Aaron Rodgers’ celebration of his game-clinching play Sunday at Soldier Field was extra muted than his snapshot second a 12 months in the past.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback didn’t hurl expletives towards Chicago Bears followers. He didn’t remind followers giving him the center finger that he nonetheless owned their group as he secured his twenty fifth victory in 30 rivalry video games.
When Rodgers threw a 2-point conversion go to a wide-open Marcedes Lewis to seal the Packers’ 28-19 win, he hurried to greet his teammates ultimately zone after which twice saluted Bears followers within the stands.
Afterward, the 39-year-old quarterback, who has teetered on the sting of retirement lately, went sentimental reasonably than confrontational when requested about his salute.
“You never know when it’s going to be your last time playing at a place,” Rodgers mentioned. “I’ve had a lot of great moments in this place. And as much as the fans don’t really like me, I do have respect for the city of Chicago, and they’re great sports fans here. It’s been a lot of fun over the years to go to battle, win or lose.”
In the spectrum of Rodgers performances in opposition to the Bears, this one — whereas coping with thumb and rib accidents and taking part in a Bears protection with a number of rookies — wasn’t close to the most effective.
But it was adequate to assist the Packers win their eighth straight within the rivalry and surpass the Bears in all-time regular-season wins. The Packers now lead the NFL with 787.
Rodgers accomplished 18 of 31 passes for 182 yards and a landing with no turnovers. And he led the Packers to 18 fourth-quarter factors to safe the comeback win after the Bears led 19-10 within the third quarter.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields, whom Rodgers known as “a talented quarterback who has a chance to be around for a long time,” produced flashier numbers — 254 passing yards and 71 speeding yards, together with a 55-yard landing run.
But Fields additionally threw two fourth-quarter interceptions that pushed the sport within the Packers’ favor — and helped Rodgers stroll away as king of the sequence as soon as once more.
“You definitely draw a lot of confidence and good memories off this matchup,” Rodgers mentioned. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of success during my time against them. I’ve enjoyed playing here. There were probably a lot of people that felt good at 19-10. So did I.”
It was a tricky one to place into context for the Bears protection.
The Bears have been lacking beginning safeties Eddie Jackson (injured reserve, Lisfranc damage) and Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and beginning cornerbacks Kyler Gordon (concussion) and Kindle Vildor (ankle). Cornerback Jaylon Johnson was the one ordinary starter within the Bears secondary.
In their place, the Bears began veteran backup DeAndre Houston-Carson and 2022 seventh-round decide Elijah Hicks at security, undrafted rookie Jaylon Jones at cornerback and undrafted rookie Josh Blackwell at nickel. They joined a Bears protection that additionally included undrafted rookie linebacker Jack Sanborn.
Houston-Carson, who made his second begin this season, began by speaking about how proud he was of the younger gamers, saying the additional movie work and communication in the course of the week helped put together them to step in and maintain the Packers to 10 factors over the primary three quarters.
But he went on to say it’s “sickening” to lose one other shut one to the Packers, giving up a late rating when Christian Watson zipped across the fringe of the Bears protection for a 46-yard landing earlier than the 2-point conversion. Watson additionally scored on a 14-yard go from Rodgers on the finish of the primary half with Hicks overlaying him.
A.J. Dillon, who rushed for 93 yards, added a 21-yard landing run for the Packers early within the fourth quarter on a drive wherein Jones was known as for go interference and Johnson was known as for holding.
“We know everybody was doubting us, talking about backups and this and that, saying we have to go against Aaron Rodgers, and we take that personal,” Houston-Carson mentioned. “We approached this week probably with a different type of mentality. Disappointed at the end that we couldn’t finish it off, but not discouraged at all because we gave everything we had both in preparation and on the field.”
The new-look secondary didn’t get many favors from the Bears entrance.
The Bears didn’t file a sack for the third time in 5 video games. They didn’t even file a quarterback hit, failing to grab the chance in opposition to a bodily ailing quarterback.
“The line played really good today,” Rodgers mentioned. “I moved around a decent amount, held on to the ball at times, and I went to the ground one time. So that’s like a dream game for somebody in my position with a pretty sore rib cage.”
As complimentary as Rodgers may need been about Chicago and Bears followers, he nonetheless bought in some digs.
He was requested if he maintains his possession after Sunday’s efficiency.
Rodgers paused for 4 seconds after which mentioned: “Yes. A lot of middle fingers.”
And then he smirked.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com