Tough first half takes wind out of Bear fans
It took less than 5 minutes for the atmosphere inside the packed John Barleycorn tavern in Schaumburg to go from jubilant to worried.
The Green Bay Packers, led by white-hot quarterback Aaron Rodgers, opened Sunday’s NFC Championship game with a touchdown drive that was quick and frighteningly efficient.
The drive left Bloomingdale resident Patrick Pozzi shaken.
“The Bears better get a stop soon,” he said. “This game will be won by defense, and we need to step it up and get some turnovers.”
Pozzi added, though, that he hadn’t given up hope.
“I think the Bears can pull this out, but they have to play better. The Packers came in with all the momentum.”
But things didn’t get much better after the first drive.
Across the suburbs, Bears fans flocked to bars and restaurants to watch what many characterized as a historic playoff game.
There wasn’t an empty seat to be found in the bar or restaurant portions of John Barleycorn on Sunday, and the crowd continued to cheer for their team as the game went on.
Carlo Carlotta of Schaumburg said he was disappointed by the Bears’ apparent lack of energy in the first half.
“I thought they’d come out stronger,” he said. “They know the Packers pretty well. They’ve had time to analyze their game. I’m not feeling very confident.”
The early touchdown run also knocked the wind out of the crowd at Coach’s Corner in Elk Grove Village. The bar, which features vintage Bears photos as well as two Bears jerseys hanging right side up and a Favre Packers jersey upside down, was packed with fans wearing orange and blue.
Maria Leone, of Elk Grove Village, was wearing a 1986 vintage Bears jacket to bring the team good luck.
”I was at the grocery store earlier and all these people were wearing Green Bay garb. I was like...,” said Leone, showing a disgusted look.
Despite the score, the crowd stayed glued to the TVs throughout the game, and as the Bears made one last drive, they chanted, “Let’s go, Bears!”
Mark Mitchell of Elk Grove said, “I just want the Bears to win,” as the Bears entered Packers territory in the final 2 minutes.
But the Bears failed to tie the score, leaving the patrons at Coach’s Corner disappointed and angry.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Manny Carranza of Elgin. “When Cutler went out and they brought in Todd Collins, it was kind of like the kiss of death right there. At least Caleb Hanie showed a little fight. He got ‘em close to coming back. They just didn’t have the offense.”
Back at John Barleycorn, Stephen Wilmont of Elgin recalled how the first Bears game he ever saw in person was the 23-7 win against the Packers in 1985. He had wanted his team to face a different opponent in this year’s playoffs.
“I really wanted (the Bears) to beat the Packers in December, so we wouldn’t have to see them,” Wilmont said. “They’re a dangerous team, and I knew that losing that game against them in the regular season would come to haunt us.”