Pack Hit Pay Dirt: Conference Game Scoring Summary

It wasn't Aaron Rodgers' best statistical game, but chalk it up as another road playoff victory on the growing resume' of the young QB. Bears QB Jay Cutler played terribly, and was yanked in the third after suffering a "knee injury," giving way to Todd Collins, perhaps the worst backup quarterback in the league. Needless to say, after a few gangly, errant throws, Collins quickly begat 3rd stringer, and rightful 2nd stringer, Caleb Hanie. Hanie's performance was cute, but he was largely stifled by the smothering Packers defense.

With the win, the Packers are NFC Champions and have earned a Super Bowl berth for the first time since Super Bowl XXXII, a loss to the John-Elway-led Broncos. For young fans like me, whose oldest Packer memories dates back to about 94/95, the victory signifies a return to greatness. The Packers will face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who dismantled the New York Jets last night in the AFC Championship game. The Packers last played the Steelers late last season, an epic shootout that ended in heartbreak with a Ben Roethlisberger game winning touchdown pass.

Packers Bears Scoring Summary

First Quarter

GB - 10:50 - Aaron Rodgers 1 yd TD run - At the 1-yard line, the backfield resembled a short-yardage TD from last week's divisional game, with defensive nose-tackle BJ Raji lined up as a fullback and extra blocker. But instead of a hand-off up the gut, Rodgers rolled out to the left on a play action, found the angle, and hustled to the pylon. Credit coach Mike McCarthy with some degree of trickery or reverse psychology, and a risky play-call executed to perfection. GB 7 - CHI 0

Second Quarter

GB - 11:13 - James Starks 4 yd TD run - From four yards out, Starks pinballed his way toward the goal line, reaching out at just the right moment to break the plane of the end zone. GB 14 - CHI 0

Fourth Quarter

CHI - 12:02 - Chester Taylor 1 yd TD run - After Caleb Hanie found his nerve, and consequently his throwing rhythm, the Bears found themselves 1 yard away from the score. They called upon former Viking Chester Taylor, who was acquired for just such an occasion. Simple, concise, touchdown. GB 14 - CHI 7

GB - 6:04 - BJ Raji 18 yd INT/TD - Yes, you read that right. Deep in their own territory, Bears QB Caleb Hanie tossed up a nice, fluffy loaf of bread, and a hungry BJ Raji, who had quietly backed off the line and dropped into coverage, nabbed the interception, and chugged his way to a touchdown. He then donned Rodgers' invisible belt, and proceeded to celebrate in his own unique way. GB 21 - CHI 7

CHI - 4:43 - Earl Bennett 35 yd TD catch - Hanie delivered a well placed zinger into coverage down the near sideline, and WR Earl Bennet took care of the rest. A little delay from Bennet - not quite a stutter-step - and the WR quickly froze and shook off the Packers secondary, trotting in for the score. GB 21 - CHI 14

GB 21 - CHI 14





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