Nothing Like a Bear Beatdown to Bring Thanksgiving Smiles to Lambeau

If you didn’t like that, you must be a Bears fan. Both the Packer offense and defense contributed to a crushing 41 points against their arch rivals; and that was after just three quarters of action. Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Big Bob Tonyan had good games for the offense. Rodgers threw for 4 TD’s and had a QB rating of 132.3. Tonyan had 5 receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown on a well executed 39 yard route. He also caught two passes that converted fourth downs. Adams went for six catches and 61 yards, including a beautiful high jump for the first Packer TD on 3rd and ten. Coach LeFluer was aggressive on 4th down and the Packers executed. The Packer defense, often maligned, came up with two big interceptions from Darnell Savage and a sack/fumble recovery run back for a touchdown by Preston Smith. It was good to see #91 playing fast without the shoulder brace that has limited him for many weeks.

After last weeks Indianapolis collapse, the Bears touchdown at the close of the second quarter, kept most Packer fans from completely relaxing at halftime. The defense started the third quarter with a stop, but the offense’s penalty and subsequent punt had many Green Bay faithful nervously taking extra sips of their beverages.

Then the Bears overall number two pick of the 2017 NFL draft eased all our fears. Mitch Trubisky had his best week of practice in his three years as a Bear according to head coach Matt Nagy. He was fired up with his team surrounding him before the Bears kicked off to start the game. He looked focused. Once the game began, he reverted to the inaccurate, turnover prone QB that has frustrated Bears fans since he put on their uniform.

Packer tight ends Tonyan, Lewis and Sternberger combined for 8 catches, 2 TD’s and 88 yards. While the Packers tight ends had a big impact, ex Packer Jimmy Graham was invisible until garbage time in the 4th quarter and was outplayed by rookie Cole Kmet.

Allen Lazard survived a vicious clean hit from Bears 2020 second round pick, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, but returned to the game. Both Lazard and St. Brown played well for the Packers. Even the loss of Corey Linsley to an apparent knee injury did not slow the Packers down. Elgton Jenkins slid to center and Jon Runyan played admirably at right guard as the Packers rushed for 182 yards and kept Aaron Rodgers completely clean in the pocket all night. While every true fan wished we had been allowed in, we all got a laugh from the lucky Packer family member attendee’s sign, “Deep dish pizza is overrated”. That laugher and sign seemed to be equally true of the Bears defense on this chilly night in a mostly empty Lambeau Field. The Bears vaunted defense had no sacks, no QB hits besides a roughing the passer penalty, and only one tackle for loss.

Except for some poor open field tackling by Raven Greene and one huge run for the Bears on their opening drive it was hard to have anything to even try to gripe about. Hopefully Linsley and Lucas Patrick will be available for next Sunday’s game.

Enjoy this one with your leftovers Packer faithful, this was a true Thanksgiving weekend present for Packer fans and their families. Next up, the Eagles.