The Green Bay Packers dismantled the once-proud Chicago Bears in a 55-14 rout for the ages Sunday night in front of a record crowd of 78,292 at Lambeau Field.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers marched his team at will to six first-half touchdowns, while the Packers’ defense stymied Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense until the third quarter.
Rodgers’ day started with a pair of touchdown throws to tight ends Brandon Bostick, for 1 yard and Andrew Quarless for 4 yards for a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Rodgers, playing behind a line with two guards — Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang — that were questionable heading into the game, was able to find a wide open Jordy Nelson deep down the field for a 73-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. He’d come back to Nelson for a 40-yard touchdown on the next series.
“We did a good job moving (Nelson) around,” Rodgers said. “The protection was great. We took some shots and converted them.”
Running back Eddie Lacy took a short screen pass 53 yards for another score. With 19 seconds left in the half, receiver Randall Cobb put the Packers (6-3) ahead 42-0 on a diving catch in the end zone.
“He was right on tonight,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of his quarterback’s performance. “His statistics at halftime, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like that. He played a great game.”
Rodgers had a chance to break the single-game touchdown passes record on two second-half drives, but came up short on each. The Packers went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half.
The Bears (3-6) stalled on the next possession, trying to punt on the Chicago 20, but Packers receiver Jarrett Bush managed to get to the ball before Bears punter Patrick O’Donnell could kick it.
The Packers took over at the Chicago 8-yard line, but Rodgers threw incomplete twice and Lacy failed to punch it in, and the Packers settled for a 20-yard Mason Crosby field goal and a 45-0 lead.
“There is a time and place for coming out of a game, and that was it,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers, who gave way to backup Matt Flynn, finished 18 of 27 for 315 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and a quarterback rating of 145.8.
Nelson finished with six catches for 152 yards.
The Packers defense, which featured Clay Matthews taking on more responsibilities at inside linebacker, managed to hold the Bears scoreless until the third quarter, when Cutler connected with receiver Brandon Marshall for a 45-yard touchdown. Marshall had eight receptions for 112 yards.
Bears running back Matt Forte was held to 54 yards on 17 carries.
Matthews led the Packers with nine tackles, two for a loss. He also had a sack and a quarterback hit.
“This was kind of the next step,” McCarthy said. “Great job by our defensive staff with creativity. Clay stepped in there and performed at an extremely high level. I thought he was outstanding today.”
Outside linebacker Julius Peppers had a strip-sack fumble and recovery in the second quarter. Safety Morgan Burnett and linebacker Sam Barrington also had sacks.
Cutler finished 22 of 37 for 272 yards and one touchdown before giving way to Jimmy Clausen. Micah Hyde picked off Cutler on the Bears’ second possession.
Cornerback Casey Hayward put the Packers up 55-7 on a 82-yard interception return.
The Bears scored on the ensuing kickoff when returner Chris Williams went 101 yards.
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