Finley’s day a fantasy come true
A dream player, Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews, gave a shout-out to one of his fantasy-team players, Jermichael Finley.
“Found out I got like 30 points,” Matthews, all smiles as he exited the Green Bay Packers’ happy locker room, shouted to Finley.
Finley was surrounded by reporters who got closer to the 6-foot-5, 247-pound tight end than some backpedaling Bears defenders did Sunday at Soldier Field.
Here are his dreamy, fantasy team owner-salivating number against the Bears in Green Bay’s 27-17 victory: 3 touchdown catches.
Finley caught 7 passes for 85 yards — start calculating the fantasy numbers — in another performance that showed why he’s considered one of the game’s best young tight ends.
He has 15 receptions in Green Bay’s first three games, after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 against Washington last year and missing the Packers’ Super Bowl ride.#147;Jermichael has grown up a lot,#148; said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, chuckling at the reality that the fourth-year pro out of Texas is the veteran of the team#146;s tight-end group. #147;He#146;s an immense talent.#148;
Nearly a year ago to the date, Finley tied a career high and franchise record with 9 catches (115 yards) in the Packers#146; loss at Soldier Field.
Two years ago, he had a season-long 35-yard reception at Soldier Field.
His success against the Bears in Chicago might not be a complete mystery, despite the Bears#146; reputation for playing creditably against Green Bay#146;s prolific offense.
#147;It#146;s just one of these games that you get really, really hyped for,#148; Finley said. #147;One, it#146;s a rivalry game. Two, it#146;s the Bears.#148;
Finley caught a 6-yard strike from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the game#146;s opening series, capping a drive that required just eight snaps to march 80 yards.
Finley#146;s 7-yard touchdown grab three minutes into the second quarter made it 14-0. His 10-yard catch in the end zone early in the fourth extended the Green Bay cushion to 27-10.
#147;All 3 (touchdowns) were against zone,#148; said Finley, who looked king-size anytime he was in the vicinity of Bears cornerback Tim Jennings (5-8) or safeties Craig Steltz (6-1) and Brandon Meriweather (5-11). #147;I just kept running on all of them.#148;
It was Finley#146;s first 3-touchdown game since #133; ever.
#147;I#146;ve never done this in my career,#148; Finley said. #147;Little League, Pop Warner, anything.#148;
Finley said his performance had nothing to do with the Bears starting two new safeties in Steltz and Meriweather. They replaced Chris Harris and Major Wright, each of whom missed the game due to injury.
#147;I just came out there and played my game,#148; Finley said. #147;I was not paying attention to the safeties. I just came out there and played Packer football.#148;
Packers players enjoyed it.