Packers gift-wrap one for Bears
Merry Christmas, Bears fans.
The Packers kept your team's playoff hopes alive by personally gift-wrapping a victory Monday night at Soldier Field.
With special-teams gaffe after special-teams gaffe, Green Bay allowed the Bears to improve to 9-6 as coach Lovie Smith's squad escaped with a 20-17 victory in overtime.
Said Bears fullback Jason Davis: "Couple days before Christmas, second day of Hannukah, second day of Kwanzaa, whatever you want to call it - they gave it, we've got to take it."
For the longest time, it appeared the Bears would look this gift horse in the mouth and walk out as losers. This especially appeared to be the case as Packers place-kicker Mason Crosby lined up for a 38-yard field-goal attempt with just 25 seconds remaining.
But Alex Brown got a big paw up and saved the Bears' season.
"You want to make the offensive lineman think you're going to go (one way), and you try to make a move," Brown said. "You get a hand up and hope the kicker kicks the ball into your hand.
"It worked out great. Thank God for it."
Despite being outgained 222-50 in the first half and 325-210 for the game, the Bears stuck around thanks to the special teams.
• The first big play came after the Packers took a 7-0 lead, and Danieal Manning brought the ensuing kickoff back 70 yards.
The final 20-25 yards, Manning was dragging Packers defenders with him like a Dad playing piggyback with his kids.
"I was just trying to be the Incredible Hulk out there," Manning said.
The Bears managed a field goal and trimmed the lead to 7-3.
• If Bears fans send holiday cards to Crosby, the next person on their list should be Jarrett Bush. The Packers' return man muffed a punt early in the third quarter that was recovered by Davis.
"I'm 250 pounds. I've got to fight (the ball) from him. I'd never hear the end of that one," Davis said. "I used my Willie McGee slide, a textbook slide. I hook-slided in, grabbed the ball and turned over quick so I wouldn't have to fight for it."
The recovery led to a 27-yard touchdown drive as the Bears cut the lead to 14-10.
• Crosby badly missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt late in the third quarter that would have given Green Bay a 17-10 lead.
• Then, of course, there was Robbie Gould's game-winning kick in overtime, the second straight game he kicked the Bears to a win in extra time. It was a 38-yarder that Gould send sailing into the same end zone that Crosby had line-drived his 46-yarder.
But the Bears never doubted their kicker.
"He's unbelievable," Brown said. "I know whoever made the Pro Bowl deserves to be there, but he should definitely be considered one of the best. If it comes down to Robbie kicking a field goal for us to win, we're going to walk in - because it's over."
No it's not.
And thanks to the Packers, Bears fans can sleep tonight with visions of the playoffs still dancing in their heads.