Packers 33 Bears 28: Packers are NFC North Division Champions

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led his team from behind to a win over the Chicago Bears. Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports photograph

The Green Bay Packers fought right down to the end of their NFC North Division Championship game today and it was two relative “newcomers,” Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb, who hooked up on a 48-yard go route inside of a minute on 4th and 8 to take a 33-28 win over their rivals to the south.

In a game that saw five lead changes, it was the Packers whose 15-play, 87-yard drive that was capped by the Rodgers-to-Cobb touchdown that put a fitting end on a game featuring two teams that have such a long and rich history.

The Packers took a 13-7 lead into halftime, bolstered by two Mason Crosby field goals and a freak touchdown by receiver Jarrett Boykin, who picked up a fumble by Aaron Rodgers that everyone else stood around and ignored.

Chicago scored first in this game after safety Chris Conte intercepted Rodgers in the end zone at the end of a long Packers first quarter drive. The Bears went 80 yards on eight plays, capped by a short pass to Matt Forte.

The defenses for both teams played well in the first half, but the offenses came alive in the second half. Chicago scored three times in the second half and held a 28-20 and 28-27 lead for most of the second half. It wasn’t until the Packers scored inside of one minute that they took the lead and the win.

Jay Cutler, who warmed up in the second half, but was still held to just 15 completions, threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception – on the final play of the game.

Aaron Rodgers, coming off nearly two months of inactivity, was steady, if not the rock that the Packers needed from their quarterback. He was 25-of-39 for 318 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 INT.

Jordy Nelson

Interestingly, it seemed that the Packers may have run Eddie Lacy a bit much as the game wore on, but he was a warrior, gutting out what’s got to be a painful ankle sprain. He seemed to slow down as the day wore on.

Lacy was spelled again by James Starks who picked up 88 yards on 11 carries, including a 41-yarder.

On the receiving end, the game’s MVP had to be Jordy Nelson, who caught 10 passes for 161 yards – clearly, he was happy the guy slinging the ball to him was Rodgers. It seemed as though the two of them picked up right where they left off before Rodgers fractured his collarbone. Nelson picked up big catch after big catch and nearly single-handedly willed the team to victory.

In total, the Packers defense gave up 345 total yards, but came up big when they needed to do so.

Still, as the Packers prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the NFL Playoffs, the focus in this win was on the offense and the return of Rodgers and Cobb. They came up big today, but it will take a complete team effort to beat the runners-up in the NFC West next weekend.

First Half highlights

The Green Bay Packers, despite two interceptions by the Chicago Bears, took at 13-7 lead into halftime of their game at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Bolstered on a bizarre touchdown scored by Packers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin after Aaron Rodgers was hit from behind by Julius Peppers and fumbled, gave the Packers their only touchdown of the day. But that doesn’t mean the Bears shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The Packers rolled up 202 yards of offense, with 140 of it coming from Rodgers arm.

In particular, it was Jordy Nelson who was targeted by Rodgers. The two seemed to pick up where they left off in their timing from the start of the game. Nelson led all receivers with 6 catches for 96 yards. Rodgers was 14 for 22, 145 yards. Eddie Lacy ran hard in the first half, rushing 11 times for 34 yards.

The Bears played opportunistic defense in the first half. On the Packers first drive, Rodgers didn’t see safety Chris Conte and the Bear intercepted Rodgers in the end zone.

When the Packers were driving a couple of series later, a tipped pass by Nelson was intercepted by the Bears.

Both teams played solid defense in the first half, and both were opportunistic.

The second half should be interesting …

Stay tuned …

Game Stats courtesy of SI.com

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

Matt Forte 4 yard TD pass from Jay Cutler (Robbie Gould extra point is GOOD), 2:07 Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 3:36
Chicago 7-0

2nd Quarter

Mason Crosby 33 yard field goal, 7:59 Drive: 10 plays, 49 yards in 4:46
Chicago 7-3

Jarrett Boykin 15 yard fumble return for TD (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 3:28 Drive: 6 plays, 39 yards in 2:41
Green Bay 10-7

Mason Crosby 27 yard field goal, 0:02 Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards in 1:45
Green Bay 13-7

Second half

3rd Quarter

Randall Cobb 7 yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 7:27 Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards in 3:19
Green Bay 20-14

Matt Forte 1 yard TD run (Robbie Gould extra point is GOOD), 5:04 Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards in 2:23
Chicago 21-20

4th Quarter

Brandon Marshall 5 yd pass from Jay Cutler (Robbie Gould kick), 14:55 Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards in 3:32
Chicago 28-20

Eddie Lacy 6 yd run (Mason Crosby kick), 11:38 Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards in 3:17
Chicago 28-27

Randall Cobb 48 yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (failed 2pt Pass from Aaron Rodgers), 0:38 Drive: 15 plays, 87 yards in 5:46
Green Bay 33-28

Packers

Bears

Packers

Bears

Packers

Bears

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/12/29/5625/index.html#ixzz2outWNkIQ