Blustery blowout for Bears

The final score was Bears 35, Packers 7.But the bottom line is the Packers are going to the playoffs and the Bears are preparing for hibernation, although critics might argue they've been in sleep mode most of the season.The blowout loss in frostbite conditions Sunday probably won't hinder the Packers' postseason any more than the blowout loss to Green Bay in last year's season finale affected the Bears' run to the Super Bowl.And it should have been small consolation for the Bears (6-9). More Coverage Stories Brown, defense relish big day against Favre [12/24/07] Not one for Favre to go out on [12/24/07] Quite a block party [12/24/07] Bears show true meaning of a rivalry [12/24/07] Windy Soldier Field gets best of Packers' Ryan [12/24/07] Orton keeps his cool, sticks with game plan [12/24/07] "They're going home," Packers linebacker Nick Barnett said. "Who are the NFC North champions?"We don't like to lose to them, but the bigger picture is that we have to fix our mistakes and go on to next week."The victory provided a feel-good moment for last year's NFC champs but hardly erased a season of disappointment and missed opportunities."It's still a tough year," guard Roberto Garza said. "This is a great Christmas gift, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us."The victory gave the Bears a season sweep of their biggest rival, even though the Packers (12-3) appeared uninterested much of the game, and the lopsided score came courtesy of big plays that have been absent for most of the season.The Bears blocked 2 punts, the second of which was returned 7 yards for a touchdown by rookie cornerback Corey Graham. They also intercepted longtime nemesis Brett Favre twice, the second of which was returned by Brian Urlacher 85 yards for a touchdown.Looking for a difference between this year and last? Urlacher's TD was the Bears' first defensive score of the season.Those were the last two scores and turned the game into a rout but also served as a reminder of what has been missing."We've talked a lot about not being able to score all year on the defensive side," coach Lovie Smith said. "I don't think we've gone through a season without having at least one defensive score."The Bears had 3 defensive touchdowns last season."We're disappointed in our season, but we couldn't do a lot about that," Smith said. "We played the Packers and the only thing we could do was get a win against them and have an opportunity to sweep them, which is saying a lot."It's good for our team to see that we can still play a little bit of football and see the type of team that we can beat when we take care of some things."Favre was limited to 9 passing yards in the first half, the second-lowest output of his 17-year career. It only got worse for him after the break.Early in the third quarter Favre was picked off by defensive end Alex Brown, who returned it 8 yards to the Packers' 28, setting up a 3-yard TD pass from Kyle Orton to tight end Desmond Clark.Orton went back to another tight end, rookie Greg Olsen, for the 2-point conversion and a 21-7 lead with 8:30 left in the third quarter.The Bears' second blocked punt of the day, this one by Charles Tillman, set up McBride's touchdown 67 seconds later. Before Sunday, the Packers had gone 929 punts and 12 years without having one blocked.Urlacher's interception and touchdown put the exclamation point on a rare outstanding defensive effort, one that limited Favre to just 153 yards and a 40.2 passer rating.The 16-degree temperature at kickoff accompanied by 22 mph winds produced a wind chill of minus-18 and limited the Bears' offense mostly to runs and short passes to running backs Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe.But that was enough for a 13-7 halftime lead after a 33-yard screen pass to Wolfe set up and 8-yard TD run by Peterson 48 seconds from intermission.Peterson's score came on his 22nd carry of the first half, the most by one player in the NFL this season.The Bears ran 33 of the first 45 plays Sunday but managed only a 6-0 lead, which was erased just like that when Ryan Grant bolted 66 yards to give the Packers a 7-6 lead with 3:08 left in the half.Early offensive failures prevented the Bears from capitalizing on scoring chances. Packers punter Jon Ryan fumbled at his own 34-yard line and then had his next punt blocked and recovered 7 yards from the Green Bay end zone, but the Bears failed to score a point.That has been a seasonlong problem, but not this time."Certainly it's been a frustrating year for us, and we haven't been able to accomplish a lot of our goals," said Orton, who finished with a 103.6 passer rating. "One of (the goals) we've had since the beginning of the season is to sweep the Packers, and it's kind of bittersweet, I guess."At 6-9, it's more bitter than sweet for the Bears.Game ballAdrian PetersonSure it took a career-high 30 carries to get it done, but Adrian Peterson exceeded the 100-yard mark against the Packers. His 21-yarder up the gut in the second quarter was a career-long. OffenseQuarterback 4 ballsKyle Orton was far from spectacular, but he didn't have to be. All he had to be was serviceable, and that he was, finishing up 8-for-14 for 101 yards and 1 touchdown. He also handed the ball off flawlessly 45 times.Running backs 4 ballsOn a day the Bears absolutely had to establish the running game, they did. And they did it right from the get-go, running 13 times on an opening drive that took nearly 11 minutes. Adrian Peterson finished with 102 yards and Garrett Wolfe added another 29. Receivers 3 ballsWith the conditions as miserable as they were on the lakefront, this group didn't see much action. What they did see they caught -- especially tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen. On the other end of the ledger was Muhsin Muhammad, who dropped a sure TD in the second quarter. Those weren't "Moose" chants he heard afterward.Offensive line 4 ballsHow bout those O-linemen? The much-maligned group more than held its own against Green Bay's rugged front seven, allowing no sacks and leading a rushing attack that gained nearly 140 yards. DefenseDefensive line 4#189; ballsExplain again why Alex Brown hasn't started every game this season? The veteran end was a force with a sack and a key interception early in the third quarter. Israel Idonije turned in another solid performance.Linebackers 4#189; ballsA pretty quiet day for this bunch, that was until Brian Urlacher bolted 85 yards down the sideline on an interception to finish off the scoring.Secondary 4#189; ballsA huge hit by Danieal Manning early on seemed to set a tone for the game. It worked. Green Bay receivers seemed to have no interest in stretching out to make a catch.Special teams 5 ballsWhat didn't these guys do? Darrell McClover and Charles Tillman each had a blocked punt, Corey Graham returned one of them for a touchdown, and Robbie Gould was on automatic again.Coaching 4 ballsLovie Smith and his staff somehow convinced a reeling team to come out and have its best game under the worst possible conditions. Quite a feat. Plastic bite: Trip to the emergency room for frostbite relief: $25 co-pay.Cold and sore throat medicine: $17.50.Being on hand to see the Bears throttle the Packers and sweep the season series?Priceless.D'oh bite: The Bears cruised the Jon Ryan Express to victory. The Green Bay punter had 2 of his kicks blocked, doinked 2 others and mishandled a snap early on. From Bears fans to you, Jon, shanks for the memories.Could've been bite: It looked like a playoff game, it felt like a playoff game, heck it even sounded like a playoff game. All we can ask is, where was this kind of effort earlier in the season?Brrrrrrr bite: The Packers looked like they wanted to be at frigid Soldier Field about as much the presidential candidates wanted to participate in the YouTube debates.Duh bite: Fox analyst Troy Aikman on the Bears' struggling ground attack heading into Sunday's game: "It's hard to be a running football team when you can't run the ball."Bizarro bite: Final quarterback ratings: Kyle Orton 103.6, Brett Favre 40.2.Moronic bite: It may have been "Bears" weather, but it certainly wasn't "Bare" weather. Someone forgot to tell that to the shirtless wonder who ran onto the field in the fourth quarter. He probably got the message loud and clear afterward in the holding cell.Grizzly bite: Bears QB Kyle Orton getting a jab in at critics of his facial hair while discussing the conditions at Soldier Field: "It was a little cold today, but I have a beard, so that helps out a little bit." 512311Adrian Peterson, right, battles the Packers' Charles Woodson, left.Daniel White | Staff Photographer 512349The Bears' Darrell McClover blocks a punt by Jon Ryan during first half action at Soldier Field.Daniel White | Staff Photographer 512407Brian Urlacher, right, talks with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, left, after the Bears' 35-7 win over the Packers.Associated Press 336512Brian Urlacher is all smiles several plays after his touchdown interception return against the Green Bay Packers.Daniel White | Staff Photographer