Daily Herald opinion: A visit and a victory: It’s been an exciting week for Bears fans

The past week has been a thriller for long-suffering Chicago Bears fans.

Last Saturday, they celebrated a memorable 31-27 home win over the rival Green Bay Packers in the wild-card playoff game — complete with cheese grating to roast Illinois’ neighbor to the north.

But that come-from-behind victory wasn’t the only surprise of the weekend.

As our Chris Placek reported earlier this week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell got a tour of the Arlington Park property with Bears Chairman George McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren, reigniting hopes that the Bears will build in the ’burbs, despite threats to construct their new stadium in Northwest Indiana.

The visit was a quiet one, until Bears fan Gregory Berger spotted the three, plus an unidentified fourth person, around 1:30 p.m. Saturday through the other side of the fence from the Arlington Park Metra station. The Arlington Heights dad was there to drop off his son and a friend, who had tickets to the game.

Berger posted pictures on social media, and the news went viral.

“When I saw it, I hoped it meant that Arlington Heights was in play for a new Bears stadium,” Berger told Placek. “I’m a lifelong Bears fan, and I just think it’d be awesome to have a stadium in my backyard. In fact, I’ve even told my wife that when I retire, I’d love to be an usher there. I mean, to think that there could be a Super Bowl potentially walkable from my house — it’s just crazy.”

Mind you, Arlington Heights wasn’t the only visit. Officials also trekked to check out sites in Indiana, sources confirmed to Placek. But we’d like to think the sprawling 326-acre Arlington Park site, which the Bears bought in 2023, made a far better impression.

Perhaps it’s fitting that the Bears — with their penchant for come-from-behind victories — are taking their play for a new stadium down to the wire as well.

Now, fans’ focus shifts to Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams are favored, but playing at Soldier Field on a bitter cold January night — in front of an amped-up home crowd — could present a challenge to those used to milder climes.

If the Bears dispatch the Rams with the same determination that brought down the Packers, who knows what could be next?

Either way, we thank the team for a great season. It’s been quite a ride.

Plus, it’s not lost on us that this year marks 40 years since the last — and only — Super Bowl victory for the Chicago Bears, a 46-10 win over the New England Patriots.

Playoff fever is high right now in Chicago and the suburbs. And it would be mighty nice to cap the 40th anniversary of their last Super Bowl win with another chance to take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Especially after leaving that famed former coach’s Packers in the dust Saturday.