Jones makes triumphant return; Packers continue dominance of Bears

James Jones proved Sunday that you can go home again.

Jones caught two touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers, and two big defensive plays late in the game gave the Packers a 31-23 season-opening win over the Bears Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Jones, released by the Raiders and Giants in the past year, caught the first touchdown of Green Bay's regular season, a 13-yarder near the end of the first quarter to give the Pack its first lead of 2015. Green Bay survived a tough first half test against an unrattled Bears team who took a 13-10 lead just before halftime.

Another strike to Jones gave Green Bay a 17-13 lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter, and Mike McCarthy's squad would not relinquish that edge for the rest of the afternoon. A Randall Cobb touchdown catch and a late Eddie Lacy run provided the last two Packers scores.

A late stop on fourth down and a Clay Matthews interception on back-to-back possessions helped seal another Packers win in what has been a one-sided rivalry in recent years. Rodgers is now 12-3 lifetime against his rival to the south.

Matt Forte rumbled for 141 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Bears. Jones's final line was 51 yards on four catches, two of those for touchdowns.  Rodgers threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns overall.

The Packers next opponent might be the most anticipated matchup of the regular season. They'll face the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field next Sunday night on national television, looking to avenge a loss in the NFC Championship Game in January.