Whew. That was a close one. Green Bay Packers saw the seas part in front of them. Minnesota getting drubbed at home by Indianapolis by multiple touchdowns, Detroit not mustering any offense against Giants defense meaning if Green Bay beat Chicago, they would control their own destiny. When Christine Michael broke a 42-yard run to put Packers up by 17, it looked over. Chicago would storm back in the fourth, yet magic happened again from Aaron Rodgers at Soldier Field.

From Brett Favre to Rodgers, Bears fans dealt with heartbreak from Packers quarterbacks. Rodgers might more hated though. He beat Chicago in an NFC Championship game at Soldier Field, he also found Randall Cobb on a fourth-and-six for a game-winning touchdown to clinch 2013 NFC North then as The Ringer’s Robert Mays calls him, The Dragon breathed fire again finding Jordy Nelson for a 60-yard completion. This would set up Mason Crosby’s game-winning 32-yard field goal, and Packers are in the mix more than they have been in weeks. Green Bay keeps winning, they’ll be in the playoffs for the eighth straight year.

Fans who will lament this game as a ‘lucky win’ haven’t been watching enough Bears football. As someone with a roommate whose a Bears fan, Chicago fights to the finish. They have some really good pieces but not enough of them to equate to victories. Bears showed no quit today, and Packers need to be challenged like that in the fourth. Dom Capers zone defense forced turnovers, but it allowed for too much of the middle to be open leading the comeback. Every team needs luck to win, and Packers are no different. They survived and advanced. that’s all that matters.

Green Bay will face Minnesota at Lambeau next week. Packers can officially drive Vikings playoff hopes into the ground while Minnesota can play spoiler plus give themselves a very distance outside shot at a Wild Card. Mike Zimmer’s defense has been an issue for Rodgers and company in the past two meetings, but this has a different feel.

Run the table.

Charlie.