Rodgers’ 5 TD tosses propel Packers

Aaron Rodgers dissected another defense on a national stage, building a big enough cushion for the Packers to overcome a late rush by Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs.

Rodgers threw for 333 yards and five touchdowns, including three to Randall Cobb, and host Green Bay beat Kansas City 3828 Monday night.

Rodgers led the Packers (30) on two successful firstquarter drives that ended with scoring passes to Cobb and rookie Ty Montgomery. He found James Jones for a 27yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter for a 17point lead at the break.

Charles rushed for three touchdowns for Kansas City (12), which followed its stunning, lastminute loss at home to Denver with a respectable fourthquarter effort at raucous Lambeau Field.

Charles’ 7yard TD with 1:25 left got the Chiefs within 10. But the end result was the same for Kansas City, which lost its second straight.

PANTHERS: Carolina acquired veteran defensive end Jared Allen from the Bears in exchange for a 2016 sixthround draft pick.

The trade will become official pending Allen passing a physical, Panthers team spokesman Steven Drummond told the AP.

“We had some depth at the line backer position,” Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in a press release. “... Whether it is acquiring additional picks or signing players, we will continue to be aggressive in finding ways to improve our team.”

A few hours later, the Bears continued to dismantle their defense by trading linebacker Jon Bostic to the Patriots for a sixthround pick, according to multiple reports.

STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger’s season doesn’t appear to be over. Still, Pittsburgh will have to move forward indefinitely without their star quarterback.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and there is no timetable for his return.

Michael Vick will start Thursday night when the Steelers (21) host winless Baltimore (03). BROWNS: Starting quarterback

Josh McCown injured his right throwing hand in Sunday’s loss to Oakland, but doesn’t expect to miss any time.