CHICAGO -- A few thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' 38-17 win over the Chicago Bears Sunday at Soldier Field.
What it means: Another 1-2 start turned into another bounce-back victory that, at least for the moment, should bring a sense of calm to the team. It was the third straight season the Packers followed a 1-2 start with a victory. Perhaps it was simply the product of playing the Bears' shaky defense, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense could not be stopped. On their first six possessions, they recorded five touchdowns and a field goal. Tim Masthay never punted, and the only time they did not score was when Mason Crosby had a field goal blocked in the fourth quarter.
Stock watch: Rodgers went over the 25,000 career passing yardage mark in the first half. He did so in his 98th career game, making him the fourth fastest to reach that mark in NFL history. But more importantly, Rodgers looked like, well, Rodgers again after his substandard performance in last week's loss to the Lions, when he threw for just 162 yards. Needing 106 yards to get to 25,000, he threw for 302 yards in the game.
Good block: The best defensive play of the first half might have been when safety Micah Hyde blocked the goal-line camera angle on the final play of the second quarter. Hyde unintentionally shielded the camera that the officials used to determine whether Bears tight end Martellus Bennett had crossed the plane after he caught a second-and-goal pass with time running out in the second quarter. The officials ruled Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had stopped Bennett just short of the goal line and couldn't reverse the call because Hyde blocked the view. Since the Bears had no timeouts left, they could not stop the clock to attempt a field goal, and the Packers took a 21-17 lead into halftime.
Game ball: This game was all about Rodgers, who needed a bounce-back performance. He did all of that and more. And his best throw of the game didn't even count. He had a 34-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams in the third quarter wiped out by holding penalty. Nevertheless, it was indicative of how just locked in he was. With pressure in his face, Rodgers still fired a bullet to Adams in the end zone. For the game, Rodgers completed 22 of 28 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns.
What's next: The Packers' third straight NFC North game will be a quick turnaround. The Minnesota Vikings come to Lambeau Field for a Thursday night game.
