Play of the game

Micah Hyde breaks up potential TD

THE FORMATION:

The Bears are in a three-receiver set with Alshon Jeffery (17), Cameron Meredith (81) and Deonte Thompson (14) all lined up to the left. Tight end Daniel Brown (85) is in-line to the right. Quarterback Matt Barkley (12) is in the shotgun and running back Jordan Howard (24) is to his right.

THE REACTION:

The Packers are in their dime defense with ILB Jake Ryan (47) filling in for injured Joe Thomas and S Kentrell Brice (29) in for benched CB Damarious Randall. Brice, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) and OLBs Datone Jones (95) and Julius Peppers (56) are blitzing, creating what should be a six-man rush. CBs LaDarius Gunter (36), Quinten Rollins (24) and CB Micah Hyde (33) are in man coverage and S Morgan Burnett (42) is matched up against the tight end.

THE PLAY:

1 Barkley takes the shotgun snap and immediately looks to his left.

2 As NT Letroy Guion (98) scrambles to get onto the field late, Meredith crosses in front of him on a quick out route.

3 Barkley lets the ball fly as Hyde stumbles.

4 Hyde gathers himself and with his left arm deflects the pass and knocks it off Meredith and onto the ground.

THE AFTERMATH:

Just like a week ago when NT Christian Ringo had to sprint onto the field late, Guion did the same after realizing the call was for the dime defense to remain on the field. Instead of running right onto the field, Guion smartly ran out of bounds and jumped in once he was onsides. Barkley saw right away there were only 10 on the field and hurried the snap. “It was kind of 10 1/2,” Barkley said. “I actually kind of had to hesitate throwing the pass

because I thought he was looking at me and was going to come over and pick it off.” At 6-4, 322 pounds, Guion did a remarkable job twisting his body at the last second so that he didn’t run into Hyde as he made his break on Meredith. With the Packers rushing six (actually five since Guion never made it to his position), Hyde anticipated a quick throw. “They were making those easy throws the whole last drive,” Hyde said. “They were working me inside, working my

leverage. If I was inside, they would throw outside. If I was outside they would throw inside.” Hyde had inside leverage so he knew Meredith was going outside. “I tried to get my hands on him,” he said. “I slipped a little, otherwise I might have been able to pick it off.” The deflection forced a fourth down and Bears coach John Fox elected to kick the field goal, giving the Packers a chance to win it with a field goal in regulation.