Mariani's big role in win over Packers overlooked
In the Thursday night euphoria of just the second Bears victory in 12 meetings with the Packers, it was easy to overlook the contributions of backup wide receiver Marc Mariani.
Primarily a return specialist throughout his injury-riddled, six-year NFL career, the 6-foot-1, 187-pound Mariani had 3 catches for 35 yards in Green Bay.
Modest numbers for some, but both are career bests for the former seventh-round pick of the Tennessee Titans out of Montana.
All 3 of Mariani's catches successfully converted third-down situations that were critical to the 17-13 victory.
Shortly after the Bears recovered Eddie Lacy's fumble at the Packers' 34-yard line, Mariani went over the middle for a 10-yard reception on a third-and-four play.
Two plays later the Bears faced third-and-3 and went to Mariani again. He caught a screen pass at the line of scrimmage and fought through 2 tacklers to keep the drive alive at the Green Bay seven-yard line.
Three plays later the Bears tied the score at 7-7.
Mariani's final catch came late in the fourth quarter, a career-best 21 yards on third-and-10 that kept the clock moving with the Bears protecting their 17-13 lead.
"You look at a Marc Mariani," coach John Fox said. "He's a guy who just stepped in and made big catches, big plays on third down."
Mariani was almost exclusively a return specialist in his first two years with the Titans, making the Pro Bowl in 2010 as a rookie but catching just 5 passes for 24 yards.
He spent 2012 and 2013 on injured reserve, first with a broken leg and then a shoulder injury, which dashed his hopes of making an impression as a receiver.
"My first couple years, I was thrown in there a little bit, in and out," Mariani said. "But then I broke my leg my third year and that was my biggest opportunity fighting for the slot position there.
"It's tough to say, but I've always been fighting and scratching and trying to get that opportunity and further that opportunity. I think I can add value there."
Catching on quickly:
Despite a massive turnover on defense, the Bears have allowed more than 20 points just twice in the past eight games.
Just two of this year's defensive starters were starters at the same position in 2014.
"It's amazing," quarterback Jay Cutler said. "A lot of new faces over there. You look across that side, and there's not a lot of guys from last year.
"And for them to jell that quickly, learn a new system, it speaks a lot of our coaches on how good of a job they're doing.
"It speaks a lot about what kind of players we have on that side. You have to hand it to them. A heck of an effort on the defensive side. You have to give them a lot of credit."
Down time:
The Thanksgiving night victory over the Packers capped a memorable week for quarterback Jay Cutler, who won for the first time in his career at Lambeau Field.
"Yeah, it's huge," Cutler said after the game. "It's been a fun week, for me. The Sunday game (17-15 loss to the Broncos), and having a baby on Monday, and turning around and playing Thursday.
"I think that everyone is looking forward to going home and spending some time with family."
Making history:
Tracy Porter's fourth-quarter interception of Aaron Rodgers made him just the fifth active player to intercept Brett Favre and Rodgers.
Porter intercepted Favre in the fourth quarter of the 2009 NFC Championship Game when he was a member of the New Orleans Saints and Favre was with the Minnesota Vikings.
Porter was credited with 4 pass breakups at Green Bay, the first player to have that many in a single game based on press box statistics vs. Aaron Rodgers according to STATS LLC.
Extra points:
The Bears' second-half shutout of the Packers was just the fourth time in 10 years Green Bay has been blanked in the second half at home, and the first since Oct. 16, 2011. … Aaron Rodgers' 62.4 passer rating against the Bears was the lowest of his career at Lambeau Field since becoming a starter in 2008.