Pass Blocking On Driver's TD

Got to hand it to Aaron Rodgers for being able to throw the ball with depth and accuracy on the highlight reel TD to Driver. Notice the 5 Browns at the LoS and the 3-man rush that matches Clifton and Colledge on the LE, presumably Wells and Spitz on the NT, and only Barbe (I think) on the RE. The RE almost goes over Barbe's right shoulder, but Rodgers steps up in the pocket and Barbe's foot work allows him to reestablish himself between the QB and the rusher. A TV announcer singled out Clifton's block, and that block did really take the LE out of the play, but the RT had the single match up and stood up well against a strong charge.

Let's not kid ourselves about Jay Cutler. He's a pretty good QB, but tonight Aaron Rodgers looked better. That pick where Cutler steps up under pressure, lobs one up across his body, and under throws Hester was the inverse of the Driver play. Culter's protection was softer, his receiver not as decisive, and his pass was terrible to the point it shouldn't have been thrown. To be fair, Cutler threw a bullet to TE Desmond Clark.

This one game doesn't mean too much, but since the Bears the defending NFC North Champs, it's worth a quick comparison between Cutler's two seasons with the Broncos and Rodgers 6-10 campaign last year. Give Cutler a QB rating of 87.0. Rodgers weighs in at 93.8. Give Cutler 22.5 TDs to 16 ints. Last year Rodgers threw 28 TDs to 13 ints. Make an adjustment for the Packers great WRs and you still probably give the edge to Rodgers and the Packers. Yet the two QBs are in the same league, literally and figuratively.

People trying to figure out who will win the Bears vs. Packers games this year will need to consider more than just the QB position. And all of that still goes out the window as it does in every Bears vs. Packers game.