Sep 14, 2009 6:42 am US/Central
Packers Ruin Cutler's Debut With 21-15 Victory
GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS) ―
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Jay Cutler ends up in a pile in the Bears-Packers opener on Sept. 13, 2009.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
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Aaron Rodgers charges Al Afalava in the Bears-Packers opener on Sept. 13, 2009.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Jay Cutler looked a lot like Rick Mirer, Cade McNown and other disappointing Bears quarterbacks of old Sunday, instead of the great hope for the future.
Cutler had a career-worst four interceptions and finished the game 17 of 36 for 277 yards. The Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers 21-15.
Worse, the Bears lost several key players to injury. Brian Urlacher left with a wrist injury in the third quarter after fellow linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa left in the first half with an injured knee. Backup cornerback Trumaine McBride also injured a knee, and tight end Desmond Clark left with a back injury.
Bears coach Lovie Smith said Urlacher dislocated his wrist, and no timetable has been set for his return.
"It's pretty simple what happened tonight," Smith said. "Any time that you have four turnovers, you're normally not going to win the football game, especially against a good Packers team."
With the Packers trailing 15-13 and facing third-and-1 at the 50-yard line, Aaron Rodgers faked a handoff and heaved a rainbow of a throw deep to Greg Jennings, who ran in for the go-ahead score. Rodgers found Jennings again for a 2-point conversion.
Earlier, it had been looking good for the Bears for a while. After throwing three interceptions in the first half, Cutler settled down to lead Chicago to a touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter, giving the Bears a 12-10 lead.
But Chicago's head-scratching fake punt attempt early in the fourth quarter -- they apparently were trying to catch the Packers with 12 players on the field -- gave the ball back to Packers deep in Bears territory, and Mason Crosby hit a 39-yard field goal to give Green Bay a 13-12 lead with 10:10 left.
Smith took the blame for the fake punt, but wouldn't say specifically who called it.
Cutler answered with a drive for a 21-yard field goal by Robbie Gould that gave Chicago a 15-13 lead. Rodgers got the ball back at the Green Bay 28 with 2:28 left and quickly drove the Packers to midfield, where he made the decisive throw to Jennings.
"It definitely boosts his confidence," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.
But for the Bears, it doesn't get any easier. Next week, they play the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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