Devin Hester
was taken out of Sunday’s NFC title game in more ways than one.
Not only did the Packers do a solid job of neutralizing the dynamic kick returner, holding him to just 16 yards on three punts. Green Bay also didn’t allow Hester to catch a pass, although he was targeted four times. Remember, the Packers’ physical cornerbacks shut out
Johnny Knox
in the regular-season finale at Lambeau Field.
Before quarterback
Jay Cutler
sat out most of Sunday’s second half with a left knee sprain, he completed six passes — four to running back
Matt Forte
, one to running back
Chester Taylor
and one to Knox.
“They basically weren’t doing anything (special), it was us,” Hester said, referring to the offense’s slow start. “We didn’t start off fast. We picked it up in the second half, but we didn’t start off fast.”
Curious decision: Rather than attempt a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter, the Bears opted to punt.
“That was out of field-goal range for us,” coach
Lovie Smith
explained. “We had to be at about the 27 going in that direction. We were just a little short as much as anything.”
Kicker
Robbie Gould
, who was 4 of 7 between 40 and 49 yards during the season, was asked if he was opposed to the decision.
“No,” he said. “The wind was blowing in my face. They made a decision to punt it, which I thought was a good decision. We’ve done a great job of putting them down inside the 5, and maybe (at that time) try to create a little more momentum for our defense and maybe create a turnover.”
Lock him up: Last week linebacker
Brian Urlacher
spoke out about Smith getting a contract extension. After Sunday’s loss Urlacher encouraged the Bears to lock up another key member of the team.
“We’ve got to get Olin signed up,” Urlacher said, referring to 13th-year center
Olin Kreutz
. “If we get him back, we should have a chance to be good again.”
Kreutz, a six-time Pro Bowler, is one of 14 unrestricted free agents, including three starters on defense: strong safety
Danieal Manning
, linebacker
Pisa Tinoisamoa
and nose tackle
Anthony Adams
.
Gutting it out: Safety
Chris Harris
confirmed he played with a partially torn muscle in his left hip. Harris was questionable coming into the game but started and played throughout.
Harris said he took a shot before the game.
“It was the championship game; I had to play,” he said. “It wasn’t a question of if I was going to play. It was about how long I was going to be able to make it through. I took a little pain medicine, and thank God I was able to make it through the entire game. Happy about playing but sad about the loss.”
Extra points:
Julius Peppers
wouldn’t say much about the helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers
that resulted in a 15-yard penalty, but Urlacher spoke up. “It was a good hit. (Pepper is) 6-7. What is he supposed to do?” … Veteran tight end
Desmond Clark
was active for the game as the Bears decided to sit receiver
Devin Aromashodu
. … The Bears’ front four failed to record a sack. … Former NBA star
Charles Barkley
attended the game and hung out in Urlacher’s suite along with ex-Bears
Dusty Dvoracek, Warrick Holdman
and
Rosevelt Colvin
.
