In the more than 100-year history of the Green Bay Packers rivalry with the Chicago Bears, the two teams have only met twice in the postseason. The most recent occurrence was in the 2010 NFC Championship Game which took place at Soldier Field and sent the Packers to Super Bowl XLV. The most memorable moments in the game were a touchdown by a 330-pound defensive lineman in B.J. Raji and a game-saving tackle by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
B.J. Raji Returns an Interception for a Touchdown as the Packers Down the Bears in the NFC Title Game: The Buildup
The Packers and the Bears seemed destined to meet in the 2010 NFC Championship Game. The Bears were the NFC North champions that season, finishing with an 11-5 record during the regular season. The Packers were 10-6 and made the playoffs as the final wild card.
The Bears had a chance to keep the Packers out of the playoffs in the final regular season game. The Packers needed the win to make the playoffs while the Bears had nothing to play for. Chicago coach Lovie Smith rested many of his starters. The Pack came away with a 10-3 win with tight end Donald Lee catching the game’s only touchdown on a one-yard pass from Rodgers.
After making the playoffs, the Packers beat the Eagles in Philadelphia. Then, Rodgers enjoyed one of his best games as the Packers soundly defeated the top-seeded Falcons.
The Bears earned their trip to the NFC title game with a 35-24 win over the Seahawks. This would be the first time the two rivals had met in the playoffs since 1941. The winner would go to the Super Bowl while the loser’s season would be over.
A Fast Start
The Bears won the toss and deferred so the Packers got the ball first. Rodgers wasted little time taking to the air. Starting from his own 16, Rodgers threw deep immediately. First, he found Greg Jennings for 22 yards deep down the right side. Then, he found Jennings down the middle for 26 more yards. After James Starks ran for six yards and caught a pass for six more, Rodgers threw to Jordy Nelson for 22 yards down to the Bears two. One play later, Rodgers ran around left end for the touchdown. The Packers led 7-0.
The teams traded punts for the rest of the first quarter. In the closing seconds of the first quarter, Packers punter Tim Masthay pinned the Bears at their own two-yard line. The Green Bay defense forced a three-and-out and the Packers took over at the Chicago 44 after a Bears punt.
Rodgers found running back Brandon Jackson for 16 yards, then Starks ran for 12 more behind the block of right guard Josh Sitton. Rodgers threw to Nelson for 15 more to give the Packers a first-and-goal at the Bears 4. On the next play, Starks ran over the right side for a four-yard touchdown. The Packers led 14-0. That would be the score at the half.
B.J. Raji Returns an Interception for a Touchdown as the Packers Down the Bears in the NFC Title Game: A Great Defensive Play by a Quarterback
The Packers had a chance to extend their lead on their first possession of the second half. Key plays on the drive included a 21-yard pass to Nelson followed by a 20-yard completion to Jennings. Chicago’s Tim Jennings was called for pass interference on a throw to James Jones that set up a first and goal on the Bears 8. But on 3rd-and-goal from the six, Rodgers tried to find Donald Driver in the left flat. Linebacker Brian Urlacher intercepted the ball and seemed headed for a 94-yard pick six. He reached the Chicago 45 when Rodgers lunged at him and got just enough of his foot to trip him up. Had Urlacher scored, the game would have been very different.
“I don’t think he saw me,” Urlacher said. “He threw it to me –then he tackled me.”
“I don’t get paid to tackle,” Rodgers said, “but that was probably one of my better plays of the game.”
Bears starting quarterback Jay Cutler left the game at this point due to a knee injury. He was replaced by Todd Collins who proved ineffective. Collins attempted four passes and failed to complete any. After two drives that were both three-and-outs, he was replaced by Caleb Hanie.
Late in the third quarter, Hanie started a drive that eventually got the Bears on the board. Matt Forte ran three times for 26 yards on the drive and caught another pass for eight more. A 32-yard pass from Hanie to wideout Johnnie Knox got the ball to the Green Bay one. Chester Taylor scored on a one yard run and the Packers lead was cut to 14-7 with 12:05 left in the fourth quarter.
The Big Man Comes Through
Later in the fourth quarter, the Bears got the ball back at their own 10-yard line. They trailed by seven points with 7:22 left in the game and needed one touchdown to even the score. On 3rd-and-5, Hanie tried to find Matt Forte in the left flat. The Packers called a corner blitz, so they had Raji, the nose tackle, dropping back into coverage.
Raji caught the ball at the Chicago 18 and headed for the end zone. He lifted the ball in celebration a little too soon. It was punched out by a Bears player just after he crossed the goal line and scored the touchdown that put the Packers ahead 21-7. There was still 6:12 seconds left in the game.
“It was a corner blitz,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “It’s a zone pressure. When the running back popped out, B.J. undercut the throwing zone.”
“I’m like, ‘He really threw this?’” Raji said after the game. “I just had to catch it. It’s like a dream. It’s only my second year in the league. I’ve been through a lot. For me to come up big in a spot like this, it’s just God’s blessing. How fitting is it for the Green Bay Packers to win this NFC championship on defense? That just sums it up right there.”
B.J. Raji Returns an Interception for a Touchdown as the Packers Down the Bears in the NFC Title Game: Closing the Deal
To their credit, the Bears didn’t quit. On their next drive, Hanie completed four straight passes to get the Bears back to within one score. The final pass went to Earl Bennett for a 35-yard touchdown. The score was 21-14 with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter.
The Packers ran the ball three times and punted, giving Chicago the ball at their own 29 with 2:53 left on the clock. Hanie drove them downfield and got as far as the Green Bay 27. On 4th-and-5, Hanie’s desperation pass for Knox was intercepted by Sam Shields. It was Shields’ second interception of the game, and it clinched the win for the Packers.
“I just saw the ball, and I went up for it,” Shields said. “I went up to the highest point and got it.”
“We had that post route called, and you know the corner is going to undercut that,” Hanie said. “Obviously, I don’t need to go there with the football.”
One kneel down by Rodgers and the game was over. The Packers were going to the Super Bowl.
The Aftermath
The Packers defense was proud of their contributions to this win and the entire playoff run. “The defense has kind of put these games away these last three games in the playoffs,” linebacker Clay Matthews said. “It seems like it’s only fitting. Obviously, we had our backs against the wall a little bit. But we made the play to win the game. That’s ultimately what matters. [If] we keep playing defense the way we know how, it’s going to be tough for teams to beat us.”
“I’m proud of our guys, because they’ve been very resilient,” Capers added. “When we faced adversity and we lost players, we always had somebody step in and produce. I think it’s a tribute to our veteran players, making sure they let those guys know that if you’re out there, you’ve got a job to do, and we expect you to do your job. I just think these guys believe in each other and they feel like at some point in time, somebody’s going to make a play.”
“I’m numb,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “Now, we have the opportunity to achieve greatness. This was the path that was chosen for us.”
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Rodgers said. “I’m at a loss for words.”
The Packers completed their Cinderella season the two weeks later with a 31-25 win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. But none of it would have been possible without a touchdown from a 330-pound nose tackle and a game-saving tackle by a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
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