies up the middle. DTs Ted Washington and Keith
Traylor have done a great job clogging the middle, forcing most teams to veer their ground
attacks outside. The play up front has allowed the Bears’ speedy LB corps to often
fly to the ball unimpeded. Safeties Tony Parrish and Mike Brown are hard hitters. |
|
|
| Soldier Field |
| Chicago, Ill. |
| Date: Sunday, November 11, 2001 |
| 12:00 p.m. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Green Bay |
5-2-0 |
| |
Chicago |
6-1-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Green Bay |
4-3-0 |
| |
Chicago |
5-1-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Green Bay (R) |
1-2-0 |
| |
Chicago (H) |
4-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Green Bay (R) |
1-2-0 |
| |
Chicago (H) |
3-0-1 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Green Bay |
5-1-0 |
| |
Chicago |
5-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Green Bay |
4-2-0 |
| |
Chicago |
4-1-1 |
|
| Since his outstanding performance vs. the Ravens in Week Five, Packers QB Brett Favre
has made his share of mistakes. He was picked off twice last week on poorly thrown passes,
and the pace of the passing game has lacked the tempo it had vs. Baltimore. Interestingly,
the Packers have been without WR Bill Schroeder (ankle; check status), their leading
receiver, since the Ravens game. The Bears still lack a dominant pass rusher, but they
have been able to put widespread pressure on the quarterback — 10 different Chicago
defenders have at least one sack. Green Bay’s offensive line, which has allowed only
nine sacks, might be without OLT Chad Clifton, who left last week’s game with an
ankle injury.
When the Bears have the ball:
Before working his fourth-quarter magic last week, Bears QB Shane Matthews struggled,
throwing three interceptions and having many of his passes batted down at the line of
scrimmage. Injured starter Jim Miller (hip; check status) was the No. 2 quarterback last
week and could return to the lineup.
After allowing only two sacks in their first six games, the Bears surrendered five to
the Browns. The Packers have recorded 30 sacks, with 10 coming from DE Kabeer
Gbaja-Biamila. In most passing situations, Gbaja-Biamila will face Bears OLT Blake
Brockermeyer.
Bears offensive coordinator John Shoop, in his first full year in the position, has
done his best to establish and stick with the running game. Chicago has run the ball at
least 30 times in each of the last four games, with rookie RB Anthony Thomas taking over
the featured role. Thomas has averaged 137.0 yards and scored three touchdowns in his
three starts.
A jacked-up Packers defense did an excellent job of keeping Bucs RB Mike Alstott (17
carries for 30 yards) at bay last week. A matchup to watch is Packers NT Gilbert Brown vs.
Bears C Olin Kreutz. Brown, who’s down to a trimmer 339 pounds, has performed well
against the run, and Kreutz has been the one Bears lineman said to have Pro Bowl
potential.
The Bears have missed the big-play ability of WR Marcus Robinson (knee; out for
season), but other pass catchers have stepped up. Dez White has shown improved hands, and
rookie David Terrell is proving to be a clutch target. They’ll face a solid Packers
secondary that features Pro Bowl S Darren Sharper. He leads the team with three
interceptions and has become a very adept tackler. Sharper also will help in run support
and contribute on blitzes.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Nov. 4. |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 Schroeder, 85 Bradford, 89 Ferguson* |
| OLT |
76 Clifton, 79 Stokes |
| OLG |
68 Wahle, 63 Ferrario* |
| C |
58 Flanagan, 52 Winters |
| ORG |
62 Rivera, 63 Ferrario* |
| ORT |
65 Tauscher, 72 E. Dotson |
| TE |
88 Franks, 83 Martin* |
| WR |
86 Freeman, 80 Driver, 82 Lee |
| QB |
4 Favre, 18 Pederson, 10 Burris |
| RB |
30 Green, 25 Levens, 32 Mealey, 29 Goodman |
| FB |
33 Henderson, 32 Mealey |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 Holliday, 97 Hunt, 98 Lyon |
| NT |
93 Brown, 95 Walker, 75 Flanigan |
| DT |
71 S. Dotson, 75 Flanigan, 97 Hunt |
| DRE |
91 Thierry, 94 Gbaja-Biamila, 99 Reynolds* |
| SLB |
59 Diggs, 50 Williams, 51 Marshall* |
| MLB |
55 Harris, 51 Marshall* |
| WLB |
54 Wayne, 57 Gizzi |
| LCB |
34 McKenzie, 27 McBride, 22 Thibodeaux |
| RCB |
37 Williams, 21 Jue*, 20 Rossum |
| SS |
42 Sharper, 31 Akins |
| FS |
36 Butler, 31 Akins |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
9 Bidwell |
| PK |
8 Longwell |
| H |
18 Pederson, 9 Bidwell |
| PR |
20 Rossum, 86 Freeman, 82 Lee |
| KR |
20 Rossum, 32 Mealey, 85 Bradford |
| LS |
60 Davis, 52 Winters |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 White, 87 Bates |
| OLT |
78 Brockermeyer, 74 Herndon |
| OLG |
64 Tucker, 73 Dogins |
| C |
57 Kreutz, 73 Dogins |
| ORG |
58 Villarrial, 69 Gandy* |
| ORT |
71 Williams, 60 Robertson*, 76 Cook* |
| TE |
84 Baxter, 82 Davis, 89 Lyman |
| WR |
86 Booker, 83 Terrell* |
| QB |
9 Matthews, 15 Miller, 17 Wuerffel |
| RB |
35 Thomas*, 20 Allen, 25 Denson, 32 Johnson |
| FB |
31 Shelton, 45 Dragos, 36 Pritchett |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
98 Robinson, 72 Powell |
| DLT |
92 Washington, 70 Boone |
| DRT |
94 Traylor, 62 Newkirk |
| DRE |
93 Daniels, 95 Riley*, 99 Tafoya* |
| SLB |
59 Colvin, 55 Jones |
| MLB |
54 Urlacher, 59 Colvin |
| WLB |
53 Holdman, 52 Howard |
| LCB |
27 Harris, 23 Azumah |
| RCB |
21 McQuarters, 39 Austin |
| SS |
37 Parrish, 33 Whigham, 22 Merrill* |
| FS |
30 Brown, 43 Green |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
4 Maynard |
| PK |
2 Edinger |
| H |
4 Maynard |
| PR |
21 McQuarters, 32 Johnson, 83 Terrell* |
| KR |
25 Denson, 32 Johnson, 23 Azumah |
| LS |
65 Mannelly, 58 Villarrial, 45 Dragos |
* Rookie |
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