RODGERS SEND BEARS INTO

 HIBERNATION

Packers Capture North Crown with Miracle Finish

He didn’t exactly walk on water or part the Red Sea. But Aaron Rodgers was every bit the savior for the Green bay Packers as he authored another page in the Hollywood script that is doubling as the Packers’ 2013 blueprint. In his first game since being shelved with a broken collarbone Rodgers gave the Packers another NFC North crown in knocking off the Bears 33 – 28 in a Hollywood only script of an ending. How about this for a Hollywood blockbuster? Hero gets KO’d by arch enemy and sidelined with a serious injury. As he languishes on the sidelines helplessly watching his team and their fortunes sink without him the team realizes that to advance they have to find a way to do it without the hero. In a plot twist a former favorite son finds his way back home to do just enough to keep the faint hopes alive. Meanwhile, the front runners start to coast too soon leaving the door wide open for a miracle. In the process the Head Coach informs the team they are done, it’s over, it’s been a great year but for all the damned injuries.

But wait… the coach is wrong! Wrong!!!

The front runners forget to take care of business and instead of winning they lose when they need the W the most. Cue the strings building in the background. Will he play or won’t he? Can Roy Hobbs come from the hospital bed and save the day in “The Natural”? The swell of strings builds in anticipation of the late week announcement. Yes, in spite of his doctors warning him of the risks, knowing he is jeopardizing not only his health but his $120 million dollar contract. Pause the music. The coach takes the podium.

“Yes” he says “Aaron Rodgers will be our starting quarterback on Sunday.”

Softly let the music underscore the return of the hero. But there is a hint of the ominous, the dread waiting for him. Now insert the irony, the dramatic plot twist. Not only does the hero have to come off a major injury for a death match he must do so against the very team that sidelined him in the first place, their longtime hated rivals from Chicago. And now add the element of a hostile environment in Chicago.

To set the scene flash back to sunnier days. After facing their new nemesis in San Francisco and falling early and losing a game they could have won against Cincinnati Rodgers has the Packers rolling. After spotting the Lions and Bears a divisional lead. In Green Bay our hero suddenly regains his form, the team gels and is hitting on all cylinders running their record to 5 – 2.

Now set the disjoint, dramatic music. After starting out confidently the hero and the team come crashing back to earth in jerky, grainy images. Rodgers rolls out as he usually does. He winds up to fire while Shea McClellin is draped all over him. As he releases the pass go to slow motion from multiple angles. As Rodgers falls under McClellin’s weight McClellin adds a violent throw to the turf as the sound of a bone breaking is heard… kill the music. Zoom in on Rodgers’ face contorted with pain. Follow the expressions of Head Coach Mike McCarthy. Pan to the disbelief on the faces of his teammates. As Rodgers exits the field gingerly fade to black.

After a pause on the black screen a montage in quick cuts on the next games. The Bears squeaking the W out after Rodgers departs. The Eagles romp. The Giants looking like a real team. A Matt Flynn led comeback against the Vikings but only a tie, a montage that culminates in the thrashing by Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, a loss that sinks the Packers and Packer fans into a deep funk.

Now cue the strings again. Rodgers yelling encouragement from the sidelines. Flynn finding his stride. Spot the Falcons a lead and then a dramatic comeback for a 1 point much needed win. Then from the ridiculous (the butt whipping in Detroit) to the ridiculously sublime. As Rodgers watches helplessly the Packers see their season going down in flames to the Cowboys. 26 – 3 at halftime. In their 90+ years of existence the Packers have only come back from that large a deficit once.

But cue the steady, dramatic trumpet call in the distance to the sound of ever building drums. The steady rhythm increases as Flynn does the impossible and leads the Packers to the wildest win of the year. As Detroit and Chicago fail to open a lead suddenly one more W sets the stage for the season ending finale against the Bears.

Cut!!

Go immediately to the end of the Steeler game. Show the scoreboard with the Packers having lost the game 38 -31, their shot at the playoffs and the season. Cut to McCarthy gathering his players informing them their season is now mathematically over. Fade on McCarthy’s tired eyes as his voice trails off.

A somber montage of players dressing in silence, exiting the stadium into different cars saying nothing and driving off in a snowstorm to refuge. The season is over.

But wait! Cue the orchestra. A super slow motion shot of the Ravens Justin Tucker nailing a perfect 61 yard field goal to sink the Lions who fail to close out once again while impossibly losing 6 of their last 7. Now cut to Philadelphia where the Eagles are relentlessly pounding the Bears 54 -11. A montage of Packers faces suddenly awake and alive with expression as joy as the reality dawns on them – the season is NOT over! Coach was wrong!! We have a shot!!!

Now show a Christmas tree aglow and atwinkle in all its’ glorious splendor. A cutaway shot of an adorable little boy on his knees in green and gold jammies scratching all the toys off his Christmas list and in big, bold letters asking Santa for Rodgers to play and get just one more win.

Fade out of the shot and fade into an empty podium. Cue the strings, build the suspense. As McCarthy declares Rodgers ready a quick shot of the team doctor shaking his head and walking from the room.

Now to the climactic battle. Rodgers does his best Roy Hobbs imitation from the film “The Natural”. As Hobbs came from his hospital bed for a final playoff game he struggles mightily, striking out as rust and fatigue is evident. Rodgers looks good but not sharp. While the score is close the Packers clearly are the better team. The battle of time of possession is hugely in favor of the Packers. Rodgers effectively moves the team with ease in spite of some uncharacteristic off target throws.

No hero can go thru a Hollywood script unscathed. As Hobbs strikes out Rodgers fires the first of his two interceptions, the first one grabbed in the end zone by Chris Cante when Rodgers never saw him. End of drive. Jay Cutler enters to an ominous chorus and leads an 80 yard drive to put the Bears up 7 – 0. Rodgers moves the team deep into Chicago territory once again only to have a pass intended for Jordy Nelson, Rodgers bread and butter, by Tim Jennings at the Bear 17. Cut to a frustrated Rodgers angrily cursing himself on the sidelines. A shot of Rodgers sitting alone on the bench. Is it doubt or resolve on his face? What is going thru his mind?

A 3 and out forced by the much maligned defense leaves little time for Rodgers to second guess. Once again he marshals the troops into scoring opposition but is still not sharp. Now set the dramatic score.

During the drive Rodgers is chased by Lance Briggs. Cut in and out on the various faces within this mini drama within the drama. As Briggs brings down Rodgers cut the camera angle to the same Shea McClellin as he once again piles on top of Rodgers damaged shoulder, the same shoulder McClellin broke 7 weeks ago. As the bodies lay on the ground go to freeze frame.

Utilizing photographs show Rodgers on the ground. Rolling over. On his feet. Angrily confronting McClellin. McClellin’s disbelief as Rodgers rises from the canvas once again. A Mason Crosby field goal. The defense has played outstanding but Rodgers has failed to show much for his efforts as the Pack trials 7 -3 in the 2^nd quarter. The defense rises again with another 3-and-out. A short punt gives Rodgers and the Pack great field position at the Chicago 41. The strings are swelling as the drums get louder. As Rodgers steadily moves the Pack forward cue the music from “Psycho” as Julius Peppers barrels into Rodgers from the blind side and forces the ball from Rodgers’ hand. Cut the crowd noise as it hits the turf follow the ball as two Bear defenders watch it. From out of the camera frame enter Jarrett Boykin who picks up the loose ball on his second attempt. As silence remains deafening enter Rodgers screaming at Boykin to run. RUN!! The entire Packer bench is shown screaming “RUN JARRETT RUN!” Before the Bears realize what is happening Boykin is in the end zone as the zebras raise their arms triumphantly.

Of course the challenge by Bear Boss Marc Trestman was rebuked. As Rodgers would say afterwards “I looked at (referee) Clete (Bakeman) and saw him toss the (fumble) beanbag and saw he hadn’t blown his whistle so I yelled to Jarrett to start running”. In the most bizarre of circumstances the play was something only a fictitious piece could include. On a scale of 1 – 10 for weirdness in a Winner-Take-All match it ranked approximately a736. Bakeman and his crew has been the subject of much scrutiny throughout the year but deserve high marks for not panicking g and allowing the play to continue as it played out. The Bears now have an entire off season to kick themselves for not playing through until a whistle is heard. A late fumble by Alshon Jeffery is scooped up by Morgan Burnett who laterals it to Sam Shields and is returned to the Bear 28. Rodgers still shows some rust and is unable to punch the ends zone as the Packers settle for another Mason Crosby field goal and a halftime lead at 13 – 7.

Now juxtaposition the two QB’s in their locker rooms at halftime. Jay Cutler is attempting his own savior role but has gone just 1 – 7 against the Packers. History is against him. Some fans are even against him as his backup Josh McCown did more than just mid the store in Cutler’s absence. McCown was nothing short of brilliant and the decision to play Cutler was not met with universal improvement. Rodgers rotating his bad shoulder an deciding to hell with it, I’m laying it all out there.

But Cutler looks himself in the mirror and comes out leading furious Bear attack. The expected running, ground and pound battle suddenly becomes a shootout between Rodgers and Cutler. Begin the Evil Empire  theme as Devon Hester makes another superhuman return to set up the Bears for a quick TD and the lead again. As the Pack starts from their 20 alternate the dual workhouse RB's Eddie Lacy playing gamely on a bad ankle and James Starks each of whom registers huge pickups on the ground. Lacy for 17. Starks for a ridiculous 46 as he shreds the woeful Bear defense.

The script would not be complete without another hero returning to battle. Cut to Randall Cobb having his leg broken in Baltimore. Overlay images of Cobb on crutches, Cobb watching helplessly with Rodgers during the losing skid, his efforts on a bike to rehab his leg. Now cut to Cobb slashing over the middle to grab a redeeming 7 yard bullet from Rodgers, a throw that has no rust whatsoever on it. Cut to the Bears bench as a collective “uh oh” is heard.

But now here comes Cutler once again doing his best Darth Vader. Cutler checks at the line a launches a rainbow for Jeffery who has beaten Sam Shields deep. The tackle at the 1 only forestalls the inevitable. Cutler is looking every bit the Bear hero as he plays “Anything you can do I can do better” with Rodgers. Bears retake the lead at 21 -20.

Cutler leads another charge and makes a beautiful pass to Brandon Marshall who twits and shapes himself to come down with the ball and an imposing 28 – 20 lead. Rodgers now fires right back hitting Nelson for a 34 yard catch and run, James Jones for 12, and Andrew Quarless for 22 yards. From the 6 Eddie Lacy tries to find a crack in the mass of humanity on a draw and finding nothing darts top the left. He has but one man to beat to the pylon but as the heroes theme now is played it is none other than Aaron Rodgers, the $120 million dollar man with the most famous left collarbone in history out making the block to spring Lacy and cut the deficit to 2 points. McCarthy chooses not to go for a 2 point attempt and cuts the lead to 1 at 28-27.

As Cutler moves the Bears to the Packer 38 cue the heroes theme again as the Evil Empire commits 2 penalties and Matt Forte as stopped twice and Jeffery drops a good throw from Cutler. Cut to McCown whose face showed that Cutler was indeed, the beast man for the job today. Cutler has performed admirably and given the Bears enough to win. He turns the game over to the worst defense in the league.

Cue the strings for the final climax. Rodgers has no rust. He looks sharp. The Packers look focused and confident. Heroes are borne of the moment. Lacy picks up 9 over 3 downs. Facing 4^th and 1 with the season on the line FB John Kuhn bulls his way over for a first down. Rodgers runs and dives for a first down. As Lacy is stuffed on 3^rd down Rodgers finds Jordy Nelson on 4^th down with a low bullet for 6 and the second 4^th down conversion of the drive. The drums beat louder in time with the clock. The fans all stand. Faces a drenched in sweat and fury. Rodgers misses Quarless on 1^st down.  Lacy for 2. Another Rodgers incompletion leaves the Packers at the Bear 48 with 47 seconds to play.

4^th and 8. The odds are staggering and look hopeless. An obvious pass play is coming. Everyone from Trestman to the guys in Rodgers “Discount Daa-ble Check” commercials know a pass is coming. Julius Peppers, the most feared of the Bears pass rushers knows a pass is coming. And Rodgers knows Peppers well. Peppers’ hit caused Rodgers 3^rd turnover but will be only foreshadowing the dramatic conclusion.

As Rodgers took the snap and rolled to his left he was running right into the teeth of the most ferocious of the Bears. Peppers had a straight line at Rodgers and was set to give the NFC North crown to the Bears and finish Rodgers and the Pack once and for all.

It was not in the script. Cue the unexpected hero theme.

As Roy Hobbs in “The Natural” faced a 2 strike count to 2 on, and 2 out trailing by 2 he made a mighty cut at the last ball thrown and connected.

The real hero on the last drive was not named Rodgers or Cobb or Nelson or Jones or Lacy. Aaron Rodgers once called John Kuhn the smartest player on the football team. Seeing Peppers bolting at Rodgers Kuhn reacted in a flash and caught Peppers with a game saving, season changing, life altering cut block that gave Rodgers enough time to roll, square his shoulders, and set his feet.

Simultaneously to Rodgers being aided by Kuhn’s big block Randall Cobb saw himself in one on one coverage with safety Chris Cante, a mismatch even on Cobb’s rehabbed leg. As Cante bit hard at the yard marker Cobb waved his hand hoping to get Rodgers attention.

As Rodgers set his feet he said “I put something extra on it because I didn’t want to underthrow [Cobb] too much.”

Now go to the NFL Films patented slow mo tight shot of then rainbow as it arced towards Cobb. “Just don’t drop it” Cobb was saying to himself after the game. “They’re [the Packers] gonna kill you if you drop it.” Andrew Quarless added “Man, that thing hung in the air forever.”

Cut to quick shots. McCarthy. Trestman. Kuhn on the ground and Peppers on top of him. Cutler. Forte. As Cobb had to slow to wait for the ball it allowed Cante to close quickly but not quickly enough. Cobb grabbed the ball and took it into the end zone capping off a thrilling, draining and impossible to forget comeback once again in a season filled with improbable, impossible comebacks.

As Rodgers and the Packers exploded in sheer, unadulterated joy the Bears and their fans slumped visibly. No hero can go without facing one final challenge. In the end Cutler was picked off by Sam Shields but it was anticlimactic. Cutler was great and the Bear fans cannot lay this loss on the shoulders of their beleaguered QB. Once the most feared defense in the Chicago was done in by their own defense and their inability to contain Rodgers.

As Roy Hobbs rounded the bases the lights exploded after his herculean blast was sent as high as Rodgers throw into the light tower. Perhaps a light tower exploding and sending embers down on Rodgers as he exited the field would have been in order. It was the only thing missing from the script.

In “The Natural” the script ends there with Robert Redford playing catch with the son he never knew he had. Our script contains one more deliciously sinister plot twist in yet another moment of foreshadowing.

The win gives the Packers a rather pedestrian mark of 8 -7 -1 for the year and shuts out Arizona, a 10 win team. But it gives Green Bay their third consecutive NFC North crown and a much needed home game against their newest nemesis in San Francisco. The 49ers have been very inconsistent on offense and the team that pounded the Packers last year and to open the season is now next on the agenda.

Plot twists? More derring do? We tried to sell this script but even Hollywood passed as it was too hard to believe and no one could buy the premise.

Everyone that is, except for Aaron Rodgers.