GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A few thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' 55-14 victory Sunday night over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
What it means: Unfortunately for the Packers, a total domination of a division rival doesn't count double in the NFC North standings. Nevertheless, the carryover from this kind of victory might be just what the second-place Packers (6-3) need to run down the Detroit Lions (7-2), who still lead the division by one game. Perhaps the best part for the Packers is they still have three of their next four games and four of the past seven to finish the regular season at home, where they are unbeaten this season and where they will play the Lions in Week 17 in a game that could be for the division title. For now, the Packers will surely take some degree of satisfaction in putting up the third-most points in a game in franchise history.
Stock watch: Rising -- Clay Matthews. During the bye week, the Packers' coaches turned Matthews into an inside linebacker. He started at the spot next to A.J. Hawk and played there for the majority of the game. He moved back to his traditional outside linebacker spot only when defensive coordinator Dom Capers went to his dime package. Matthews was a tackling machine, registering 11 tackles (including nine solos stops). He recorded one sack, coming from his traditional outside linebacker spot, and had another wiped out because he was called for a personal foul penalty for a blow to the head.
Dominant at home: In the Packers' past three home games against the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Chicago, they have staked themselves to leads of 42-0, 28-0 and 45-0, respectively.
Game ball: Who knows how many touchdown passes Aaron Rodgers might have thrown in a complete game? He threw six in the first half, tying the franchise record for an entire game (one that he already held along with his backup, Matt Flynn). It also tied a 45-year-old NFL record for most touchdowns in a half. Rodgers had one more legitimate shot for a seventh touchdown but on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line in the third quarter, he couldn't connect with Randall Cobb. And with 10:52 left in the third quarter, Rodgers had taken his final snap of the game. He finished 18-of-27 passing for 315 yards with a passer rating of 145.8.
What's next: The Packers stay at home to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The game was moved from noon to a 3:25 p.m. CT.
