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 Mostly because Jones was not a Packer.
But the veteran receiver, who spent the first seven seasons of his
NFL career with Green Bay, became available when the Oakland Raiders
and New York Giants released him in the last half-year. The Packers,
short of depth after losing wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a
season-ending injury, re-signed Jones last week, and he caught two
touchdown passes and set up a third TD to key the opening victory.
"I don't think it was that out of character," said quarterback Aaron
Rodgers, asked if he were surprised Jones could again contribute so
quickly. "It's a credit to him, and the way he approaches his job. I
had no hesitation (throwing) to him."
Actually, Jones caught three TD passes, but one was wiped out by a
penalty. But none of his catches were as important as the 34-yard
pass interference penalty against Chicago cornerback Kyle Fuller,
trying to cover Jones at the 2-yard line, with two minutes
remaining.
That call set up a short touchdown run by Eddie Lacy that clinched
the game, putting the Packers ahead, 31-16.
Jones "is a great guy (and) a great teammate," Rodgers said. "We
were really fortunate that he was available at the end of the cuts."
"It looked like we didn't miss a beat," Jones said.
Rodgers, who has won 10 straight games against Chicago when he
throws at least five passes, had a solid if unspectacular day in
large measure because Chicago's ball-control offense denied him
opportunities. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 189 yards but the
Packers had just seven possessions, not counting two end-of-half
kneel downs, as the Bears ran off 18 more plays on offense.
Running back Matt Forte almost single-handedly kept Chicago in the
game by rushing for 141 yards on 24 carries but the Bears,
mystifyingly, did not hand off to Forte at a critical point in the
fourth quarter.
With Green Bay ahead, 24-16, and just under eight minutes to go, the
Bears had first-and-goal at the Packers' 6-yard line and called four
consecutive pass plays for Jay Cutler, one of which gained four
yards and the last three of which fell incomplete.
"Hindsight is always 20-20," said John Fox, the Chicago coach.
"Would I have liked to have scored a touchdown regardless of how we
did it? Yes. But it didn't come to fruition."
Nonetheless, Chicago's defense then held and forced a punt, giving
the Bears' offense another chance, but that one ended on a Cutler
interception. He is now 1-12 against the Packers and has thrown at
least one interception in every start.
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Cutler completed 18 of 36 passes for 225 yards.
"Jay played a hell of a game," insisted wideout Alshon Jeffery,
targeted by Cutler 11 times including five catches for a game-high
78 yards. "Everything that happened at the goal line and the
interception, I still feel like we beat ourselves. I mean, it's
nothing they did."
By some measures, however, this was a sign of improvement for
Chicago in its first game under Fox. A year ago, the Packers blew
the Bears out twice, did not punt in one game and punted only with a
42-0 lead in the other game. Chicago ranked 30th in the NFL on
defense the last two years, but limited Green Bay to 322 yards on
Sunday.
"There's no consolation prize and no second place," Fox said. "So
you're never happy (with a loss). But you know, this is a process,
and this is the first time that myself and this staff have watched
this team play a real game. Hopefully, we'll learn from it and get
better from it."
NOTES: The Chicago Bears were able to play all three of their wide
receivers who missed much of preseason because of injuries -- Alshon
Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson. ... K Robbie Gould's first
of three field goals, his 244th with the Bears, broke a tie with
Kevin Butler for the franchise record. ... When the Packers swept
the Bears in 2014, Green Bay did not punt in the first game and
punted for the first time in the second game with a 42-0 lead in the
third quarter. This time, the Packers went three-and-out and punted
on their first possession, but that was their only punt. ... Packers
LB Sam Barrington suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and
did not return to the game. ... Royal was helped off just before
halftime when two Packers sandwiched him and forced an incomplete
pass. Royal was checked for a concussion and cleared to return. ...
The Packers have won 12 of their last 14 against the Bears,
including six straight at Soldier Field, and Rodgers has won 10 in a
row against Chicago in games he attempted at least five passes.
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