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CHICAGO ? As linebacker Clay Matthews headed out of the locker room Sunday, he nodded in approval at Green Bay Packers teammate Jermichael Finley. "J-Mike's on my fantasy team. Probably got me 30 points today ...
CHICAGO ? As linebacker Clay Matthews headed out of the locker room Sunday, he nodded in approval at Green Bay Packers teammate Jermichael Finley.
Finley collected three touchdown catches for the first time in his life at any level, and his efforts helped lead the Packers past the Chicago Bears, 27-17, to push the defending Super Bowl champions to a 3-0 start.
Finley is only the second tight end in team history to score three times in a game; the other was Keith Jackson on Sept. 1, 1996, at Tampa Bay.
But what was so impressive was that Finley sometimes made it look ridiculously easy, towering over the Chicago secondary and diving at the goal line to scoop up passes with his large hands.
For Finley, this was less about a comeback story after missing most of last year with a knee injury and a lot more about living up to his increasingly high standards. He talks about it all the time with his popular YOTTO claim on Twitter ? Year of the Take Over ? and worked toward it every day through his rehabilitation and the lockout.
"I?m proud of him, I really am," said receiver Greg Jennings. "He?s gone through a maturation process. We know what he can do. It?s been all about him, putting it all together."
Finley?s touchdown receptions Sunday were solid and sure-handed. A 6-yard grab from Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter. A 7-yard haul in the second. A 10-yard grab in the fourth. By then Bears fans could only shake their heads and grimace at the carnage that was left of their defense.
"You have to get a corner on him," said Packers cornerback Charles Woodson. "You?ve got to get a guy that can run with him. He?s got to be a physical guy as well ? if not, Jermichael will pretty much have his way with just about anybody."
Finley said the best way to attack the Bears? Cover 2 zone defense was to go to the middle of the field, and that?s pretty much an area where no one can match up with the 6-foot-5 Finley.
"They ran a cloud defense, where they had a guy over me, bumping me, and then they had a guy over the top, capping," said Finley. "So I went inside of them and A-Rod just lobbed it up. I just tried to get it at the highest point."
Spending so much of 2010 on injured reserve changed Finley, made him grateful for every game. When asked if he?s unstoppable, Finley wouldn?t take the bait and brag about himself.
Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (88) celebrates after a touchdown reception against the Chicago Bears in the second half in Chicago, Sunday.