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NFL: Green Bay's win takes out Chicago

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdown passes against the Chicago Bears to help the Green Bay Packers nail down the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is taken down by the Bears' Major Wright (left) and Nick Roach. (AP Photo)
Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is taken down by the Bears' Major Wright (left) and Nick Roach. (AP Photo)Read more

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdown passes against the Chicago Bears to help the Green Bay Packers nail down the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

The 35-21 mauling of the Bears allowed the Packers to claim another round of bragging rights in the NFL's most storied rivalry - and knocked Chicago out of the playoff chase.

Rodgers, in throwing for five scores for the first time in his career, found tight end Jermichael Finley for a score in the first quarter then tossed a pair of touchdowns to Jordy Nelson, and another two to James Jones.

Clay Matthews made a key first-half interception for the Packers (14-1), who needed the win to tie down home-field advantage in the NFC.

The loss eliminated the Bears (7-8) from playoff contention and put the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs as at least a wild card.

Playing with a patchwork offensive line because of injuries, the Packers used their no-huddle offense and bootlegs by Rodgers to keep the Bears' pass rush off balance early.

Still, third-string running back Kahlil Bell rushed for 121 yards for the Bears, who trailed by only four early in the third quarter. But Rodgers drove the Packers for touchdowns on their next three possessions to put the game out of reach.

Chicago came into Sunday on a four-game losing streak and beset by injuries.

But the Bears were able to stay in the game with solid defense and tough running by Bell, who started because of injuries to Matt Forte and Marion Barber.

Rodgers' second-half fireworks, however, proved to be too much for Chicago. He finished 21 of 29 for 283 yards with no interceptions

The victory was the Packers' fourth over the Bears in 2011. Green Bay beat Chicago in the 2010 regular-season finale, the NFC Championship game, and at Soldier Field on Sept. 25.