14. Packers 21, Bears 15 (2009)

Green Bay was coming in off a 6-10 season in 2008, but felt like it was a better team that its record would indicate. Of the 10 losses, only three of those were by more than one score and two of those were the first two losses of the season. After starting out 5-5, the Packers would lose their next five before winning against Detroit to finish the season. Aaron Rodgers, playing in his first season as the starting quarterback, had a solid year where he threw for more than 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. Bigger things were expected in 2009 and many were expecting Green Bay would make the playoffs. The 2009 season started on Sunday Night Football with the Packers hosting their rivals to the South. With the Packers trailing by two late, Rodgers connected with Greg Jennings for a 50-yard touchdown with 1:11 left for the game-winning score.

This game also marked the beginning of a new era in Chicago Bears football, as Jay Cutler would make his debut. In the offseason, Chicago acquired Cutler in exchange for two first round draft picks, a third and quarterback Kyle Orton. Cutler did Cutler things on his second possession as the new Bears quarterback. On a first down from the Green Bay 31, Cutler rolled to the right and fired across his body to the middle of the field. The awful decision predictably resulted in an interception by Nick Collins, who would returned it to the Packers 43.

The game would remain scoreless until the second quarter. Green Bay would travel 43 yards in nine plays and Mason Crosby would kick a 52-yard field goal to put the Packers on the board first. Ryan Grant would rush for 24 yards to put the Green and Gold in Crosby field goal range.

Cutler was being Cutler again on the following drive as well. After a 68-yard pass to Johnny Knox moved the Bears down to the Packers 8, Cutler tried to throw a screen to Matt Forte, but defensive lineman Johnny Jolly picked it off to stop Chicago’s drive. But three plays later, Rodgers was sacked by Danieal Manning in the end zone for the safety and Chicago cut the Packers lead to 3-2.

Cutler is the gift that keeps on giving. On the drive following the safety, Cutler rolled out to the right on third down. He once again threw late across his body over the middle. This time it was Tramon Williams who picked it off. Williams would weave his way all the way down to the Chicago 1 for a 67-yard return. That was Cutler’s third interception of the first half. Grant would punch it from a yard out to give the Packers the 10-2 lead. It would remain 10-2 for the remainder of the half.

Once Cutler stopped giving the ball away, Chicago started to put drives together and points on the scoreboard. The Bears would travel 79 yards in 10 plays to cut the deficit back to one. Cutler threw for 61 yards on the drive and the touchdown. After he ran a quarterback sneak to pick up a yard on 4th-and-1 to keep the drive going, Cutler would throw a beautiful pass to Devin Hester down the right sideline for a 36-yard touchdown.

After a Packers punt, Cutler stayed red hot. On the drive of eight plays, Cutler threw for 38 yards to move into field goal range. He was sacked for a loss of nine on a 2nd-and-13 from the 21 and the Bears would have to settle for a Robbie Gould 47-yard field goal to give the Bears their first lead of the game. It would remain 12-10 Chicago until the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, the teams traded field goals. First, on a 4th-and-11, Chicago tried to catch Green Bay with 12 men on the field and run it with Garrett Wolfe and he was stopped after a gain of four. Chicago challenged that the Packers did have 12 men on the field and it was upheld, so the Bears gave the ball to the Green and Gold at the Bears 30. The Packers would move nine yards in three plays and Crosby booted through a 39-yard field goal to give Green Bay a 13-12 advantage.

However, Chicago would answer back. Cutler would throw for 51 yards on a 14-play drive that went 69 yards. The Bears would convert three third downs on the drive to set it up for a short Gould field goal to give the Bears the 15-13 lead.

But the Packers still had Rodgers, who would announce his name to the world with one pass. Green Bay was facing a 3rd-and-1 at midfield with 1:18 remaining. It was a power formation with Jennings being the only wide receiver in the game. Chicago was expecting run and Rodgers went back to pass and was under pressure. But he was able to loft it to Jennings, who burned Nathan Vasher on the play and he would catch it and jog into the end zone for the 50-yard score with 1:11 left. The two-point conversion to Jennings was also successful, and the Packers took a 21-15 lead.

Chicago had one chance left, but Cutler gonna Cutler. He threw it over the middle and was intercepted by Al Harris, who returned it to the Chicago 14. That was Smokin’ Jay’s fourth and final pick of the game and the Packers would go to 1-0.