Packers’ defense follows the Smiths’ lead

Cheesehead

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Mar 19, 2019
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The Bears were forced to punt nine times and turned the ball over on downs twice in the second half, including on their final offensive play when Preston Smith sacked Trubisky on fourth-and-8 from Chicago’s 16-yard line to seal the win.


“I keep harping on it, man. If we all do our job and come together as one, we’re going to be dominant,” said Za’Darius Smith, who had three tackles, three quarterback hits and a sack in Chicago. “It doesn’t matter who it is – Amos, ‘P,’ 23 (Jaire Alexander), 50 (Blake Martinez) – we’re all going to come together and play as one.”


The Packers permitted the Bears only 254 total yards of offense and held them to 3-of-15 on third downs. Despite playing the entire game with only one inside linebacker (Martinez), the Packers still held Chicago to only 46 rushing yards on 15 carries.


The only points Green Bay’s defense conceded came after Chicago started from the Packers’ 36-yard line in the first quarter. The Bears picked up 16 more yards for the Eddie Pineiro 38-yard field goal.


Other than that, it was mostly tough sledding for Chicago, which went three-and-out on three consecutive series between the second and third quarters. Due to penalties, the Bears even were forced to face a first-and-40 situation in the fourth quarter.


The defense’s success on third downs was perhaps the biggest highlight for Green Bay Thursday night, considering it’s been a major point of emphasis going into its second year under defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.


Pettine threw an array of different looks at Trubisky, opening the game in 3-3-5 base and nickel looks that rotated hybrid safety Raven Greene and cornerbacks Kevin King and Tony Brown depending on the situation.
 
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