Aaron Rodgers wasn't sure what he said.
Or he simply wasn't going to add any more fuel to the fire.
When the Packers quarterback and reigning league MVP scrambled to the end-zone pylon for the touchdown that put away Green Bay's 24-14 victory on Sunday, he performed his trademark championship belt celebration and then let loose with some words for the Soldier Field fans caught by the on-field microphones.
"I own you! I still own you!"
The numbers back it up.
Following Sunday's win, Rodgers is now 22-4 against the Bears in games he played the duration, if the early exit to a broken collarbone in 2013 isn't included. In addition, after a 1-2 start to his career at Soldier Field, his victory in the 2010 NFC title game began a stretch on the shores of Lake Michigan in which he's won 10 of his last 11 games.
The Packers' only loss in Chicago since Week 3 of the 2010 regular season came in 2018. Those two years mark the Bears' only NFC North titles since their Super Bowl appearance following the 2006 season.
"I love it," running back Aaron Jones said of Rodgers' declaration. "That's A-Rod. I love it. What can you say? He's right."
Added Head Coach Matt LaFleur: "There's a lot of stuff that gets said out on that football field. Again, it's a competitive game and I think that's one of those moments where you see the competitor in Aaron come out."
Rodgers called it a moment when the competitive juices can force a player to lose control, or almost lose consciousness. A not-so-friendly gesture in his face might have set him off, too.
"Sometimes you black out on the field – in a good way," he said.
"I looked up in the stands and in the front row all I saw was a woman giving me the double bird, so I'm not sure exactly what came out of my mouth next."
Believe him or not, the outburst also signified how much Rodgers enjoys the intensity of the Packers-Bears rivalry, which saw its 203rd meeting Sunday, and how much it means to him. Green Bay now has a seven-game lead in the all-time series (102-95-6, including playoffs) after it was a couple dozen games down when Brett Favre took over as Packers QB in 1992.
Favre closed the gap, Rodgers put the Packers over the top, and now he keeps extending their lead. Bears rookie QB Justin Fields got his first taste of the history Sunday, and Rodgers let him know he has to appreciate it.
"I love this rivalry. It's been a lot of fun over the years," Rodgers said. "That's what I told Justin on the field. I said, 'Enjoy this. It's a special rivalry, unlike any other in our game.'"
It was fitting not only that Rodgers scored the clinching TD himself, but also that a classic unspoken check at the line of scrimmage produced a big play to set up the touchdown.
On second-and-10 from the Green Bay 38 with about seven minutes left, LaFleur called for a quick pass to Davante Adams. Rodgers saw an opportunity for more and looked at Adams, who knew exactly what he meant.
Soldier Field hosted a Week 6 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021.
"I told him in the locker room, the thing that I will miss 20 years down the line is moments where you make a subtle adjustment, you look over at the guy and it's a stud like (number) 17 and he just went like this," Rodgers said, giving a head nod.
"Like the whole body started tingling. I just knew it was gonna be one of those special plays, and the guys gave me enough time and he ran a nice route and almost scored."
The deep ball picked up 41 yards, with Adams barely stepping out of bounds on the Chicago 21-yard line. Two plays earlier, LaFleur had called a quick in-breaker for Allen Lazard that moved the chains, and he suggested this was a similar call for Adams.
"He checked it to the double move," LaFleur said of Rodgers. "Just great job by those guys. He recognized the look and thought we could get it, so that's what he did.
"It's nice to have big-time players that can make you look pretty good."
When one in particular owns your biggest rival, he makes everyone look pretty good.
