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Bears step up in second half for much-needed win

Oct 8, 2007 - 6:31 AM GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- It's a good thing for the Chicago Bears they don't award style points.

The Bears overcame a very sluggish first half and forced five turnovers on their way to a 27-20 victory over their bitter NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers, on Sunday night.

Chicago (2-3) trailed, 17-7, at halftime, in large part due to an offense that could muster only 122 first-half yards on 26 plays - good for an average of just 4.7 yards per play, less than half of the 9.5 yards per play the Packers were able to manage en route to accumulating 341 yards before half, including 102 rushing yards which was 36 more than Green Bay's previous season high.

"We didn't play well in the first half, it is as simple as that," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We couldn't play the run or the pass."

Despite outgaining Chicago, 191-20, in the first quarter and forcing a three-and-out on each of the Bears' three first-quarter possessions, Green Bay (4-1) could not increase their early seven-point advantage due to fumbles by rookie James Jones on consecutive possessions, each of which were forced by cornerback Charles Tillman.

"We had a number of turnovers that game that took points off the board," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "You cannot turn the football over and win in this league. It's evident week in and week out."

After both teams exchanged field goals to open the second half, the Bears started to flash the same kind of defense that ranked fifth overall and forced a league-high 44 turnovers last season. In all, Chicago limited the Packers to just 98 total yards and forced three turnovers in the second half.

"We definitely had two halves of football tonight," Smith said. "Our offense showed some life late (in the first half but) the second half was a totally different story. Our offense continued to move the ball (and) our defense stepped it up. This was a crucial game for us."

"The Bears came out and played us every single snap the second half in two-deep (zone)," McCarthy said. "We had excellent opportunities to run the football. I'm disappointed in our run game, frankly, in the second half - especially (after) the way we ran the ball in the first half."

Midway through the third quarter, Packer quarterback Brett Favre rolled out to his right and fired a wild sidearm throw into the hands of Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher, resulting in the Packers' third turnover of the contest.

"(It was a) bad decision on my part," Favre said. "I've been making good decisions (but) that was a bad decision and I wish I could tell you something different. I should have thrown it away. That play was dead from the start, so I was trying to make something out of nothing on that one."

It was the first interception for Favre in his last 142 pass attempts, the third-longest such streak of the his career.

On the very next play, Griese lofted a throw to tight end Greg Olsen into the left side of the end zone for the rookie's first NFL score, narrowing the deficit to 20-17 with 4:24 left in the third.

After Chicago's next drive stalled, the Bears were forced to punt but benefited from yet another Packer miscue when Green Bay punt returner Charles Woodson fumbled near the sideline at the end of a 25-yard runback. Punter Brad Maynard alertly scooped up the loose ball and made sure to get both of his knees down before falling out of bounds.

Five plays later, Gould converted on his second 36-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 20-20 early in the final quarter.

The next five drives resulted in four punts and the Bears' lone turnover of the evening before Griese was able to lead Chicago down the field on their final drive.

The 10-year veteran guided an eight-play, 79-yard march that ended with Griese connecting with former Denver Broncos teammate Desmond Clark on a 34-yard catch-and-run TD, giving the Bears their first lead of the contest at 27-20 with 2:11 remaining.

"The play (was) designed to throw the ball to our fullback (Jason McKie) in the flat," Griese said. "Desmond did a good job setting up the safety and getting open. It is one of those throws where you just try to get it out as fast as you can and hit him in stride to give him a chance to score."

Griese completed 15-of-25 passes for 214 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the game.

"It's good to get those guys involved," Griese said. "I've told (Olsen and Clark that) throughout my career I've really had a good relationship with tight ends. They are like a security blanket and I'm lucky to have two good ones."

Favre valiantly tried to counter with his own scoring drive, eventually leading Green Bay to the Chicago 32 with eight seconds left. However, his last-ditch heave into the end zone was intercepted by Chicago's Brandon McGowan to preserve the win for the Bears.

"It's a game we had to have," Griese said. "In the clutch, we made the plays we had to make."

Favre finished 29-of-40 for 322 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Packers, who saw their eight-game winning streak - dating back to last season - come to an end. The loss also ended Green Bay's six-game winning streak against the NFC North.