Rodgers throws four TD passes as Packers defeat Bears
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns to continue his mastery of the NFL’s oldest rivalry as the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 45-30 on Sunday night.
The Packers scored the first 24 points of the second half to erase a 27-21 halftime deficit.
Green Bay (10-3) took a fourgame lead over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North and moved closer to its third straight division title. Chicago (4-9) has lost seven of eight.
Rodgers went 29 of 37, throwing two TD passes to Davante Adams and one each to Allen Lazard and Aaron Jones. Rodgers has 61 career touchdown passes against the Bears, the most all-time against Chicago and one more than his predecessor, Brett Favre.
Chicago’s Justin Fields went 18 of 33 for 224 yards with two touchdown passes, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Jakeem Grant scored twice, including a 97-yard punt return.
BRONCOS 38, LIONS 10
In Denver, the grief-stricken Denver Broncos honored the late Demaryius Thomas by wearing his number on their helmets, his jersey on their backs and his memory in their hearts.
It was through their play that they best celebrated their fallen friend and retired receiver who died at his Georgia home on Thursday at age 33.
“The best way to honor his legacy is to go out and play great football,” quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said after the Broncos routed the Lions, a thrashing capped appropriately with an 88-yard touchdown drive.
FALCONS 29, PANTHERS 21
In Charlotte, N.C., Matt Ryan threw for 190 yards and a touchdown, Mykal Walker returned an interception of Cam Newton 66 yards for a touchdown and the Falcons improved to 6-2 away from home with a win over the Panthers.
Cordarrelle Patterson ran for 58 yards and a touchdown as Atlanta (6-7) kept its playoff hopes alive. The Falcons now have to find a way to win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they are 0-5.
Newton lost his third straight start since his re-signing with Carolina.
BROWNS 24, RAVENS 22
In Cleveland, Myles Garrett scored his first career TD and Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes as the Browns stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff race, surviving Baltimore’s late comeback for a win over the Ravens, who lost superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson with a sprained right ankle.
Garrett stripped Ravens backup QB Tyler Huntley, scooped up the fumble and rambled 15 yards for a TD in the first half as the Browns (7-6) built a 24-3 lead and held off the injury-riddled Ravens (8-5).
Healthier than he’s been in weeks following Cleveland’s bye, Mayfield connected with Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper on firsthalf scores as the Browns avoided fading out of the playoff picture.
TITANS 20, JAGUARS 0
In Nashville, Tenn., the opportunistic Titans took advantage of four interceptions to beat the Jaguars and earn their first home shutout in more than two decades.
Rashaan Evans, Jayon Brown, Kristian Fulton and Buster Skrine picked off passes from Lawrence, who hadn’t thrown three or more interceptions in a game since his NFL debut.
Tennessee dominated Jacksonville’s offensive line, sacking Lawrence three times and prompting four holding calls and a false start. All the interceptions were a direct result of pressure, but not blitzes.
CHIEFS 48, RAIDERS 9
In Kansas City, Mo., Patrick Mahomes threw his first two touchdown passes in nearly a month, Clyde Edwards-Helaire added two more scores on the ground, and the Chiefs’ suddenly stingy defense forced five turnovers in rolling to a record-setting victory over the Raiders that kept them comfortably atop the AFC West.
Derek Gore’s 51-yard TD run with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter allowed Kansas City (9-4) to eclipse the largest margin of victory in a series that began in 1960 and has been played 126 times. The previous record was 35 points in 1964.
Tyrann Mathieu had an interception and fumble recovery, Mike Hughes forced two fumbles and returned another 23 yards for a touchdown, and the reigning AFC champions built a 35-0 first-half lead before cruising to their sixth consecutive win.
SAINTS 30, JETS 9
In East Rutherford, N.J., Alvin Kamara ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in his return from a four-game absence, and the Saints snapped their longest skid under Sean Payton with a victory over the Jets.
After missing four games with a sprained knee, Kamara looked fully healthy again while carrying the ball 27 times in his fifth career 100yard rushing performance. He also caught four passes for 25 yards.
Brett Maher added three field goals and the Saints defense stifled Zach Wilson and New York’s shorthanded offense as the Jets (3-10) were eliminated from playoff contention. They have missed the postseason 11 straight years, tying the franchise’s longest drought set from 1970-80. It is also the longest active skid in the NFL.
SEAHAWKS 33, TEXANS 13
In Houston, Russell Wilson threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns to help the Seahawks win consecutive games for the first time this season. It was Wilson’s 89th game with two TD passes or more, passing Dan Marino (88) for second-most such games in a player’s first 10 NFL seasons. Hall of Famer Peyton Manning is first with 92.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll earned his 150th regular-season win a week after the Seahawks (5-8) beat San Francisco.
Wilson threw a 55-yard TD pass to Tyler Lockett in the second quarter and his 1-yard pass to Gerald Everett and 2-point conversion to Lockett made it 27-13 with about 7½ minutes left.
CHARGERS 37, GIANTS 21
In Inglewood, Calif., Justin Herbert threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns in Los Angeles’ victory over the Giants. The Chargers improved to 8-5 and are a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs going into Thursday night’s pivotal AFC West matchup.
Palmer, who had five receptions for 66 yards, had a 12-yard score to give the Chargers a 14-7 advantage. Herbert, who completed 23 of 31 for 275 yards, then connected with Guyton on the 59-yard bomb with 17 seconds left in the half. Guyton, who made three catches for 87 yards, blew by Logan Ryan and Xavier McKinney.
BUCCANEERS 33, BILLS 27 (OT)
In Tampa, Fla., Tom Brady beat his former AFC East rivals for the 10th straight time, becoming the NFL’s all-time completions leader and throwing his 700th touchdown pass for the winning score in Tampa Bay’s overtime victory. The Buccaneers are on the brink of their first division title in 14 years.
In his first game against the Bills since moving to Tampa Bay in 2020, Brady threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He also scored on a quarterback sneak set up by the 7,143rd completion of an unmatched 22-year career that includes seven Super Bowl titles.
49ERS 26, BENGALS 23 (OT)
In Cincinnati, Jimmy Garoppolo threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers beat Cincinnati in overtime. Garoppolo completed five passes in the overtime drive, including a pair to tight end George Kittle, who was again San Francisco’s offensive star.
On the final play, Aiyuk dived to the pylon and was initially ruled short, but a replay gave him the touchdown and San Francisco (7-6) a critical win.