Something special about Bears

Lovie Smith has devoted time and talent to special teams since he arrived to coach the Bears in 2004.

And Monday night's playoff-dream-saving victory over Green Bay served as Exhibit A in the argument for prioritizing "the third phase," which is the No. 1 reason the Bears still have postseason hopes.

"We have gotten a lot of plays from our special teams, but we're set up that way," Smith said. "We practice that way. We rely on our special teams. The third phase wins football games for you.

"It's as simple as that. We have good players there. We have a good scheme. But still, a lot of teams say that. It's still good to be able to get that type of production from it."

A lot of teams do pay lip service to special teams, but against the Packers it was evident the Bears and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub do much more than talk the talk when it comes to that often-overlooked phase of the game.

The Bears were dominated on both sides of the ball for most of the game, getting outgained 325-210, getting out-converted on third downs 47-25 percent, losing the time of possession battle 35:42-27:50 and getting outsacked 3-0.

But big plays by special teams more than overcame the Bears' shortcomings on offense and defense.

For the second straight game, Robbie Gould converted a field goal in overtime for the victory, the first time that has occurred since David Akers did it for the Philadelphia Eagles more than eight years ago.

Devin Hester's 24-yard punt return, just 1 yard short of his season best, positioned the offense for the game-tying TD drive late in the fourth quarter.

The second blocked field goal of defensive end Alex Brown's seven-year NFL career (on a 38-yard attempt), preserved the 17-17 tie with 18 seconds remaining in regulation when defeat appeared imminent.

"Alex Brown came through like he's come through many times in the five years I've been here," Smith said. "That's what the team needed."

Brad Maynard's net punting average of 41.3 yards gave the Bears a 13.5-yard advantage over the Packers, and Maynard dropped 2 of his 6 attempts inside the 20, tying his personal best of 36 in one season.

He should have had another downed at the 1-yard line, but Kevin Jones unwittingly carried the ball into the end zone thinking it was a muff. Maynard and the Bears allowed just 7 return yards on 6 punts.

The Bears' first scoring "drive," which ended on a 31-yard Gould field goal, covered 16 yards in 5 plays.

But that's all the offense had to do after Danieal Manning's 70-yard kickoff return, on which he carried two and sometimes three Packers defenders the final 25 yards.

Since taking over from Hester as the Bears' kickoff returner, the freakishly strong, 5-foot-11, 200-pound Manning has displayed a more powerful running style than most return specialists. His 29.4-yard average leads the NFL.

"I joked with my family and especially my little boy about me being the Incredible Hulk," Manning said. "I felt like that on that (return), but it was great blocking, too.

"Those guys did a great job all night. It's really an incredible feeling to be out there running the ball like that."

Manning is quickly becoming the Bears' jack of all trades and master of some.

He's entrenched as the nickel back, and on his rare blitz opportunities Monday night, he put more pressure on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers than any of his teammates.

It was Manning's deflection of a Rodgers pass that resulted in Alex Brown's interception.

"I'm very impressed with Danieal and how he's just elevated the team," Smith said. "Now everyone is getting up every time he goes back to return kicks. And we're getting good play from him as a nickel back.

"He's a good athlete, maybe the best athlete on our football team, and I'm just glad to see that he's getting more confidence in himself."

In addition to all his other diverse duties, Manning filled in as the personal protector for Maynard after Jones, who was filling in for Garrett Wolfe, suffered a hamstring injury.

At Abilene Christian, Manning scored touchdowns on kickoff returns, punt returns, as a receiver, on a fumble return and on an interception return.

Is there anything he can't do on a football field?

"I can throw it - probably," he said. "But I haven't tried at this level, so I don't know."

What about receiver?

"We'll see," he said.