GREEN BAY 38, CHICAGO 23

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Bears had the karma, but the Green Bay Packers had Ahman Green and Brett Favre.

Green rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns and Favre threw for three scores as the Packers spoiled the first game at renovated Soldier Field with a 38-23 thrashing of the winless Bears.

With Chicago still basking in the glow of the Cubs' first division title in 14 years, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers and Mike Singletary were among the Bears' greats on hand for the first game at Soldier Field since January 2002.

But Green Bay (2-2) used a 17-point first quarter to silence the crowd of 61,500 and take control. The Packers extended the lead to 24-3 early in the second period and made it 38-16 with 4:21 to go in the fourth quarter on Favre's third TD pass, a one-yard toss to tight end Bubba Franks.

"This is a very difficult environment," Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said. "It is a great setting with a new stadium and the great history of the Chicago Bears. Walking out on the field, it is pretty intimidating to a young football team."

Favre improved to 19-4 lifetime against the Bears with his ninth straight win in Chicago. He also guided Green Bay to a 34-21 triumph last year in Champaign, Illinois, while Soldier Field was undergoing its $632 million renovation.

"Even though we've had success here, it's always tough," Favre said. "It's a hostile environment."

Green did much of his damage early, topping the 100-yard mark 8 1/2 minutes into the second quarter. He opened the scoring with a 60-yard run and capped the big first quarter with a six-yard touchdown.

Green said the Packers targeted Bears Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher.

"We knew we had to run the ball right at him, that's the best way we could be successful," he explained. "We know with Urlacher's speed, it works to his advantage to run outside."

Only two fourth-quarter TDs made the final margin respectable for the Bears (0-3), who have been outscored, 111-43, this year. They are off to their second 0-3 start in five seasons under coach Dick Jauron.

"We knew going in that we had opportunities and that we had to make plays, and we didn't," Jauron said. "It's very disappointing, knowing it was a very electric night to start off."

"We embarrassed ourselves again. I hope we are embarrassed, because I am," Urlacher added.

After the teams traded punts, Green ran left on the second play of the Packers' second drive. He dodged cornerback Jerry Azumah at the line, then raced down the left sideline 60 yards to put Green Bay in front for good.

"This is the second time in two wins that he broke off a long run," Sherman said. "He does make them miss and he does have the speed to take the distance. He was hot in the red zone. He was making some magic out there."

Ryan Longwell capped the Packers' next possession with a 34-yard field goal and linebacker Marcus Wilkins blocked a punt by Brad Maynard to set up Green Bay at the Bears' 20-yard line.

Favre hit Franks for 14 yards and Green waltzed up the middle from the 6 for a 17-0 cushion.

"With a quick start, it made the difference in the game," Favre said. "To strike early, it's hard to recover when you're the other team, home or away."

Chicago finally converted a pair of third downs and got on the board on a 31-yard field goal by Paul Edinger six minutes into the second quarter.

But Favre, who struggled in 100-degree temperatures in last week's loss at Arizona, moved the Packers 72 yards in nine plays and hit fullback William Henderson over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown and a 24-3 lead.

"It's a little bit different than last week, but the heat wasn't a factor last week," Favre said. "I'd like to blame the loss on the heat, but we played hard last week and we played hard this week. But we executed this week."

The Bears never have overcome a 21-point deficit in their storied history but chipped away on a pair of field goals by Edinger, who converted from 38 yards in the final minute of the second quarter and 41 yards in the final seconds of the third.

After forcing Green Bay to punt, Chicago climbed within 24-16 when Anthony Thomas broke up the middle, cut left and outraced cornerback Al Harris to the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown. Thomas carried 13 times for 110 yards.

But that was as close as the Bears got.

The Packers scored two touchdowns in a 4 1/2-minute span to pull away. Favre capped a 64-yard drive with a nine-yard toss to Javon Walker in the back of the end zone with 8:51 to go, then hit a wide-open Franks to make it 38-16.

Favre completed 21-of-30 passes for 179 yards with an interception and moved past Dan Fouts into fifth place on the all-time list with 43,089 passing yards. He also tied Joe Montana for fifth place with his 117th win.

Chicago's Kordell Stewart was 25-of-44 for 201 yards with two interceptions. He also ran for 71 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.