The Green Bay Packers hit their 2014 season average with 31 points on the Bears’ defense, and while the yardage allowed (322) was not blowout-grade, the Bears did not make enough big plays to either force turnovers or prevent the Packers from converting 60 percent of third downs.
“That was the biggest thing, just not getting off the field on third down,” said Pernell McPhee, forced by Green Bay personnel matchups to operate more as a 4-3 defensive end. “That’s been the biggest thing since preseason.”
Shea McClellin too often was not stout at the point of attack but was credited with a game-high eight tackles, including four solos. In his first real game as the one calling signals for the defense, he had teammates’ respect even if he was not always stout at the point against the running of Eddie Lacy (19 carries, 85 yards, one touchdown).
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“Awesome," McPhee said of McClellin’s operating of the defense. “He did a great job of lining us up all day, and if there were checks we had to make, he made them. He and ‘Cheese’ (Christian Jones) played good.”
Jones finished with seven tackles, four of them solo. McPhee had six tackles and forced a holding penalty on a third-and-long in the second quarter.
Moon's Grade: D+