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NFL SCOREBOARD: Recap
Recap | Box Score | This Week's Scoreboard
Green Bay 35, Chicago 19
Posted: Sunday December 05, 1999 06:23 PM
Green Bay Packers
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The rainy, windy conditions at Soldier Field were just perfect for the Green Bay Packers.

Rookie De'Mond Parker ran for 113 yards and two touchowns as the Packers scored all of their points with a strong wind at their backs in a 35-19 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The Packers scored 21 points in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth, taking full advantage of a wind blowing 18 miles per hour from north to south. The game-time temperature was 42 degrees but appeared to fall rapidly as the contest progressed.

Brett Favre threw for 155 yards and a touchdown, passing the 3,000-yard mark for the eighth time in his career, breaking a tie with John Elway of Denver and moving one behind all-time leader Dan Marino of Miami. Favre completed 17-of-24 passes, including a six-yard scoring strike to Bill Schroeder in the second quarter.

"I didn't know (the weather) was going to be this bad, but we wanted to run the ball," Favre said. "We didn't change anything, we just executed what we had."

Favre's favorite target was Antonio Freeman, who caught six passes for 97 yards.

With leading rusher Dorsey Levens sidelined due to cracked ribs, Parker stepped into the spotlight, scoring on TD runs of 12 and 21 yards in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Parker, a fifth-round choice from Oklahoma, also had a 22-yard run to set up Schroeder's score.

"It was like a dream come true. It just felt good to go out there and make plays for us," Parker said. "The guys up front blocked their butts off. Things just kind of clicked for us today."

Another rookie Basil Mitchell, gained 47 yards on 11 carries.

Given up for dead after a three-game losing streak last month, the Packers (7-5) have won their last three contests.

"We came down with our star back in Dorsey Levens not able to play and our young players like De'Mond Parker and Basil Mitchell stepped in and did an outstanding job," Packeras coach Ray Rhodes said. "I think it's a key thing that the team is coming together. We're doing some things a lot better."

The loss capped a turbulent week for the Bears (5-8), who lost quarterback Jim Miller to a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. Shane Matthews returned as the starter and was 20-of-37 for 223 yards.

"We just didn't execute well enough to win," Matthews said.

"Green Bay had a great game plan, dropping eight guys back into coverage."

Bears punter Todd Sauerbrun had a day as dismal as the weather.

A short punt led to one Green Bay TD and defensive end Keith McKenzie returned a botched kick 45 yards for a score.

""Overall, we just made too many errors," Bears coach Dick Jauron said. "Clearly punting the ball into that brutal wind is a chore."

The Packers avenged a bitter 14-13 loss to the Bears last month at Lambeau Field and won for the sixth straight time in Chicago.

"This is probably the most disappointing of the eight losses," Jauron said. "The only think we have in front of us is to try to be 8-8. That's as good as we can be this season."

The only scoring in the first quarter came when Bears linebacker Barry Minter intercepted a pass over the middle and returned it 25 yards for a score.

Chicago increased the lead to 10-0 on a 24-yard field goal by Chris Boniol early in the second quarter before the Packers began using the wind to their advantage.

Favre drove the Packers 76 yards in nine plays, capped by a slant to Schroeder in the end zone.

The Packers took over at the Chicago 29 on their next possession following a 27-yard punt by Sauerbrun and an 11-yard return by Antaun Edwards. Green Bay capitalized on a two-yard TD run by William Henderson.

A blunder by Sauerbrun increased Green Bay's lead to 21-10.

Attempting to punt, Sauerbrun hesitated as the pressure approached and lost control of the ball. McKenzie scooped it up and raced 45 yards into the end zone.

A 23-yard field goal by Boniol with seven seconds left in the half cut the Bears deficit to 21-13.

The slippery conditions contributed to another miscue in the third quarter when Jerry Azumah stripped Edwards of the ball on a punt return and the Bears recovered at the Green Bay 18. Five plays later, Curtis Enis scored on a one-yard run, but a two-point conversion pass attempt by Matthews failed.

It would be the last time Chicago would have the wind in its favor. Parker's first two NFL TDs capped drives of 88 and 60 yards as Green Bay put the game away.


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