Bears defeat Packers on a field goal in final minute

Robbie Gould’s 19-yard field goal with four seconds remaining gave the Chicago Bears a dramatic 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packer on Monday night in front a packed house at Soldier Field.

The Bears (3-0) went ahead for the first time, 14-10 with 14:38 left in the fourth quarter, on a 62-yard punt-return touchdown by Devin Hester. It was Hester’s eighth career punt-return touchdown but his first since the final game of the 2007 season.

Hester tied Eric Metcalf and Dante Hall for second place in NFL history with his 12th kick-return TD (eight punts and four kickoff returns). Brian Mitchell owns the record of 13.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers put the Packers (2-1) back ahead 17-14. The Packers drove to the Bears’ 3, aided by a crucial roughing-the-quarterback call against the Bears’ Henry Melton. On third-and-three, Rodgers rolled out to his right, then dove into the right corner of the end zone for the score to put the Packers back on top, 17-14 with 6:52 remaining. The 12-play drive covered 72 yards.

Jay Cutler took a tough hit to the head from the Packers’ Frank Zombo on the Bears’ next drive. The penalty negated an interception by the Packers’ Nick Barnett. The drive continued as Cutler adroitly dinked a pass to Olsen to the Green Bay 13 with just over five minutes left in regulation.

The Bears wound up with a 25-yard field goal from Gould to tie the game 17-17 with 3:59 left in the period. Cutler was 15 of 25 for 200 yards at that point. Cutler had guided the Bears to the 1-yard line late in the third quarter. But a fourth-down pass intended for tight end Desmond Clark fell out of his hands in the end zone and the Packers took over.

The Bears had pulled to within 10-7 just before the end of the first half on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Greg Olsen, capping a four-play, 44-yard drive.

The Bears took advantage of a low, 35-yard punt by the Packers’ Tim Masthay late in the second period. Hester returned the punt 28 yards to the Green Bay 44 as Masthay made a TD-saving tackle.

Cutler connected with Johnny Knox for a 31-yard pass to the 13. Three plays later, Cutler hit Olsen with a 9-yard TD pass over the middle. Robbie Gould’s extra point pulled the Bears within 10-7 with 26 seconds until intermission.

Cutler completed 9 of 15 first-half passes for 109 yards and one TD. He had one interception for a passer rating of 76.8 at the intermission. Rodgers was successful on 15 of 23 first-half tosses for 172 yards and one TD. Rodgers also had a first-half interception for a passer rating of 84.0.

The Packers drove to the Bears’ 19 midway through the third period when Mason Crosby attempted a 37-yard field goal. Julius Peppers partially blocked the kick and the Bears took over at their own 27.

The Bears had 50 first-half rushing yards, led by Cutler’s 26. Green Bay, without the injured starter Ryan Grant for the entire season, had just 8 first-half rushing yards. Wearing their throwback jerseys from the 1940s, the Bears failed on their opening scoring attempt. They drove to the Packers’ 31-yard line on their opening possession, but a 49-yard field-goal attempt by Gould was wide right with 8:22 left in the first period.

On the field-goal try, Bears long-snapper Patrick Mannelly broke the club record for consecutive games played at 192. Defensive tackle Steve McMichael held the previous record.

Cutler completed 3 of 4 passes for 36 yards on the opening drive. Two of his early passes went to Johnny Knox and one to Earl Bennett.

The Packers converted the Bears’ missed opportunity into an impressive 60-yard scoring drive.Rodgers passed hit Greg Jennings for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Crosby converted for a 7-0 Packers lead with 4:26 left in the opening quarter. Rodgers completed 4 of 4 passes on the drive. Jennings had two of the catches. Tight end Jermichael Finley and James Jones also had receptions.

Cutler’s pass intended for Olsen was intercepted by the Packers’ Derrick Martin in the end zone with 1:57 left in the first quarter. Martin returned the pick to the Green Bay 10.

Crosby connected on a 38-yard field goal with 4:41 left until halftime to give Green Bay a 10-0 lead. The scoring drive covered 73 yards in 14 plays.