The Green Bay Packers gave themselves a Christmas present, locking up homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs as they destroyed the Bears 35-21.
And after an off game last weekend, which resulted in their first loss in a year, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers looked nearly perfect. Rodgers had a passer rating of 142.7, as he finished the night 21 of 29 for 283 yards plus 5 TD passes. The 5 TDs was his career best, although he has passed for 4 TDs on four different occasions this season, and boosts his season total up to 45 TD passes.
He would need another 5 TD performance next weekend to equal Tom Brady’s record of 50 TDs in a season, set in 2007, but he already has the fourth most TD passes ever in a season, with one game to go. The only three quarterbacks to ever pass for more than 45 TDs are Brady’s 50 (2007), Peyton Manning’s 49 (2004) and Dan Marino’s 48 (1984).
His 283 passing yards also puts him just 357 yards shy of the 5,000 yard mark, which has only been achieved twice in NFL history, although he is still a distant third this season, as both Brady and Drew Brees are on pace to crush Marino’s single season passing record of 5,084 yards, also set in 1984.
More important than just the numbers, the Packers have secured home field advantage, meaning that for any other NFC team to make it to the Super Bowl, they will have to beat the Packers at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in January – a very tall order.
“To be able to be a part of something special like this has been incredible,” Rodgers said in a television interview. “Great night tonight for us, securing that No. 1 seed.”
“Now we’re going to enjoy the rest of our Christmas with our families,” Rodgers said.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said, “Thirty-five points on that defense, that’s a good night.”
Rodgers had great receiving support, as Jordy Nelson caught 6 of the 7 balls thrown in his direction, for 115 yards, and 2 TDs and James Jones had 50 yards receiving on 4 catches, with 2 TDs as well.
The Bears made the switch from Caleb Hanie to Josh McNown at quarterback, and he was respectable, completing 19 of 28 passes for 242 yards with 1 TD, but he did throw 2 INTs, which were the only two turnovers in the game. McNown also ran the ball 8 times for 38 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
The Bears gave McNown a lot of running support, as they totaled 199 yards on the ground, including 121 yards on 23 carries from Khalil Bell. But despite outgaining the Packers 441 to 363 total yards, the Packers were much more efficient, working up to a 35-10 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter before shutting things down.
The Packers host the Detroit Lions next week in a game where the Packers have absolutely nothing left to play for. It will be interesting to see how long the starters remain in the game, especially offensive starters like Rodgers who will be facing the Lions punishing defense.
