White erupts in Bears' road win

by Chris Bearman

Blogger, Chicago Tribune

Attention, GFML fans: Chicago Bears' wide receiver Kevin White would like to announce that he has arrived to the league.

The third year wide receiver had a career day, helping the offense coax out just enough points to defeat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field 20-17.

White started quickly, with the Bears' first offensive possession slugging along. On a third and 8, White ran an in route and Dalton hit him in stride, and White made a nifty move up and around his defender and outran everyone 64 yards for a quick, big play touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

"Phenomenal effort there by Kevin (White)," Coach Winuvas said of the play.

Another big play from newly signed halfback Rashad Crawford on the Bears' second possession increased the lead to 14-0, as Crawford ran an off tackle play, stiff-armed a Packers' defender, and motored his way 45 yards for the score.

As the Packers continued to struggle to get the offense rolling, the Bears continued to attempt to score points. A solid drive would end in the red zone with a Marquette King 25 yard field goal and a 17-0 lead.

Then, Green Bay realized two things: 1. They have Emmanuel Sanders, one of the fastest wide receivers in the GFML, and 2. He was covered most of the day by Patrick Robinson, a guy who was in street clothes a few weeks ago.

On the first play from scrimmage following the Bears' field goal, quarterback Scotty Stover would nail the Bears' coverage lapse and hit Sanders in one-on-one coverage against Robinson on a deep route. Like a few weeks ago, Robinson did not have a change, and the score quickly went 17-7.

The Bears would begin to stall on offense, with a stout run defense by Green Bay being the main culprit. Another solid late drive in the second quarter for Green Bay would end in another touchdown for Emmanuel Sanders, this one from 8 yards out to cut the lead at halftime to 17-14.

A clock-chewing drive to open the third quarter by the Packers would get them into the red zone, but the Bears' defense would finally hold and force a makeable 22 yard field goal for Mason Crosby to tie the game at 17.

Andy Dalton would get his team back down the field quickly, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, he would err on a throw to Alshon Jeffery, throwing it behind Jeffery and into the arms of cornerback Casey Hayward. The Packers would drive methodically down the field into field goal range, but the Bears would again answer the bell on defense. On consecutive plays, Pernell McPhee and Jason DiManche would sack Scotty Stover and drive the Packers from a possible field goal opportunity to a punt.

That would be a difference maker.

With just over 4 minutes left in the game, Dalton would calmly engineer a drive down the field, taking what the defense gave him as they wiggled down the field. Driving into the red zone with under a minute to play, they worked the clock wonderfully to 3 seconds.

Marquette King would trot out onto the field and nail a 26 yard field goal to end the game in winning fashion for Chicago.

For the Bears, Andy Dalton was very good despite the one error, going 13 of 18 for 260 yards and 1 touchdown to go with the 1 interception. The running game was held in check for the most part, with Rashad Crawford having the only big run and touchdown (3 carries, 65 yards). Reynaldo Ball had 15 carries for 67 yards. The receivers were anchored by superstar Kevin White, who hauled in 7 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Jon Bostic and Derrick Morgan each had 4 tackles, while Pernell McPhee and Jason DiManche had the big sacks that led to the victory ultimately.

For the Packers, Scotty Stover was accurate, going 12 of 17 for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. The run game, like with Chicago, was non-existent, with Zac Stacy having the only luck with 9 carries for 36 yards. Emmanuel Sanders carried the Packers' receivers with 4 catches for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had 5 tackles to lead the Packers, while Casey Hayward had a pick, and defensive linemen Mario Edwards, Jr. and Michael Brockers each had a sack of Dalton in the losing effort.

"That Packers team is solid and methodical. If you make mistakes, they will make you pay. We just lucked out late and probably didn't deserve to win. We'll take it, though," Coach Winuvas said of the game. "Always tough to win on the road."

At 7-7, the Bears face a crucial game next week against the 7-6 Lions (yet to play this week). At 3-11, the Packers face a tough test against the 9-4 Panthers at home next week.

With a long shot at the playoffs now a possibility, can Coach Winuvas keep the defense rolling? With him at the helm, the team has yet to allow more than 21 points in his 7 games coached. Can this brilliance continue with a team starting Patrick Robinson at cornerback?