Jennings’ TD, Crosby’s FG gives Packers 10-7 third-quarter lead over Bears

Packers lead Bears 10-7 after third quarter

CHICAGO — Greg Jennings caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers on Green Bay’s first series and Mason Crosby kicked a 38-yard field goal as the Packers held a 10-7 lead over the Chicago Bears after three quarters on Monday night.

Both teams came in with at 2-0 records, tied atop the NFC North.

Neither team scored in the third quarter despite impressive drives.

The Packers’ opening drive of the second half lasted over 8 minutes, but came up empty after Rodgers’ third-down 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jermichael Finley was called back after offensive lineman Mark Tauscher was called for holding Julius Peppers. The Packers had to settle for Crosby’s 37-yard field goal attempt, but Peppers, the Bears’ big free agent acquisition, broke through the line and blocked the kick.

After Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had a quiet second quarter, he took advantage of better protection from his offensive line and completed a 32-yard pass to Johnny Knox. He then scrambled for 11 yards and found tight end Desmond Clark for 12 yards. Later in the drive, Earl Bennett caught a pass at the Packers’ 1-yard-line. Bears coach Lovie Smith challenged the call thinking Bennett got in the end zone, but the call was upheld. On fourth-and-1, Cutler threw a pass just behind Clark in the end zone and he wasn’t able to hang on.

After Chicago’s opening drive of the game stalled at the Packers 32-yard line, the Bears settled for a 49-yard field goal attempt by Robbie Gould, who missed wide right. During the failed drive Cutler was sacked once and hurried numerous times by different blitz packages from the Packers.

Green Bay and Rodgers wasted no time with a 6-play, 60-yard drive. The drive was keyed by Rodgers’ 26-yard rollout pass to Finley. Rodgers capped it off by finding Jennings running across the back of the end zone.

Rodgers led the Packers down the field again on its third possession of the game. Backed up near their own end zone, Rodgers found Finley for a 28-yard catch then he kept the drive going by converting a third-down completion to Jennings for 10 yards. Crosby capped off the 7:47 drive with a 38-yard field goal.

Chicago got a 28-yard punt return from Devin Hester just inside 2 minutes to play in the second quarter. Hester was unable to get by punter Tim Masthay to break away for a touchdown return. On the first play from scrimmage, Cutler connected with Knox on 31-yard sideline pattern to put the Bears inside the Packers 15. On third-and-6, Greg Olsen beat Packers linebacker Brandon Chillar for a 9-yard touchdown reception.

The Bears were coming off an impressive win at Dallas and were off to their best start since the 2006 Super Bowl team won its first seven games. But despite Cutler’s and the Bears’ early success, their offensive line has been shaky. Cutler was sacked by Frank Zombo and was hit by Charles Woodson on a blitz during Chicago’s first possession. Cutler couldn’t get anything going on the next three possessions.

The Bears’ second possession of the first quarter ended when Cutler was intercepted by Derrick Martin 5 yards deep in the Packers’ end zone and the next two possessions ended on punts.

Rodgers finished the half 15 of 23 for 172 yards with one interception. Cutler was 9 of 15 for 109 yards and the one interception in the half.

Before the game, the Bears observed a moment of silence for George Blanda, who died earlier Monday at the age of 83. Blanda spent his first 10 seasons of his 26-year NFL career with the Bears. Blanda played for the Bears from 1946-1956.

In a surprising move, Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was listed inactive as a healthy scratch. Harris, who was selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl and signed a $40 million 4-year contract extension in 2008, has been hobbled with knee and hamstring injuries over the past four seasons. But Harris has deemed himself healthy and practiced the entire week.

The Bears sported 1940’s throwback uniforms.