The Green Bay Packers came off their bye week and destroyed their arch rival, the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football 55-14. The Lambeau faithful enjoyed watching Aaron Rodgers and the Packer offense making it look easy. Rodgers set another milestone yet another milestone, as he threw six touchdowns in the first half, becoming only the second quarterback in NFL history to do so.
Rodgers went 18-for-27, totaling 315 yards, and six td’s in less than three quarters of play.
Once upon a time, the Bears were known for their defense. Without Brian Urlacher, things have never been the same.
Rodgers picked the Bears apart finding wide open targets with all day to throw. First, Brandon Bostick on a fourth and goal; next Andrew Quarless in the redzone following a Micah Hyde interception giving Green Bay a short field, then Jordy Nelson on back to back bombs; a 73 yard scamper on a blown coverage and a 40 yarder beautifully caught with a toe tap in the corner of the endzone, oh there’s more.
Randall Cobb is second in the NFL with 10 touchdown catches.Then there was a well blocked and yet pathetically defended screen caught by Eddie Lacy that went untouched 56 yards for the score, and finally a gorgeous fade to Randall Cobb in the back of the endzone to close out the half.
The NFL record for most touchdowns thrown in a game is seven. Almost, but maybe next time. Nobody has ever thrown seven touchdowns in one half. It was nearly done as the Packers’ defense dominated as well giving A-Rod countless opportunities.
Clay Matthews and company smashed the Bears in the mouth, hard. In a surprise shift to middle linebacker, Matthews took over as a hybrid. He lined up on the edge, in the middle, as a spy, back in coverage.
We haven’t seen Clay this dominant since the Super Bowl run four years ago.
Julius Peppers got the sack, strip, and fumble recovery against his former teammate Jay Cutler.There have been struggles at the inside linebacker position, but Dom Capers finally solved that problem. Who knows if Matthews will make a permanent move to the middle but playing him at every angle gives Green Bay the advantage. Much like a Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed, Clay was flying all over the field from every angle. Matthews led the team with 11 tackles including a sack and two tackles for loss.
His highlight of the game was a stunt and perfect read stonewalling Bears receiver Chris Williams for an eight yard loss.
Everything went right for the Pack. Also, coming off of the bye week and Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s contract extension, things couldn’t have gone better as coach was all smiles.
The special teams blocked a Bears’ punt. Well, actually, Jarrett Boykin kicked the ball before the punter could.
It wasn’t a shutout, but felt like it.
Casey Hayward leads the team with three interceptions on the year.To round-up the perfect win, Casey Hayward intercepted Cutler late in the game and ran it back 82 yards for the pick-six.
The divisional win puts Green Bay (6-3) in the hunt behind Detroit (7-2). It’s still a race to the finish approaching Week 11, but the Packers play their best in the winter. Next up, the Philadelphia Eagles come to town. A rejuvenated Mark Sanchez with the Eagles’ high flying offense will be a good test. But Green Bay is undefeated at home this year (4-0). Defending home field advantage is a must for the playoff bound Packers.