The first-place Green Bay Packers renew their rivalry with the Bears on Sunday. And quarterback Aaron Rodgers has found his groove again.
A season ago, he hit on a scintillating 70.7 percent of his passes. He threw for 4,299 yards, 48 scores, and just five interceptions, and the Green Bay Packers led the NFL with 509 points. He helped Matt LaFleur’s club capture the NFC’s number-one seed in the playoffs.
In 2020, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the third time in his career. Last season ended with a loss in the NFC title game for the second straight year.
Then came an offseason in which no one appeared quite sure if the talented signal-caller wanted to play for the organization anymore. And to make matters worse, 2021 began with an inexplicable 38-3 loss to the relocated Saints at Jacksonville. The Packers then trailed the Lions at home on a Monday night at Lambeau Field. What on Earth was going on?
Apparently nothing at all. LaFleur’s team is currently on a four-game winning streak following that debacle vs. New Orleans. After serving up a pair of picks vs. Sean Payton’s club, he’s thrown for 10 scores and just one interception in the last four games. He and wide receiver Davante Adams continue to connect for big plays, running back Aaron Jones has provided balance and veteran Randall Cobb (who Rodgers wanted back with the team) has delivered with some clutch moments.
While the Green Bay defense is slowly but surely trying to find itself, Rodgers has delivered late in games and in overtime to rescue the team. There were wins at San Francisco and at Cincinnati on the final play of the game.
This Sunday, the Packers are at Soldier Field to renew one of the NFL’s great rivalries. Including the 2010 NFC title game, Rodgers has made 26 starts vs. the Bears. He’s thrown 55 touchdown passes and only a dozen interceptions. Green Bay has won the last four meetings in this series. So will it be business as usual for the veteran signal-caller and LaFleur’s squad?