Packers relying on Aaron Rodgers to be their trump card vs. Bears

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t throw a pass in the preseason, either. But unlike Mitch Trubisky and the Bears, Rodgers has ironclad proof he and the Packers will hit the ground running Thursday night at Soldier Field. And it -basically comes down to this: He’s Aaron bleeping -Rodgers.

“Most of their guys haven’t played a lot in the preseason, either,” Rodgers said when asked about facing the Bears’ defense after not taking a snap in the preseason. “It’s going to be both teams trying to get accustomed to the offense and defense, and who can adjust quickest and make the least amount of mistakes.

“I go back to the 2011 season, we started the season playing New Orleans. Everybody was talking about [how] there was a lockout, the game is going to be way down; the fundamentals aren’t there; the performance is going to be way off — and I threw three touchdowns in the first quarter and we won the game, [42-34]. This is the National Football League. There’s great players on both sides. We’ll both be ready to play. And I expect the product to be good.”

The Packers are in retooling mode under first-year coach Matt LaFleur, with major personnel changes on defense and a new offensive scheme. But nobody’s asking if he’ll be ready to go. With two MVP trophies, a Lombardi Trophy, seven Pro Bowls and 374 touchdowns to his credit in 14 seasons, the Packers assume Rodgers will be there.

“Yeah, it’s safe to assume that,” veteran wide receiver Davante Adams said. “I always see a switch from OTAs to training camp and then from training camp to the regular seasons and going into the playoffs as well. We’ll get there, but I definitely saw the switch [Sunday]. I’ve seen the antennas up. He’s always laser--focused, but it heightens a little bit.

“He comes over and he’s talking to us about different things — small, small things that may come up. You can see the wheels are turning in his head. It’s a big computer in there, so he’s just reaching for things from 2012, 2015, whatever — just talking about different looks from different teams the D-coordinator’s been on. When you start seeing that in Aaron, you know it’s time.”

That’s a daunting proposition for Bears defenders and Bears fans who have been tormented by Rodgers’ uncanny — almost mystifying — heroics over the years. He did it again last year in Week 1 at Lambeau Field, when he returned from a first-half injury to throw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter — on one leg — and rally the Packers from a 20-0 deficit to a 24-23 victory.

This time, though, the Bears might have a trump card even for the Rodgers’ mystique — their Khalil Mack-led defense that ranked No. 1

in the NFL in scoring last season. Rodgers got the best of them in Week 1 when Mack was new and Roquan Smith played eight snaps after holding out most of camp. In the rematch, Rodgers was sacked five times, did not throw a touchdown and had a 68.9 passer rating in a 24-17 loss at Soldier Field.

“They stuffed us pretty good,” Rodgers said.

Chuck Pagano has taken over for Vic Fangio, but Rodgers isn’t expecting any difference.

“They have great players,” he said. “A lot of depth. Big names. Guys without a big name who are really good. They added a great, young linebacker in Smith. They got a couple of -Alabama boys on the back end with Eddie and Ha Ha [Clinton-Dix]. And very solid corners.

“We’ve played against them for a number of years now. It’s a great defense. There aren’t any holes in it. And whether it’s Vic calling or Coach Pagano, there’s a lot of things you can do with that personnel.”