The Green Bay Packers’ continue to simply dominate the Chicago Bears and last night it reached the point of pure comedy. When you block a punt by kicking it out of the air before the punter can kick it you know things are going your way. It was pure NFL Follies by the Bears for 60 minutes.
The Packers pulled to within two games in the all-time series that the Bears dominated for decades prior to the arrival of Brett Favre in Green Bay in 1992. Since then it has been all Packers. Last night was borderline ridiculous.
Aaron Rodgers tied the record of one of my other all-time favorite quarterbacks, Daryle Lamonica, by tossing six TD passes in the first half all while making it look like he was playing a pickup game in some kids backyard. The only way this game would have been close was if Rodgers played “all-time quarterback” and QB’d both sides. The Packers still would win because the Bears defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed.
The Packers offense is starting to become more diversified with the emergence of Eddie Lacy as a pass catcher via the dump-off or screen and the re-emergence of the tight end. This is what the Packers had in mind before Rodgers got hurt last year. You can try to stop the run or you can try to stop the pass, you can’t do both.
On defense the move of linebacker Clay Matthews to inside linebacker definitely sparked the much maligned unit. The Packers held the Bears and Matt Forte to just 55 rushing yards after giving up 235 to them back in September. Matthews had nine tackles and a sack in his new role and was all over the field.
All in all it was a great start to the second half of a season in which the Packers think they can return to elite status. Next up are the fast-paced Philadelphia Eagles, who will certainly be a challenge for the Packers’ new defense, which needs to start stacking success.