Monday, September 14, 2009

Packers 21, Bears 15

I am so happy.

The Packers did what they needed to do to bury the Bears.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The call was gutsy, but the confidence the entire Green Bay Packers organization has in quarterback Aaron Rodgers made it easier to make.

Throwing deep on third and 1, when a field goal could win it, could wind up being the best play call coach Mike McCarthy makes all season. But it was only as good as the faith he had that his quarterback could shake off his offense's dreadful performance and make a game-winning throw.

When Rodgers connected with receiver Greg Jennings for a 50-yard touchdown with 1 minute, 11 seconds left Sunday in a nip-and-tuck battle with division rival Chicago, all the failures of the past 59 minutes and the eight games in which Rodgers could not rally the Packers to victory last season became ancient history.

"Mike's got the (guts) to make those calls," center Jason Spitz said after the team's 21-15 victory in front of 70,920 at Lambeau Field. "He had confidence in the scheme, obviously. We scored a touchdown and it was the perfect call. Aaron's a born leader. He's a champion. When you're in a tough spot, that's the guy you want to have the ball."

Rodgers has been reminded all off-season how his inability to get the Packers over the top in close games was the one thing preventing him from becoming an upper-echelon quarterback and so it was probably a relief to him that in the very first game of the 2009 season he was presented an opportunity to prove himself.

"It gives me confidence, obviously," said Rodgers, who completed 17 of 28 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown. "To be able to, in crunch time when it was needed, to come up with a big throw and get our playmaker Greg (a touchdown) was very important for myself and also our team."

I really like Aaron Rodgers.

He's young, talented, and he seems like a very decent man.

Rodgers is a team player.

His teammates have high praise for him. As Jason Spitz said, "Aaron's a born leader. He's a champion."

I bet he can make up his mind, too.

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