1994 NFL STANDINGS

NFC CENTRAL

W

L

whipped by an ordinary offensive line, but his entire package fell woefully short of being able to contain the Packers.

Until Holmgren basically called off the dogs late in the third quarter and ran double-tight end formations sets to kill the clock, Wannstedt was outguessed all day long.

Although Favre overthrew Sterling Sharpe twice on a failed first series, Holmgren sent a message to Wannstedt. He used double tight ends on the opening snap, three wide receivers and two running backs on second down and four wideouts with Sharpe in the backfield on third. Green Bay’s base formation is two wide receivers, two running backs and one tight end.

Beginning with the next series, the Packers used three- and four-wideout sets on early downs, perhaps more than they have all season. If the Bears stayed with their base personnel, they had to move a linebacker from run support into coverage. If they brought in an extra defensive back or two, it made them vulnerable to the run.

Moreover, Holmgren broke all his tendencies by repeatedly calling runs on second-and-long situations. Running backs Edgar Bennett, who rushed 22 times for 106 yards, and Reggie Cobb, who carried 11 times for 78, had gains of 17, 7, 9, 8, 6, 7, 28 and a 4-yard touchdown on second-and-long.

“They scheme us probably better than any team has schemed us since I’ve been here the last two years,” Bears safety Maurice Douglass said.

Having played well against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving prepared the Packers’ offense well because Wannstedt’s defense is the same as he coached in Dallas. The Packers were able to move their guards out onto the Bears’ quick but small linebackers with a variety of different running plays because their line usually secured the point of attack.

The Bears apparently were afraid to blitz because of what Favre has done against other opponents lately. So they played base and nickel alignments and were off balance so frequently that it seemed to affect their intensity as the game wore on.

Defensively, Shurmur’s problem was how to contend with the Bears’ power rushing attack without injured Gilbert Brown, his best defensive tackle against the run. The top tackles at his disposal John Jurkovic, Steve McMichael and Don Davey all are on the small side, and Matt Brock hadn’t played all year.

What Shurmur decided to do was move his biggest and strongest lineman, defensive end Reggie White, inside to tackle in the base defense. White took turns playing over left guard Todd Perry, substituting for injured Mark Bortz, and right guard Jay Leeuwenburg.

With White at end, almost every opponent just runs the other way, reducing him to a back-side chasing role. The Bears didn’t back down, trying their power plays regardless of White’s location. When they ran straight at White the gains were 1, 3, 2, 3 and minus-1.

When the running game mustered just 27 yards in 14 attempts, the Bears had no chance with weak-armed Steve Walsh trying to come back in blustery conditions. Wannstedt let Erik Kramer play out the fourth quarter of a humbling performance.

“The last three weeks have been devastating for us,” White said. “We had our backs to the wall today. I’ve said all along we can beat anybody.”