The oldest rivalry in football produced one of its most memorable games Sunday night. The Green Bay Packers pulled off an unbelievable comeback win over the Chicago Bears despite heading into the fourth quarter down 17 points.

The game featured a number of improbable moments, including Aaron Rodgers’ return from a knee injury, Kyle Fuller’s dropped interception and Randall Cobb’s clutch touchdown.

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In the end Aaron Rodgers did his thing, leading the Packers back to win the contest 24-23.

As expected, the performance led to a number of incredible stats. Here are five of the craziest numbers from the Packers’ wild comeback over the Bears.

The Bears had a 98.2 percent chance to win the game

After Rodgers was flagged for intentional grounding with 1:52 left in the third quarter, the Bears had a 98.2 percent chance to win the game, according to win probability. The number is calculated based on the score, possession and many other factors.

It’s unclear whether the “Is Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback” calculation was working Sunday night.

Packers had never won a game down 17 points in the fourth quarter

How improbable was the Packers’ comeback? In the 107 previous instances where the Packers trailed by at least 17 points in the fourth quarter during the regular season, the team was 0-107. This was the first time the Packers were able to complete a comeback in that situation.

Khalil Mack may have done something that’s never been done before

Our own Shalise Manza Young touched on Khalil Mack’s exceptional game, noting that his first-half performance may have resulted in something we’ve never seen before.

Story continues

NBC flashed a graphic saying Mack was the first player to record a sack, interception, touchdown, forced fumble and fumble recovery in a single half – it also said since 1982, but that’s the year the NFL started keeping sacks as a statistic, so Mack could be the only player ever to do that in one half.

Aaron Rodgers dominated while playing on one leg

When Rodgers left the game with a knee injury, he was 3-for-7 with 13 yards. After coming back, Rodgers went 17-for-23 for 273 yards and three touchdowns. That’s good for a 152.7 passer rating. He did all of that basically on one leg.

Rodgers told Packers that it would be pistol or shotgun entire second half. No drop backs The knee limited his movement. — Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) September 10, 2018





Oh, and one of those incompletions came on a throwaway to run out the clock at the end of the game.

The Bears offense failed to produce after two strong drives

On their first drive of the game, the Bears offense looked effective and modern. On their second, they looked capable. On nearly every other drive, they looked like the same old Bears.

After starting touchdown-field goal the Bears next 6 possessions looked like this. 3 plays 4 yards

4 plays -3 yards

3 plays 5 yards

12 plays 60 yards FG

3 plays 8 yards

3 plays 9 yards — Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) September 10, 2018





Five of the next six Bears possessions failed to produce double-digit yardage. While you can’t expect a team to score every time it gets the ball, the Bears’ failure to sustain drives and run out the clock allowed the Packers — and Rodgers — enough time to complete their unlikely comeback.

Aaron Rodgers led the Packers back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter. (AP Photo)

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</s>Aaron Rodgers has pulled off a number of miracles on the football field, but his comeback against the Bears on Sunday night will go down as one of the most impressive of his career.

Rodgers was carted off the field in the first half of the Packers home opener, and the Bears opened up a 20-0 lead in his absence. He was announced as questionable to return with a knee injury, but with the Packers first possession of the second half, Rodgers took to the field again to lead Green Bay on a drive for a field goal for their first points of the game.

It was only the beginning.

Rodgers, normally one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, was clearly keeping weight off his left leg. But even on one leg, Rodgers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the world, as he proved on Sunday night.

On the Packers next drive, Rodgers found receiver Geronimo Allison on a beautiful 41-yard touchdown pass to cut the Bears lead to 20-10.

After a Packers stop on defense, Rodgers struck again, this time leading a methodical drive down the field before finding Davante Adams for another score.

The Bears would then mount a time-consuming drive that resulted in a field goal, giving Chicago a 23-17 lead and leaving the Packers to drive the length of the field with just under three minutes left and no timeouts.

It would only take the Packers three plays.

Rodgers threw two quick incompletions, but on third down, he found Randall Cobb wide open in the middle of the field. Cobb sped past every pursuing defender and scored the tying touchdown. One Mason Crosby extra point later, and the Packers had their first lead of the game.

The Packers would get one more stop to seal the game. According to Al Michaels, who was calling the game, the Packers' erasing of a 17-point deficit was the largest fourth quarter comeback in Packers history.

After Rodgers left the game in the first half, football fans were worried he might be gone for the game, if not weeks.

Instead, he returned to lead the Packers on four straight scoring drives to complete a 24-23 comeback win over their division rivals.

Rodgers is the highest-paid player in NFL history, and on Sunday night, he once again showed the world why.

After the game, NBC's Michele Tafoya asked Rodgers how confident he was that he'd be ready to go against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.

"Oh I'm playing next week," he replied.</s>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers heard the applause after walking out of the stadium tunnel and back on to the field.

 The team doctor had checked out his left knee after the Green Bay Packers quarterback was carted off the field in the second quarter. Rodgers, it seemed, had avoided a major injury.

 He was good to go. The adrenaline kicked in.

 “When I got the ovation, at that point, I said, ‘We might as well win this thing,'” Rodgers recounted.

 The hobbling two-time NFL MVP threw three touchdown passes in the second half after returning from injury, and the Green Bay Packers overcame a 20-point deficit for a thrilling 24-23 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

 Rodgers connected with receiver Randall Cobb for a catch-and-run through the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown and the go-ahead score with 2:13 left in the game.

 “Aaron Rodgers was remarkable. I just can’t tell you how proud I am with him,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

 Nick Perry sacked the Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky on fourth-and-10 with 58 seconds to complete the comeback.

 Against the archrival Bears. To start the Packers’ 100th season.

 Sunday marked the first time in franchise history that the Packers won after trailing by 17-plus points entering the fourth quarter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

 The Packers posted the second-largest comeback in franchise history at Lambeau Field, behind only a rally from 21 points down to beat New Orleans on Sept. 17, 1989.

 For Rodgers, this was special.

 “This will definitely go down as one my favorite memories, especially in this rivalry,” Rodgers said.

 And especially because how awful the Packers played in the first half.

 A Chicago defense featuring newly acquired star linebacker Khalil Mack dominated until the third quarter. Mack had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown against backup quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second quarter.

 A gimpy Rodgers returned in the second half and finally figured out the Bears. He also found Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison for touchdown passes.

 He finished 20 of 30 for 286 yards, including 17 of 23 for 273 yards in the second half.

 “Obviously, that’s a tough one for us. It stings,” coach Matt Nagy said after his Bears debut.

 It was Rodgers’ first regular-season home game since Sept. 28 against the Bears. He was limited to seven games in 2017 because of a collarbone injury.

 Mack nearly stole the show. He also stripped the ball for a turnover in the red zone off Kizer in the second quarter. Mack made an immediate impact in his first game since the Bears acquired the premier pass rusher in a blockbuster deal with the Oakland Raiders.

 The Bears led 20-0 at one point and their defense dominated until the second half.

 Then Rodgers returned, and the Packers’ defense held the Bears in check.

 “I prepared all offseason for the first game of the season and I wanted to … make an impact,” Mack said. “But you want to win these games. That’s the only thing on my mind. I hate losing.”

RODGERS INJURY

 Rodgers was hurt in the second quarter after slipping to the turf while under pressure from linebacker Khalil Mack and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. The lineman landed on Rodgers.

 The quarterback initially tried to get up, then went back down, and was attended to by trainers. He appeared to reach down for the back of his left leg. Rodgers then walked to the cart that took him up the Lambeau Field tunnel.

 Rodgers had ACL surgery on his left knee while in college.

 McCarthy said he was prepared to go with Kizer to start the second half until getting the word from the team doctor in the tunnel.

 “His performance speaks for itself,” McCarthy said.

 With limited mobility, Rodgers operated a no-huddle offense in the second half that kept him in the pocket.

 His right arm was just fine.

 “It was going to have to take something really catastrophic injury-wise to keep me off the field in the second half,” Rodgers said.

 The Packers plan to run more tests on their QB on Monday, though Rodgers seems to think his availability for next week’s game against Minnesota is a foregone conclusion.

 “No, I’m planning on playing,” Rodgers said.

FAST START

 An offensive-minded coach, Nagy had the aggressive Bears’ offense pushing the Packers around the field in the first half.

 Mitchell Trubisky was 23 of 35 for 171 yards. He also ran for 32 yards on seven carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

 It turned out to be the only offensive touchdown the Bears would score all night.

 The Packers’ defense, in new coordinator Mike Pettine’s first game, held the Bears to two field goals in the second half.

 “You know we talked about finishing and we didn’t do that,” Nagy said.

ANTHEM

 There were no apparent signs of protest during the national anthem, when Bears players and coaches locked arms on the sideline.

UP NEXT

 Bears: Host the Seattle Seahawks next Monday.

 Packers: Host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

 ___

 For more AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</s>Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to the field after limping off with 9:12 remaining in the second quarter of Sunday night's game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field after taking a sack.

On a third-and-nine play, Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack applied pressure from the right side and defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris came up the middle. Robertson-Harris sacked Rodgers and fell on Rodgers' left leg.

Rodgers was on the ground before getting helped off the field. He was in the medical tent while the Bears ran their next series and was carted back to the locker room as the Packers regained possession.

Rodgers completed 3-of-7 passes for 13 yards before being replaced by DeShone Kizer. The Packers trailed 10-0 when Rodgers left the game and were down 20-0 when he returned.</s>GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers’ knee hurt. His arm was just fine.

The hobbling two-time NFL MVP threw three touchdown passes in the second half after returning from a knee injury, and the Green Bay Packers overcame a 20-point deficit for a thrilling 24-23 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

Rodgers, who was carted off in the first half, connected with receiver Randall Cobb for a catch-and-run through the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown and the go-ahead score with 2:13 left in the game.

“Aaron Rodgers was remarkable. I just can’t tell you how proud I am with him,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

Nick Perry sacked the Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky on fourth-and-10 with 58 seconds to complete the comeback.

A Chicago defense featuring newly acquired star linebacker Khalil Mack dominated until the third quarter. Mack had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown against backup quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second quarter.

A gimpy Rodgers returned in the second half and finally figured out the Bears. He also found Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison for touchdown passes.

“Felt something in it. I had a hard time putting weight on it. (The doctor) and I had a conversation,” Rodgers said of his knee. “We did the tests. I told him I was going back.”

Add this game to Rodgers’ already lengthy career highlight reel. He finished 20 of 30 for 286 yards.

It was Rodgers’ first regular-season home game since Sept. 28 against the Bears. He was limited to seven games in 2017 because of a collarbone injury.

Mack nearly stole the show. He also stripped the ball for a turnover in the red zone off Kizer in the second quarter. Mack made an immediate impact in his first game since the Bears acquired the premier pass rusher in a blockbuster deal with the Oakland Raiders.

The Bears led 20-0 at one point and their defense dominated until the second half.

Then Rodgers returned, and the Packers’ defense held the Bears in check.

“You know we talked about finishing and we didn’t do that,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.

Rodgers said he plans on playing next week against Minnesota.

For more AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>The comeback Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led on Sunday Night Football against the Chicago Bears is one that fans will never forget. After suffering a scary leg injury in the second quarter, Rodgers was carted back to the locker room and there was a concern not only about his status for the remainder of the game but possibly the season.

Rodgers came back after halftime, essentially playing on one leg, and the Packers outscored the Bears 24-6 in the second half to win 24-23. It was an incredible moment and one that sent fans, athletes and everyone in between into a frenzy.

Here’s a look at some of the best reactions from Rodgers’ comeback, which was capped off by a 75-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb with just over two minutes remaining.</s>GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers’ knee hurt. His arm was just fine.

The hobbling two-time NFL MVP threw three touchdown passes in the second half after returning from a knee injury, and the Green Bay Packers overcame a 20-point deficit for a thrilling 24-23 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

Rodgers, who was carted off in the first half, connected with receiver Randall Cobb for a catch-and-run through the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown and the go-ahead score with 2:13 left in the game.

“Aaron Rodgers was remarkable. I just can’t tell you how proud I am with him,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

Nick Perry sacked the Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky on fourth-and-10 with 58 seconds to complete the comeback.

A Chicago defence featuring newly acquired star linebacker Khalil Mack dominated until the third quarter. Mack had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown against backup quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second quarter.

A gimpy Rodgers returned in the second half and finally figured out the Bears. He also found Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison for touchdown passes.

“Felt something in it. I had a hard time putting weight on it. (The doctor) and I had a conversation,” Rodgers said of his knee. “We did the tests. I told him I was going back.”

The Packers plan to run more tests on their QB on Monday, though Rodgers seems to think his availability for next week’s game against Minnesota is a foregone conclusion.

Add the win over the Bears to Rodgers’ already lengthy career highlight reel. He finished 20 of 30 for 286 yards.

“Obviously, that’s a tough one for us. It stings,” coach Matt Nagy said after his Bears debut.

It was Rodgers’ first regular-season home game since Sept. 28 against the Bears. He was limited to seven games in 2017 because of a collarbone injury.

Mack nearly stole the show. He also stripped the ball for a turnover in the red zone off Kizer in the second quarter. Mack made an immediate impact in his first game since the Bears acquired the premier pass rusher in a blockbuster deal with the Oakland Raiders.

The Bears led 20-0 at one point and their defence dominated until the second half.

Then Rodgers returned, and the Packers’ defence held the Bears in check.

“You know we talked about finishing and we didn’t do that,” Nagy said.

An offensive-minded coach, Nagy had the aggressive Bears’ offence pushing the Packers around the field in the first half.

Mitchell Trubisky was 23 of 35 for 171 yards. He also ran for 32 yards on seven carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

It turned out to be the only offensive touchdown the Bears would score all night.

The Packers’ defence, in new co-ordinator Mike Pettine’s first game, held the Bears to two field goals in the second half.

For more AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP–NFL</s>LeBron James Ranks Aaron Rodgers Among ‘GOATs’ After Packers’ Win Vs. Bears

The Green Bay Packers quarterback blew away the Los Angeles Lakers superstar with his performance Sunday night in his team’s Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. James said so himself Monday morning via Twitter, hours after Rodgers overcame a knee injury and a 20-point, fourth-quarter deficit to lead the Packers to victory.

Rodgers’ status among active and retired great quarterbacks is a subject of intense debate. Some outside this region believe Rodgers is better than New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who many acknowledge as the greatest of all time.

As a subject of GOAT discussions himself, James skillfully worded his message to hail Rodgers for engineering the second-largest comeback win in Packers history without making the debate the story of his tweet.</s>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Slowed by a sore knee, Aaron Rodgers picked up the pace behind center.

Remarkably, the two-time NFL MVP was more effective against the Chicago Bears after returning from what initially looked like a serious injury.

The hobbling quarterback threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter after returning from injury, and the Green Bay Packers overcame a 20-point deficit for a thrilling 24-23 win over the Bears on Sunday night.

Rodgers connected with receiver Randall Cobb for a catch-and-run through the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown and the go-ahead score with 2:13 left in the game.

"You've seen it time and time again. That guy's a warrior," Cobb said.

Rodgers was hurt in the second quarter after slipping to the turf while under pressure from linebacker Khalil Mack and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. The lineman landed on Rodgers, who grabbed the back of his left leg. He had ACL surgery on his left knee in college.

Rodgers was carted back to the locker room. Doctors determined he did not suffer a major injury and cleared him to return in the second half.

The Packers had to make a slight adjustment with their normally mobile quarterback limited to the pocket.

"Got to get the ball out. Can't be moving around a whole lot back there," Rodgers said. "And we did a good job mixing things up in the second half with some of our quicker-hitter stuff and actually some of our more vertical stuff, too."

Rodgers also had touchdown passes to Geronimo Allison (39 yards) and Davante Adams (12 yards) in completing the rally from a 20-0 deficit with 9:14 to go in the third quarter.

Rodgers finished 20 of 30 for 286 yards, including 17 of 23 for 273 yards in the second half.

"Obviously, that's a tough one for us. It stings," coach Matt Nagy said after his Bears debut.

MACK ATTACK: A Chicago defense featuring newly acquired star linebacker Khalil Mack dominated until the third quarter. Mack had a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown against backup quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second. He had a strip-sack that led to another turnover. He had pressure in the backfield on a play in which Rodgers hurt his left knee.

This from a player who missed the entire preseason. The Bears acquired Mack last week in a trade with the Oakland Raiders.

"I prepared all offseason for the first game of the season and I wanted to ... make an impact," Mack said. "But you want to win these games. That's the only thing on my mind. I hate losing."

FAST START: An offensive-minded coach, Nagy had the aggressive Bears' offense pushing the Packers around the field in the first half. Mitchell Trubisky was 23 of 35 for 171 yards. He also ran for 32 yards on seven carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It turned out to be the only offensive touchdown the Bears would score all night. The Packers' defense, in new coordinator Mike Pettine's first game, held the Bears to two field goals in the second half.

"You know we talked about finishing and we didn't do that," Nagy said.

COMEBACK COMPLETE: Nick Perry sacked the Bears' Mitchell Trubisky on fourth-and-10 with 58 seconds to complete the comeback. It was memorable start to the Packers' 100th season. Sunday marked the first time in franchise history that the Packers won after trailing by 17-plus points entering the fourth quarter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

MORE RODGERS: Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he was prepared to go with Kizer to start the second half until getting the word from the team doctor in the tunnel.

"His performance speaks for itself," McCarthy said.

Rodgers said he knee was swollen after the game. The Packers plan to run more tests on their QB on Monday, though Rodgers seems very optimistic to about his availability for next week's game against Minnesota.

"No, I'm planning on playing," Rodgers said.

OTHER DEBUTS: Chicago's Allen Robinson had four catches for 61 yards on seven targets in his debut as the Bears' top receiver. ... TE Jimmy Graham had two catches for eight yards on four targets after joining the Packers as a free agent in the offseason from the Seattle Seahawks.

For more AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL</s>This time, the Green Bay Packers didn't have to wait long before getting their franchise quarterback back in action.

Aaron Rodgers returned to the Packers' game Sunday against the Chicago Bears in the third quarter after he was carted off with a left knee injury.

Rodgers was originally listed as questionable to return. He was replaced by DeShone Kizer before rejoining Green Bay's offense in the unit's first series of the third quarter.

After taking a sack from Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris in the second quarter, Rodgers appeared to limp before going to the medical tent for further evaluation.

Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone midway through the 2017 and played in just seven games. In August, he signed a four-year, $134 million extension that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers won a game down 17 or more in the fourth quarter for the first time in their history with a 24-23 win over the Chicago Bears after Aaron Rodgers returned from an injury that caused him to temporarily leave the game. This win was the “fourth-largest” comeback in their team history.