Packers stay undefeated with 27-17 win over Chicago

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CHICAGO - The Green Bay Packers are one of just two NFC teams at 3-0, after beating the Bears in Chicago yesterday 27-17. It was the Packers’ ninth straight win dating back to last season. And the Pack joined Detroit as the conference’s only unbeaten teams, although Washington could join that group tonight with a win over Dallas.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jermichael Finley. It was the first time a Green Bay tight end had three TD’s since 1996, when Keith Jackson did it. The Packers scored twice in the first 18 minutes to go up 14-nothing. But the Bears tried to make it close at the end on what could have been the strangest punt return touchdown in recent years. With a minute left, the Packer coverage team converged on Chicago’s Devin Hester. But Tim Masthay kicked it to Johnny Knox all alone on the right sideline – and he bolted 89 yards unchallenged, which could have set up an on-side kick for a possible Chicago victory. But the return was called back when Corey Graham was called for holding – and Bears ran three plays to run out the clock. Green Bay tackle Brian Bulaga left in the first quarter with a bruised knee, and Marshall Newhouse got his first extended action. Chicago fell to 1-2. The Packers will host Denver next Sunday.

Jay Cutler had 302 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions – both to Morgan Burnett. But Chicago only had 13 rushing yards, their fewest since 1956. And it was third-lowest ever for the Green Bay defense. Cutler threw a four-yard scoring pass to Dane Sanzenbacher, and a 32-yarder to tight end Kellen Davis. Ryan Grant had 92 rushing on 17 carries for Green Bay, and Greg Jennings caught nine passes for 119 yards. Bears’ running back Matt Forte had eight catches for 80 yards, but he ran for just two yards on nine carries. Green Bay matched Chicago’s two turnovers on a lost fumble by James Starks and a Rodgers’ interception to Brian Urlacher.

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The Packers and Detroit now share a two-game lead in the NFC North Division. Both are 3-0 – Chicago is 1-2 – and Minnesota is 0-3 after losing to the Lions 26-23 in overtime yesterday in Minneapolis. The Lions won the coin toss to start the OT, and they marched up the field before Jason Hanson kicked a 32-yard field goal to win it. Ex-Packer Ryan Longwell sent the game to overtime with a 49-yard field goal with 1:11 left in regulation. The Lions are 3-0 for the first time since 1980, and their win at the Metrodome was the first since 1997. The Vikings are 0-3 for the first time since 2002.

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The Associated Press says eight players face NFL suspensions due to personal incidents during the owners’ lockout – and two of them are Packers Brandon Underwood and Johnny Jolly. It’s not clear whether players can be punished for violating the league’s personal conduct policy during the lockout, because there was not a collective bargaining agreement in place. The players’ union says nobody should be punished for what they might have done during the lockout. But it’s not known if the union can do anything, since the group was decertified during that time period. Underwood was fined earlier this month for ripping a necklace from his estranged wife on the night the Packers received their Super Bowl rings in June. He was cut by the Packers at the end of training camp. Jolly had his second arrest in March for possessing codeine in his home state of Texas. He remains under suspension for his first conviction, and has not played for the Packers since 2009. The AP says the others facing suspensions for their behavior during the lockout are Cedric Benson and “Pacman” Jones of Cincinnati, Agib Talib of Tampa Bay, Albert Haynesworth of New England, Kenny Britt of Tennessee, and Clark Haggans of Arizona.

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