The differences between the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears — now owners of a five-game losing streak — were crystal clear on national television Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
On one side, Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw two interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in his second turn as the starter.
On the other side, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes, including three in the first half, to drive a 41-25 victory over the Bears.
The Bears (5-6) never led and were behind 27-3 in the second quarter before Trubisky hit Allen Robinson just before halftime for the first of two touchdown connections between the pair.
Bears coach Matt Nagy named Trubisky the starter this week as Nick Foles recovers from a hip injury he suffered in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings. It was Trubisky’s first start since he was benched in favor of Foles in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, and there were several shaky moments.
Trubisky threw a pair of interceptions to Packers safety Darnell Savage, one of which was a pass to Anthony Miller in triple coverage while Robinson was open in the third quarter. Trubisky also lost a fumble that Packers linebacker Preston Smith returned 14 yards for a touchdown, though officials appeared to miss a Packers face-mask penalty on the fumble.
Perhaps more shocking than Trubisky’s rough return less than a month after a right shoulder injury were the shortcomings of the Bears defense.
Playing without defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, who has a hamstring injury, the Bears forced the Packers (8-3) to punt just twice. The Packers led the Bears in time of possession by more than 15 minutes.
Rodgers, who is having a stellar season even by his standards, made it look easy on touchdown passes to Davante Adams, Marcedes Lewis, Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan. Jamaal Williams also scored on a 13-yard run.
After announcing Trubisky as the starter Friday, Nagy wouldn’t provide an answer as to which quarterback would start beyond Sunday. So it remains to be seen whether Trubisky’s mistakes might sway Nagy back to Foles.
Trubisky completed 26 of 46 passes for 242 yards with three touchdown passes and the two interceptions.
Rodgers was 21 of 29 for 211 yards with the four touchdowns and no turnovers. The Bears didn’t sack or hit him all night. Packers running backs Aaron Jones and Williams combined for 163 yards on 34 carries.
Bears running back David Montgomery was one highlight in his return from a concussion. Behind a shuffled offensive line, he rushed for 103 yards, just the third 100-yard rushing game of his two-year career. He also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky.
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Inactives: Hicks is out, but Leno will play
Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is inactive Sunday night and will not play against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Hicks missed practice all week with a hamstring injury he suffered against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10. Coach Matt Nagy said Hicks would be a game-time decision Sunday night, and Hicks will sit out after testing his leg pregame.
However, left tackle Charles Leno will play after missing practice Thursday and Friday with a toe injury.
Along with Hicks, quarterback Nick Foles, safety Sherrick McManis, offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons, wide receiver Javon Wims and outside linebacker Trevis Gipson are inactive for the Bears.
Foles traveled with the Bears to Green Bay but was expected to sit out with a hip injury. Nagy announced Friday that Mitch Trubisky would start in his place. Tyler Bray will serve as the backup quarterback.
Wims will sit out his first game after a two-game NFL suspension for a fight during the New Orleans Saints game. McManis will miss his second straight game with a broken finger.
For the Packers, quarterback Jordan Love, running back Tyler Ervin, cornerback Josh Jackson and linebacker Jonathan Garvin are inactive.
After the Packers listed them as questionable Friday, cornerback Kevin King, center Corey Linsley and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling are all active.
1st quarter: Packers march 75 yards for TD on 1st drive
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit Davante Adams with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 7:31 to play in the first quarter, but kicker Mason Crosby missed the extra-point attempt for a 6-0 lead against the Bears.
The NBC broadcast showed Rodgers had more than 6 seconds to throw the third-and-10 pass.
On third-and-7 earlier in the drive, wide receiver Allen Lazard caught a pass from Rodgers and dived over cornerback Jaylon Johnson for an 8-yard gain. And running back Jamaal Williams gained 4 yards on a third-and-1 play.
Packers running back Aaron Jones had five carries for 33 yards on the 75-yard drive.
1st quarter: Long Montgomery run sets up field goal
Bears kicker Cairo Santos’ 27-yard field goal with 5:17 to play in the first quarter cut the Packers lead to 6-3.
David Montgomery’s career-long 57-yard run on his first carry after returning from a concussion got the Bears to the Packers 8-yard line.
But Montgomery lost a yard on his next carry. Rookie tight end Cole Kmet then let a Mitch Trubisky pass slip through his hands, and wide receiver Allen Robinson couldn’t haul in a well-placed jump ball in the end zone on third down.
The Bears turned to Santos, who made his 15th straight field goal.
2nd quarter: Rodgers’ 2nd TD pass puts Packers up 13-3
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit tight end Marcedes Lewis with a 5-yard touchdown pass for a 13-3 lead against the Bears early in the second quarter.
Lewis got into the end zone behind rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson and was wide open.
Bears defensive lineman Bilal Nichols was called for roughing the passer early in the drive, a 15-yard penalty that brought the Packers to the Bears 34-yard line.
Rodgers took off on a third-and-4 play from the 28 and gained 12 yards. Two plays later, he hit Davante Adams with a pass, and Adams sped past inside linebacker Danny Trevathan for an 11-yard gain to the 5.
2nd quarter: Bears’ 2nd drive ends with interception
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw an interception to Packers safety Darnell Savage on a deep shot to Darnell Mooney in the end zone on the Bears’ second drive.
Trubisky had completed three passes before the pick, including a 20-yarder and a 16-yarder to Allen Robinson. The latter got the Bears to the Packers 38-yard line.
Packers center Corey Linsley left the game on the previous drive with a knee injury and was ruled questionable to return.
2nd quarter: Packers widen lead on Rodgers’ 3rd TD pass
Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 2-yard touchdown pass to push the Packers lead to 20-3 with 4:34 to play in the first half.
Rodgers’ third touchdown pass of the half completed an 80-yard drive that started after Mitch Trubisky threw an interception.
After Rodgers gained only 2 yards on a third-and-4 play from the 34-yard line, the Packers went for it on fourth-and-2, and Rodgers hit Robert Tonyan with a 14-yard pass. Aaron Jones gained 5 and 7 yards on the next two plays, and Rodgers threw the touchdown pass on the next play.
2nd quarter: Packers return Trubisky fumble for TD
Preston Smith’s 14-yard fumble return for a touchdown gave the Packers a 27-3 lead against the Bears with 3:11 to play in the first half.
On third-and-17 at the Bears 18-yard line, Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith sacked Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky and forced a fumble. Smith scooped up the ball and returned it to the end zone.
It was Trubisky’s second turnover in two drives. He threw an interception in the Packers end zone on the previous drive.
The Bears got into the third-and-17 situation after a 12-yard pass to Darnell Mooney was wiped out by a Charles Leno holding penalty.
2nd quarter: Trubisky to Robinson trims Packers lead to 27-10
Mitch Trubisky’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Allen Robinson cut the Packers lead to 27-10 with 19 seconds to play before halftime.
David Montgomery’s 13-yard catch and run got the Bears to the 3-yard line. Trubisky then carried for no gain and threw an incomplete pass with Za’Darius Smith in his face. But the Bears benefited from a defensive pass interference call on Christian Kirksey as he defended tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone on third down.
Trubisky hit Robinson on the next play to cap an 87-yard drive.
Trubisky had an 11-yard carry and hit Darnell Mooney for passes of 12 and 9 yards on the drive.
He completed 11 of 17 passes for 107 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the first half. He also lost a fumble that the Packers returned for a touchdown.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 15 of 18 passes for 128 yards and three touchdowns.
Neither team punted in the first half.
3rd quarter: Packers capitalize on Trubisky’s 3rd turnover
Aaron Rodgers’ 39-yard touchdown pass to tight end Robert Tonyan gave the Packers a 34-10 lead against the Bears midway through the third quarter.
The Packers needed just four plays to complete the drive, which they started at their 47-yard line because of Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s third turnover.
On third-and-11 from the Bears 25-yard line, Trubisky launched a pass into triple coverage intended for Anthony Miller. Darnell Savage grabbed his second interception of the game. Savage had his first in the end zone on a pass into double coverage for Darnell Mooney.
Aaron Jones took handoffs on the Packers’ first three plays of the drive before Rodgers found Tonyan wide open.
3rd quarter: Packers go run-heavy for 41-10 lead
Packers running back Jamaal Williams scored on a 13-yard run to push the Packers lead to 41-10 against the Bears late in the third quarter.
The Packers gave Williams a heavy load on the drive. He also broke free for a 17-yard run and went 3 yards on fourth-and-1 from the Bears 16-yard line. He scored on the next play.
Aaron Rodgers completed only one pass on the drive, a 24-yarder to Equanimeous St. Brown.
4th quarter: 2nd Trubisky-Robinson connection cuts deficit to 41-17
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky found Allen Robinson for their second touchdown connection to cut the Packers lead to 41-17 with 11:48 to play.
Trubisky hit Robinson with a 6-yard pass in the end zone to cap a 65-yard drive. David Montgomery had a 10-yard run to get the Bears into the red zone, and Trubisky followed with a 12-yard pass to Jimmy Graham to get the Bears in position to score.
Trubisky hit Anthony Miller for a 12-yard pass on fourth-and-11 earlier in the drive.
4th quarter: Trubisky hits Montgomery for 3rd TD pass
Bears running back David Montgomery caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Trubisky, and Darnell Mooney caught a two-point conversion pass to cut the Packers lead to 41-25 late in the fourth quarter.
Montgomery made several big plays on the drive, including catches of 8 and 9 yards and an 8-yard run to get the Bears to the 3-yard line.
