By Alyssa Vega
BU News Service
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers helped wrap up the National Football Conference North title Sunday night, dominating the Chicago Bears 41-25 at Lambeau Field. After Sunday’s game, Rodgers became the 11th quarterback player in NFL history to reach 50,000 career passing yards.
“I will say that this is as good as I’ve ever seen anybody play,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday night. “[Rodgers] ability to go out there and get us in the right looks and shoot, even when I make a bad call, he definitely makes us look good. So, that’s a credit to him. He is playing in my eyes, he’s an MVP player. I wouldn’t want any other quarterback on our football team.”
After a 5-1 start this season, the Bears have now lost five straight games.
“This was a big win for us,” Rodgers told NBC after the game. “I never say must-win, but it was important for us to win this one. We’re up three games with five to go in the division. Rivalry game —love beating Chicago.”
After Sunday night, the Packers have the No. 2 seed in the NFC, with the New Orleans Saints holding the No. 1 spot.
Rodgers threw four touchdown passes to four different wide receivers, including three in the first half. On third and 10, Rodgers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Davante Adams with 7:31 left in the first quarter, but kicker Mason Crosby missed the extra point, making the score 6-0.
Although the Packers started strong with an early 6-0 lead, Bears running back David Montgomery played one of his best games of the season with a 57-yard run, driving the Bears to the 8-yard line with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter.
After returning from a concussion, Montgomery’s 57-yard run, which is the longest running play of Chicago’s season, set the Bears to a solid start.
“I thought [Montgomery] ran really hard,” Bears head coach Matt Nagy said during an interview after the game. “I thought the line blocked well for him. David’s a hard runner now. He cares immensely about this game. He’s going to give it every ounce that he has. And you felt that today.”
By the end of the night, Montgomery rushed 11 times for 103 yards and caught five passes for 40 yards. But he could only do so much to reach the end zone.
On second and goal, Bears tight end Cole Kmet slipped quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s pass, resulting in a fumble and an incomplete pass.
With 5:14 remaining in the first quarter on third and goal, Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson couldn’t hold possession of a pass in the end zone. Kicker Cairo Santos then made a field goal and brought the score to 6-3.
During the second quarter, Rodgers made his second touchdown pass. On first and goal, with 14:56 left in the second quarter, Rodgers threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mercedes Lewis. Then with 4:35 remaining in the second quarter, Rodger threw his third touchdown pass to wide receiver Allen Lazard, making the score 20-3.
“I’m really proud of our effort,” LaFleur said. “That was a great team win. That’s a good football team. You know, I thought we were physical [and] I thought we brought out a lot of energy.”
