Rodgers hurt, Packers fall to Bears

Week 9
November 4, 2013 - 7:30 p.m. - ESPN
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers 20 - Bears 27

Disaster struck the Green Bay Packers in a Monday Night matchup against the division rival Chicago Bears when Aaron Rodgers was tackled by Chicago's Shea McClellin and came up in tremendous pain.

Photo credit: chicagobears.com

On the opening possession, Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone on his left shoulder (non-throwing).  Rodgers did not return to the game.  Rodgers did return to the sideline late in the second half and received a huge ovation from the Lambeau faithful.  Rodgers is projected to miss 6-8 weeks.  With Rodgers in the lineup, the Packers can beat anyone.  We are about to find out how this team responds to losing its Super Bowl MVP quarterback.

Seneca Wallace, signed by the Packers a week prior to the season starting, replaced Rodgers and was effective.  The Packers relied heavily on the strength of their running game of Eddie Lacy and James Starks against the struggling defense of the Chicago Bears.  Just before the end of the first quarter, Starks busted a 32-yard dash to the end zone to give the Packers a 10-7 lead.  However, the Bears owned the second quarter adding a Matt Forte rushing touchdown and a Robbie Gould field goal giving the Bears a 17-10 lead at halftime.

The Packers opened the second half with a bang.  Eddie Lacy reeled off a 56-yard run to the Bears 1-yard line.  And Lacy punched the ball into the end zone on the next play.  The Packers then attempted a surprise onside kick and recovered to steal a possession from the Bears.  The Packers capitalized with a Mason Crosby field goal giving the Packers the lead 20-17.  After the Bears added an Alshon Jeffrey touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead 24-20, the Packers offense could not find its rhythm the rest of the game.  In the fourth quarter, the Bears reeled off a nine minute eighteen-play drive ending with a field goal finishing off the Packers 27-20.  The Packers had :50 seconds remaining, but without any timeouts, Wallace was sacked twice to end the game.

Seneca Wallace in relief finished the day 11/19 for 114 yards and an interceptions.  Eddie Lacy rushed for 150 yards and scored once.  James Starks also scored a touchdown and added 40 yards on the ground.  Jordy Nelson led the team in receiving with four receptions for 67 yards.

Photo credit: packers.com

Josh McCown started for the Bears for the injured Jay Cutler and performed well.  McCown threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns.  Matt Forte had an impressive night with 125 yards rushing and added a touchdown.  Brandon Marshall caught seven balls for 107 yards and touchdown for the Bears.

Entering the game, the Packers were sitting pretty at the top of the NFC North at 5-2.  Without Aaron Rodgers for the foreseeable future, the division is now wide open.  The Packers will need to be reliant on their running game to carry them.  And the defense will need to set up big time.  More than ever.  Life without Aaron Rodgers has begun in Green Bay.

#gopackgo

Chicago Bears  5-3
Green Bay Packers  5-3
Detroit Lions  5-3
Minnesota Vikings  1-7