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GREEN BAY, Wis. Denard Robinson Jaguars Jersey . - For the better part of two decades now, the Green Bay Packers backup quarterback has been little more than an afterthought. No more. With Aaron Rodgers knocked out of the game - and perhaps longer - by a shoulder injury on the first series, Josh McCown and the Chicago Bears reminded the Packers why good insurance is so important. McCown, playing in place of the injured Jay Cutler, threw for two touchdowns Monday night and led Chicago to a 27-20 victory that ended a six-game skid to its NFC North rivals. "We expected to win this game, even with the situation that happened," Jordy Nelson said. "We had an opportunity to win the game, and we just didnt make enough plays." The loss snapped Green Bays four-game winning streak, but the far larger concern is the health of Rodgers, who hurt his left (non-throwing) shoulder when he was sacked on the first series by Shea McClellin. Rodgers took a few warm-up throws with backup Seneca Wallace but, after being examined by medical staff, ran into the Green Bay locker room. He wasnt seen again until midway through the third quarter, when he came back onto the field in sweats. Though he waved to fans with his right hand, and didnt appear to be wearing a brace, he kept his left hand jammed in his pocket. "He has a shoulder injury," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "They want to run more tests. They dont have an exact diagnosis. Well have more information, probably tomorrow." Pressed for more information, McCarthy insisted there wasnt any. "No timeline, no exact diagnosis," he said. "Thats where were at." Alshon Jeffery had five catches for 60 yards, including a 6-yard grab for the go-ahead touchdown at the end of the third quarter. Brandon Marshall, largely shut down in two games against Green Bay last year, had seven catches for 107 yards and a score. Matt Forte ran for 125 yards and a TD, and also had 54 yards receiving for the Bears, who pulled into a three-way tie for first in the NFC North with Green Bay and Detroit. All are 5-3. "Itd be hard to find one better than this," said McCown, who was coaching high school when the Bears signed him two years ago. "Theyre all special, but this is really neat because it means so much to our team." The loss spoiled another big night by Green Bay rookie Eddie Lacy, who ran for 150 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay has been hit hard by injuries, with James Jones (knee) returning Monday night after a two-game absence and sackmaster Clay Matthews (thumb) and tight end Jermichael Finley still out. Wide receiver Randall Cobb (leg) is also on the injured list-designated to return, and offensive lineman T.J. Lang (concussion) and linebacker Andy Mulumba (ankle) left the game. But there are injuries and then there are INJURIES, and a hurt Aaron Rodgers is Green Bays ultimate nightmare. With the 2011 NFL MVP almost as durable as predecessor Brett Favre - he hasnt missed a game due to injury since Dec. 19, 2010 - the backup quarterback has been the most anonymous person in Green Bay. "Aarons a huge part of our offence," McCarthy said. "This is a thing thats been built over time with Aaron as the centerpiece. I dont think its realistic to put anyone in there and think theyre going to pick up and run it the way he has run it." But as the Bears know all too well, backups can be just as invaluable as a starter. After a series of forgettable backups under Lovie Smith - Caleb Hanie or Jonathan Quinn, anyone? - the Bears signed McCown when Cutler was hurt two years ago. He played well enough then to stick around, and his familiarity with his receivers and coach Marc Trestmans system was evident. McCown may not have been dazzling, going 22 for 41 for 272 yards, but he mixed his passes effectively to Marshall, Jeffery and Forte, and Forte ran roughshod on the Green Bay defence. The Bears sealed their victory with 53 seconds left with Robbie Goulds 27-yard field goal, which followed an 18-play, 80-yard drive that ate almost nine minutes off the clock. "You understand the nature of the game and the impact that (Rodgers) has on the game," McCown said. "So when that players not on the field, your odds of winning probably increase." Better yet, McCown didnt do anything to hurt the Bears, which is more than Wallace can say. Wallace hadnt played a game since the 2011 season finale, and the rust was evident. He was intercepted on his very first series by Julius Peppers and was sacked twice, once by Peppers and once by McClellin. The Packers had a second-and-goal from the Bears 5 late in the third quarter and were forced to settle for Mason Crosbys 23-yard field goal after Wallace overthrew James Jones and Andrew Quarless. Green Bay would get no further than the Bears 39 the rest of the game. Wallace finished 11 of 19 for 114 yards. The Packers were just 1 of 9 on third down. Alan Ball Jersey . -- Oakland Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew is being sued in Florida, accused of punching a bouncer at a St. Toby Gerhart Jersey . The Vikings announced Saturday they downgraded Peterson from doubtful on the original injury report to out against Detroit Sunday, when the Vikings and Lions will play the last game at the Metrodome.Daniel Briere makes his return to Philadelphia tonight when the Montreal Canadiens visit the struggling Flyers. Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Habs at 7pm et/8pm at. The game is also available on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. The Canadiens have had a little more time to reflect on their shutout loss to the Los Angeles Kings two days ago. The Habs carried a five-game winning streak into Tuesdays home contest against the Kings and were blasted by a 6-0 margin. Carey Price yielded four goals on 16 shots faced in almost 25 1/2 minutes of action before being replaced by Peter Budaj, who yielded two goals on 14 shots faced. It was Montreals first regulation setback since a 1-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Nov. 16, snapping a 10-game point streak (9-0-1). "Theres nothing we can do after a loss like that," mused Habs head coach Michel Therrien. "Their second goal was a case of poor coverage. You have to give that team a lot of credit, but we have to put it aside and start all over again. If we had scored early, it might have been different. Were all disappointed." Tonights game marks a return to the Wells Fargo Center for Briere, who signed with the Canadiens this past offseason after having his contract bought out by the Flyers. Following a productive three-plus seasons in Buffalo, Briere hit the free agent market in the summer of 2007 and drew interest from a number of teams. The Quebec-born forward, though, drew the ire of Montreal natives when he decided to ink an eight-year, $52 million deal with the Flyers. Briere netted 124 goals with 159 assists for 283 points in 364 games with Philadelphia, but had just six goals and 16 points in 34 games last season. He ran out of goodwill stemming from his 30-point playoff output during the Flyers run to the Stanley Cup Finaals in 2010 and had the final two years of his contract bought out this past summer. Clay Harbor Jersey. That gave the 35-year-old the opportunity to sign a two-year deal with the Canadiens but he has struggled this season with just 10 points in 22 games. "Im expecting both the best and the worst from the fans. Ive been treated in different ways by the crowd during my career, so Im ready for pretty much anything," Briere told Montreals website. "Ill have a chance to play in front of my kids and a few good friends, so itll be easy to find the motivation to do well." The forward faced the Flyers in Montreal back on Oct. 5 and did not register a point in a 4-1 win. Price stopped 22 shots to improve to 8-8-0 with a 2.71 goals against average in his career versus the Flyers. The victory was just Montreals third in its past 11 meetings with the Flyers and it has lost five in a row in Philadelphia. The Flyers would love to extend that home winning streak over the Canadiens following a 2-4-0 road trip. They dropped the final three games of the swing, capped with last nights 7-2 setback at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks scored five goals in the second period, while Jakub Voracek and Steve Downie had the tallies for the Flyers. Ray Emery, part of Chicagos Stanley Cup-winning club last season, was shelled for six goals on 18 shots in just over two periods of work to take the loss. Steve Mason made four stops in the third. "You cant make excuses," Emery said. "As a whole, we have to play better in the second." Mason should get the start tonight and it would be the second of his career versus the Habs. He hasnt faced them since Nov. 7, 2008 with Columbus, stopping 34 shots in a victory. Emery had made 30 saves in the loss to Montreal on Oct. 5. ' ' ' |
