Aaron Rodgers' long-established dominance over the Chicago Bears resumed in primetime on Sunday night, as the reigning league MVP threw for 341 yards with four touchdowns in the Green Bay Packers' 45-30 win at Lambeau Field. He hasn't lost against the Bears since 2018.
For a third straight year, the Packers have secured a double-digit win season. And although team general manager Brian Gutekunst is viewed as the enemy among fans, NBC Milwaukee sports anchor Lance Allen believes he's worthy of props for assembling a championship-caliber roster in the midst of chaos.
"Gutekunst deserves a lot of credit for this. In the offseason, he got a lot of shots on, 'What are you doing to extend Aaron's career? What are you doing to help him now?'" Allen told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Monday. "The reason why this team, in addition to Rodgers, is 10-3 is because of the depth that's built. You can't sustain all the injuries with no depth. Very few teams can do that, and it's a credit to what Brian has built here, in large part."
Earlier in the week, Rodgers told reporters that he didn't regret telling Bears fans that "I own you" during the Packers' win at Solider Field back in October. The 38-year-old veteran backed up his words with another elite performance, recording his seventh four-touchdown, no interception game against Chicago -- the most in NFL history against a single opponent. Rodgers also surpassed Brett Favre for the most career touchdowns against the Bears, with 61.
Rodgers' night wasn't pain-free, however. Following the game, he explained to reporters that his fractured pinky toe worsened, and a setback occurred while playing. Rodgers suffered the injury last month, and although he's still hoping to avoid surgery until the offseason, a procedure might be necessary if tests indicate a larger issue. It's not yet clear if Rodgers would be forced to miss a game, should he undergo a procedure.
Green Bay (10-3), which owns a four-game lead in the NFC North, will visit the Baltimore Ravens (8-5) in a marquee Week 15 matchup on Sunday afternoon. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Packers have a 33-percent chance to earn the NFC's first-round bye and a 16-percent chance to reach Super Bowl 56 in Los Angeles.
The entire Packers conversation between Allen and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.