SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 16, 2012
Packers 21, Bears 13: James Jones recorded his first career three-touchdown game as visiting Green Bay clinched its second consecutive NFC North title.
Aaron Rodgers went 23-for-36 for 291 yards and Randall Cobb reeled in six catches for 115 yards for the Packers (10-4), who have won eight of nine overall and six consecutive games against Chicago.
Jay Cutler found Brandon Marshall for his 10th touchdown but did little else from there. Cutler finished with 135 yards for the Bears (8-6), who are clinging to the final playoff spot despite having dropped three straight games and five of their last six.
After grabbing a 29-yard scoring strike along the sideline, Jones reeled in an 8-yard score just 28 seconds before halftime. Jones continued his brilliant day near the eight-minute mark of the third quarter, corralling a 6-yard strike from Rodgers just inside the pylon.
Green Bay tried some special-teams trickery by attempting a cross-field lateral, resulting in Chicago receiving the ball on the Packers' 17-yard line. Chicago didn't advance the ball a yard and settled for a field goal to trim the deficit to 21-13.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Green Bay's last run of consecutive division championships came in 2002-04. ... Jones has four games with multiple receiving touchdowns, the most of any player in the league ... Chicago has mustered just 358 total yards of offense in two losses versus Green Bay this season.