This could be the most competitive NFL season, as Week 2 brought another week of one-possession games. I wrote about the scores, stat leaders, and more Week 2 news on Sunday. You can read that here. Aaron Rodgers on Sunday Night Football did what he does best: defeat the Chicago Bears. He has 24 wins and just five losses in his career against the Bears.
The Bears started off the game leading 7-3. However, that changed quickly, as Rodgers and the Packers scored three unanswered touchdowns and led 24-7 at halftime.
The Bears cut the lead to 24-10 and marched to the red zone at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Packers’ defense stopped Bears quarterback Justin Fields on a fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line, and the Bears turned it over on downs, which shifted the momentum. The Packers won 27-10, and both teams start off the season with one win and one loss.
Stat Leaders
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers – 19 completions on 25 pass attempts, 234 yards thrown, two touchdowns, zero interceptions
Packers running back Aaron Jones – 15 carries, 132 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, three receptions, 38 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown
Bears running back David Montgomery – 15 receptions, 122 yards
Packers running back AJ Dillon – 18 carries, 61 yards
Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins – three receptions, 93 yards
Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who was supposed to have a big season, finished the game with one reception and negative four yards.
When asked about the Packers-Bears rivalry, Rodgers said:
“Now, we’ve won 104 times against them,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the game. “I think everybody in Green Bay is counting.”
Rodgers also had high praise for running backs, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon:
“Both those guys wake up, and it’s the best day of their life. 33 and 28 coming to work … those are fun guys to play with. They truly enjoy each other, pull for each other, very different styles, but I applaud their growth over the years … I give both those guys credit. They are examples of what it means to be a pro, and especially here.”
Rodgers lost his best wide receiver, Davante Adams, to the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason, and although the Raiders are 0-2, you can sense that he is the missing piece for Rodgers. But as the season goes on, the Packers’ wide receivers will gain Rodgers’ trust.
The NFC North seems competitive as the Packers, Bears, and Detroit Lions are 1-1, while the Vikings are 1-0 and head to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
The Packers will face off against the Buccaneers in Week 3, as we will likely see the last matchup ever between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.