Packers 10, Bears 3

Times wires
Sunday, January 2, 2011

GREEN BAY, Wis. — There's no such thing as an ugly win when it clinches a playoff berth.

Especially when it comes against a division rival playing all-out for a knockout.

The Packers are in the playoffs thanks to Sunday's 10-3 victory over the Bears at Lambeau Field. And as might be expected in a season that began with Super Bowl expectations but nearly was derailed by injuries and inconsistency, it wasn't easy.

"Nothing's come easy for us, and we wouldn't want it any other way," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Aaron Rodgers' 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Lee gave Green Bay the lead in the fourth quarter, and the defense did the rest. Safety Nick Collins' interception of Jay Cutler stopped the Bears on a late drive.

The result knocked the Giants and Bucs out of the playoffs. The Giants needed a win — which they got — and a Packers loss. Tampa Bay needed a win — which it got — and losses by both the Packers and Giants.

Green Bay, the No. 6 seed in the NFC, plays at Philadelphia on Sunday.

"Tonight was a struggle, but it's nice to keep that momentum going," Rodgers said. "We've won two in a row and now we've got to go (on the road). And we can't have the kind of inconsistent performances we've had this year that have forced us to be the No. 6 seed."

The Packers trailed 3-0 at halftime and were tied going into the fourth quarter with the Bears — a team that didn't have anything to play for but still played its starters, just as Bears coach Lovie Smith promised.

"We just wanted to keep momentum going," he said.

Now that the Packers are in, wide receiver Donald Driver believes they can be a dangerous playoff opponent.

"Those guys told us during the game they didn't want us in," Driver said. "That tells you how much people are scared of us. They didn't want to see us, and now they've got to see us."

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