Aaron Rodgers found a wide open Randall Cobb on 4th and 8 for a 48-yard touch pass to pull out a 33-28 Green Bay Packers win over the
Chicago Bears in Chicago, winning the NFC North Division title in the process.
The Packers will host the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field in the first round of the playoffs. The game will be played either Saturday or Sunday with an announcement from the NFL yet to come. The 49ers have already beaten the Packers once this season, 34-28 in the season opener in San Francisco on Sept. 8th. The 49ers also knocked the Packers out of the divisional playoffs last season, 45-31.
In his first game back from a fractured collarbone, Aaron Rodgers completed 25 of 39 for 318 yards, 2 TD’s and 2 interceptions. Jordy Nelson was his favorite target, catching 10 passes for 161 yards. Eddie Lacy and James Starks also rushed for 153 combined yards.
The Packers only first half touchdown came on a bizarre play. Rodgers fumbled when hit from behind by Julius Peppers. The play was ruled a fumble and when nobody went to pick up the loose ball, Jarrett Boykin finally did and ran 15-yards for the touchdown.
The first half was bogged down by some mistakes and some good defense. But the game opened up in the second half. The teams traded scores and eventually things settled when Rodgers found Cobb for the game winning touchdown.
The Bears had a chance before the Packers took possession of the ball. They had 3rd and 17 and Jay Cutler went down the left sideline to Alshon Jeffery, who dropped the ball. It would have given the Bears a first down and a chance to eat more time off the clock and continue the drive. They punted instead and gave Rodgers and the Packers the ball back with way too much time left and the Packers knew what to do with it.
The Packers finished the regular season 8-7-1 and are NFC North division champs for the 3rd straight season.