Windy City Gridiron
Yes, I know it happened on week 15, and I may have purposely avoided posting this last week simply because the parallels are too strong here. First year HC and QB combo, Soldier Field, late season, a chance to all but clinch the NFC North with a Bears win. I had to do it this week.
Week 15, 2018. The Green Bay Packers are looking to try and stay alive in the playoff picture while a win for the Bears will clinch the NFC North.
The Bears jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead, as their duo of running backs accounted for 2 early touchdowns, a 9-yard rush from Jordan Howard, and a 12-yard pass from Mitchell Trubisky to Tarik Cohen.
In true Packer fashion they staged a quick 3rd quarter rally, with a field goal and a touchdown with a 2 point conversion to boot, tying the game at 14 all with Jamaal Williams providing the tying touchdown.
But the Bears defense would buckle down. Aaron Rodgers was sacked 5 times on the day, and with 3:14 left in the game with a chance to cut the Bears lead to just 3, Aaron Rodgers threw an ill advised pass that was deflected and picked off by All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson.
The Packers would eventually get the ball back and kick a late field goal, but the onside kick attempt failed and the Bears clinched the NFC North with a 24-17 win.
It was 1 of only 3 times in Rodgers career he didn’t throw for a touchdown in a game against the Bears, and the 68.9 passer rating was the lowest mark of his career against the Bears.
Here’s to hoping history has a way of repeating itself tonight.
Another division clinching game, seems like I might be developing a theme this week, or at least trying to manifest some good mojo.
in the midst of trying to clinch the division, the Bears squared off with a tough AFC East New York Jets squad, who were sitting on 10 wins looking to improve their playoff standing with a win in Chicago.
The Bears got out to an early 10-0 lead, aided by a 22-yard Matt Forte rushing touchdown, but the Jets exploded for 24 points in the 2nd quarter, including two touchdowns in the span of 1:04. Future Hall of Famer Ladainian Tomlinson would put the Jets up 21-10 with a 3-yard touchdown 8 minutes later in the quarter.
That’s when Jay Cutler activated.
Finally mounting a response, Cutler found his way into the endzone for a 2-yard rushing touchdown. The Jets would respond with a field goal before the end of the half to make it a 24-17 game.
The Bears, led by Cutler, would score 3 touchdowns in the matter of 7 minutes in the 3rd...
