Cillessen out-sprinted the rest of the bench to get to Kr

CHICAGO -- Aaron Rodgers is back leading the Green Bay Packers and that could be bad news for every other playoff team. He returned from a broken collarbone and is taking aim at a post-season run, even if it took one big pass to get there. Rodgers fired a 48-yard touchdown to Randall Cobb in the final minute, and the Packers beat the Chicago Bears 33-28 to capture the NFC North championship on Sunday. "This is a special group of guys whove been through a lot," Rodgers said. "Its been a rollercoaster." Back after missing seven games with a broken left collarbone, Rodgers found a wide-open Cobb on fourth-and-8 to wipe out a one-point deficit with 38 seconds left. Green Bay will host San Francisco next weekend in the wild-card round. The Bears had one final drive, but Jay Cutlers deep pass to Alshon Jeffery was intercepted by Sam Shields on the final play. That gave the Packers (8-7-1) their third straight division title and fifth post-season appearance in a row. It also kept the Bears (8-8) out of the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. Things werent looking great for the Packers after Chicagos Brandon Marshall spun away from Tramon Williams in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 28-20. But Green Bay answered with a touchdown drive. Eddie Lacy ran in from the 6 after a 22-yard pass from Rodgers to Andrew Quarless went through safety Chris Contes hands, making it a one-point game. Then, on the winning drive, Green Bay converted twice on fourth-and-1 before Rodgers eluded pressure and unleashed that winning pass to Cobb. A block by John Kuhn on Julius Peppers helped Rodgers roll to the edge and find Cobb by himself down the field. "We had a blitz on," Bears coach Marc Trestman said. "We lost an edge. Aaron was able to get outside. Once he got outside things happen. When youve got a zero blitz on things can happen. And we just lost coverage with our eyes in the backfield." For Rodgers, it was a strong finish after a shaky start, and it gave him some payback against the team that nearly ended his season. He was intercepted on the Packers first two possessions but threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns in his first appearance since he was injured in a loss to Chicago on Nov. 4. Cobb, in his first appearance since Oct. 13, caught just two passes but both were for touchdowns. "To be in that moment at the end of the game and have that opportunity, its a blessing," Cobb said. Jordy Nelson had 161 yards receiving. James Starks ran for 88 yards. Eddie Lacy aggravated his ankle injury in the third quarter and finished with just 66. For the Bears, their first season under Marc Trestman ended the same way five of the previous six did under Lovie Smith -- on the outside looking in at the playoffs. This loss is sure to spark memories of Green Bays victory in the 2010 NFC title game at Soldier Field on the way to the Super Bowl championship -- and fuel more questions about Cutlers ability to win big games even though he played well. With a playoff spot on the line and his contract set to expire, Cutler threw for 226 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He is now 1-9 against Green Bay, including that conference final and a loss with Denver in 2007. Marshall guaranteed Cutler will be back next season, and Cutler said hed like to return. "Youd love to," Cutler said. "You cant predict the future, though. Im not really going to get into whats going to happen. It always works out how its supposed to." Matt Forte ran for 110 yards and two scores. He also had 47 yards receiving with a touchdown catch. Alshon Jeffery had 80 yards receiving, and Brandon Marshall had 74. Two unusual plays late in the first half turned a 7-3 deficit into a 13-7 advantage for the Packers. Green Bay had a first down at the Chicago 17 when a sack and strip against Rodgers by Julius Peppers turned into a wild touchdown. Jarrett Boykin ran across the field, picked up the loose ball as play stopped. One thing, though: The whistle never blew. With Rodgers standing nearby, Boykin turned and headed 15 yards to the end zone, and after a replay review, it stood. That stunned the crowd and gave the Packers a 10-7 lead. Green Bay caught another big break on the Bears next possession when Jeffery fumbled a pass at the Chicago 41. Morgan Burnett picked up the ball and lateraled to Shields, who returned it to the Chicago 28. That led to a 27-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to make it a six-point game at the half. As for Boykins fumble recovery, Rodgers said it was one of the strangest plays he could recall. "Boykin finally picked it up, I looked back at (referee) Clete (Blakeman), he was looking at us so I think myself and everybody on the sideline was telling him to start running," Rodgers said. "It was one of the crazier plays Ive been part of." Notes: Bears RT had his left foot in a walking boot and was on crutches after being injured on the games first offensive series. ... Green Bays Josh Boyd suffered a hip injury in the second half. Custom Jerseys . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. Custom Jerseys Nike .com) - The Winnipeg Jets got over one hurdle by snapping their longest losing streak of the season. https://www.cheapcustomjerseysonline.com/ . Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were second with 77.01 points, just behind Olympic bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany. The four-time world champs lead at 79. Custom Jerseys China . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. Fake Custom Jerseys . - Kevin Labanc and Joseph Blandisi were a potent combination for the Barrie Colts on Friday night. SALVADOR, Brazil -- Tim Krul came on as a substitute in the final minute of extra time and then saved two penalties in a 4-3 shootout victory over Costa Rica on Saturday, giving the Netherlands a spot in the World Cup semifinals. Krul saved spot kicks from Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana after the match had finished 0-0. "We had a lot of chances but it didnt go in," Krul said on Dutch television. "Then I come in, stop two penalties and here we are." In another stroke of tactical genius at this years World Cup, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal pulled Jasper Cillessen moments after the Ajax goalkeeper had saved a shot from Marcos Urena in extra time. "The trick is good," said Krul, who plays for Newcastle. "A lot of preparation went into it." The Dutch team will next face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday in Sao Paulo. Krul looked super confident during the shootout at the Arena Fonte Nova, saving the second and fifth penalties by diving to his left and sticking out his hand. When Krul stopped Ruizs penalty, Cillessen, watching fromm the sideline, punched the air in celebration.dddddddddddd When he saved the second to win the match, Cillessen out-sprinted the rest of the bench to get to Krul, who was already being mobbed by jubilant teammates who had watched from the halfway line. Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas had kept his team in the match with a string of great saves in the first half and again in extra time. When Wesley Sneijder twice beat him late in regulation and again in the second half of extra time, the woodwork made the stop. Sneijder hit the post with a free kick in the 80th minute and sent a curling shot over Navas and off the crossbar before the penalty shootout. At the end, however, Navas could not stop any of the four Dutch penalties as veterans Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt all scored. The Krul substitution will only boost Van Gaals reputation as a coach who leaves nothing to chance and who has a golden touch with replacements. And it kept his tenure with the Netherlands alive for two more matches before he becomes the manager at Manchester United next season. ' ' '