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1. Before I could start banging the drum again, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Allen Barbre will retain his job as the starting right tackle. Barbre had the kind of night offensive linemen dread: When it’s apparent early in a game that they can’t stop the player across from him. Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye embarrassed Barbre twice in the first quarter alone, and things improved minimally as the game went on. (You wonder if it had more to do with Ogunleye losing steam than it did Barbre improving.) Packers coaches should share some blame for not adjusting quicker to get Barbre some help. If you can’t replace him, you can call plays that allows a tight end or running back to throw a shoulder at the defensive end to slow him down a bit.
2. After much ado, at least around here, the Packers ended up starting Nick Barnett at one of the inside linebacker spots. But true to their word, coaches rotated six players through the four linebacker spots. Brandon Chillar and Clay Matthews also played extensively. Chillar’s hurdle of Chicago tailback Garrett Wolfe, and his subsequent sack, was one of the most athletic plays you’ll ever see a blitzing linebacker make. Chillar received one of the Packers’ game balls for his efforts. As it turned out, the Packers’ sub packages made a huge difference Sunday night. According to ESPN Stats & Information, all four of the Packers’ interceptions came when they were in a formation other than their base package.
3. The Packers slightly increased their percentage of running plays in the second half and then scored the winning touchdown on play action. Coincidence? Perhaps not. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Packers rushed on 35 percent on their first-half plays and 45 percent in the second half. Greg Jennings’ 50-yard touchdown reception came after quarterback Aaron Rodgers faked a handoff to tailback Ryan Grant. The play seemed briefly to slow down Bears cornerback Nate Vasher, who Jennings ran past about 10 yards into his pattern.

What happened to Jermichael Finley? Many of us media types have been touting Finley as a major part of the passing game, but he went silent after making a 6-yard reception on the Packers’ second possession of the game. McCarthy said Monday that game situations didn’t favor the tight end, pointing to six plays where the Packers faced second-and-10 or worse and another six where they faced third-and-11 or worse. Ultimately, I’m sure the Packers hope Finley can be the type of receiver who can help convert long-yardage situations. But not yet.