The December drive has reached five wins in a row for the Packers as they beat the Chicago Bears 21-14 today at Soldier Field. It was another game with plenty of warts as Green Bay squandered an early 13-0 lead but the Packers defense made the game changing play as Nick Collins intercepted Jay Cutler on the third play of the 4th quarter and returned it 31 yards to the Chicago 10. Three plays later, Ryan Grant crashed over for the one and Greg Jennings added a two point conversion for the final margin. Grant had a monster game, rushing for 137 yards and two scores, his first came on the Packers opening snap, a 62 yard dash off left tackle. Mason Crosby connected on a 33 yard field goal to cap the second posession, a 48 yard march in 12 plays. Charles Woodson then swiped his 8th pass of the year, a badly underthrown ball by Jay Cutler. Aaron Rodgers converted a 4th and 3 play with a 9 yard scramble after the Packers initially lined up in field goal formation and then shifted into a fake, forcing the Bears to call time out. The red zone continues to be a problem for the offense however as they stalled inside the 10 thanks to a false start penalty on Mark Tauscher. Crosby booted a 26 yard field goal for the 13-0 lead two minutes into the second quarter. The Bears finally started making plays as Cutler hit Johnny Knox for a 28 yard gain on third and 18 against Tramon Williams. The same three players were involved in a 19 yard touchdown catch by Knox with 1:48 left in the half. Jermichael Finley then coughed up the ball as the Packers were trying to drive for one last field goal before the half. That fumble was nothing compared to Rodgers' gaff to start the second half. Under pressure, Aaron had the ball slip out of his hand, he caught it and tried to pass again but he got hit and the ball squirted into the air and into the arms of Anthony Adams at the Chicago 44. 6 plays later, Cutler threw a back shoulder fade to Devin Aromashodu who beat Woodson for the 10 yard touchdown and Chicago moved in front 14-13. Neither team could mount a drive until Collins came up with his big pick to start the final quarter. The Packers top ranked defense came up with three consecutive stops to seal the game. Green Bay could have extended it's lead after one of them, but Crosby missed another makeable field goal from 42 yards when it sailed wide right. The Bears couldn't cash in however and offensive tackle Chris Williams ended one posession with a nasty facemask penalty against blitzing Clay Matthews and Tramon Williams delivered a big sack on Chicago's last gasp inside of two minutes. The win gave the Packers their first sweep of the Bears in 6 years, and eliminated Chicago from any playoff hope. Green Bay solidified it's hold on the NFC Wild Card and probably needs only one more win in their final three games to lock up a post-season berth. Led by Grant's big day, the Packers gained 315 yards to Chicago's 254. The league's number one defense held the Bears to 54 yards on the ground and came up with two picks and three sacks against Cutler. The Bears also killed themselves with 13 penalties for 109 yards. Another noteworthy twist to the Pack's defensive game plan. Depleted by injury along the defensive line all week at practice, coordinator Dom Capers rolled out a one lineman and 4, sometimes 5 linebacker formation that created plenty of confusion for Cutler and the Bears offense. It allowed the blitz package to reach Cutler three times, once from Matthews, his 8th sack of the year, Williams and Johnny Jolly also recorded a sack. It's a testament to the strength of a team to win a tough, road game in the division when not playing its best and the Packers prevailed despite turning it over twice, going just 1 for 4 in the red zone and missing a field goal. Up next, a trip to Mike McCarthy's hometown and a date with the defending and reeling Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field next Sunday afternoon.



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