Experience at Lambeau Field could help Bears in playoffs

If the Bears' playoff run lasts beyond the second-round game they host Jan. 16, which they expect, their loss at Green Bay might prove more worthwhile than some of their victories.

“We were in a hostile environment, and we could have to play in a hostile environment in the playoffs,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We can't say that we've been in a lot of hostile environments where the crowd was into the game like they were (Sunday). Our offensive line hasn't played together in a place like that before.”

The Falcons are favored to advance to the NFC championship game and, if the Bears win their home game, they could wind up playing at the Georgia Dome for the right to play in Super Bowl XLV.

Their experience at Lambeau Field would be a positive for the Bears if that scenario plays out. Lovie Smith's team had not faced much adversity on the road before Sunday. Their previous road game, against the Vikings, was moved to the University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium, which didn't help the dome team. Against the Lions at Ford Field, the Bears had almost as many fans as the home team, and Bears fans were in abundance in South Florida for the Dolphins game. Against Buffalo in Toronto, the Bears seemed to have a larger and louder following than the Bills.

Well worth it:

By playing the starters for the full game Sunday the Bears risked injuries, but they came through in good shape.

Relatively minor injuries to linebacker Nick Roach (shoulder) and safeties Chris Harris (stinger) and Major Wright (leg), are expected to be healed by game time on Jan. 16. Coach Lovie Smith believes the positives far outweighed the negatives.

“What better way to get ready for the playoffs than to go through a hard game like that and be in all the different situations that you're going to go through,” he said. “But don't get me wrong; it's one thing to go on the road and play, but we can't wait to have our playoff game here.”

Playing it safe:

Had the Bears reached the end zone on their final drive Sunday, they could have gone for 2 points and the win or kicked the extra point and gone to overtime.

“I really hadn't thought that far,” Lovie Smith said. “We probably would have tied the game and gone from there.”