The Associated Press

CHICAGO - New Soldier Field or old Soldier Field, it makes little difference. Ahman Green, Brett Favre and the rest of the Green Bay Packers just love to play the Chicago Bears.

Green ran for 176 yards on 19 carries, and Favre threw three touchdown passes, leading the Packers past the Bears 38-23 Monday night.

The Packers (2-2) won for the 17th time in the last 19 meetings between the NFL's oldest rivals, building a 24-6 halftime lead against the winless Bears (0-3).

Favre improved his career record against the Bears to 19-4 and has now directed 10 straight road wins against Chicago. He also reached another milestone, jumping ahead of Dan Fouts to No. 5 on the career passing yards list. Green ran for two TDs - one an early 60-yarder.

When the Bears got within eight points in the final quarter, Favre put it away with a pair of TD passes, a 9-yarder to Javon Walker with 8:51 remaining, and a 1-yarder to Bubba Franks with 4:21 left.

Favre also connected with William Henderson on a 14-yard scoring pass in the first half, and now has 47 career TD passes against the Bears - his most against any team.

The Bears, booed in their new-look stadium that is part of a $606 million lakefront beautification project, appeared to get back in the game with 12:36 left when Anthony Thomas broke off a 67-yard TD run to make it 24-16.

But then the Packers responded, moving 64 yards in seven plays. Green's 32-yard run through the porous Chicago defense carried to the 13. Minutes later, Favre rolled right and found Walker wide open in the corner of the end zone.

Green Bay put it away with a seven-play, 54-yard drive capped when Franks - wide open, as Packers receivers were all night - made the TD catch that made the score 38-16.

Kordell Stewart, who was sacked five times, scored on a 1-yard run with 1:28 remaining. By that time, most of the crowd of 58,937 had gone home.

Return to Bengals front page...