GREEN BAY, Wis. – Thursday night against the Packers was more than just a game to the Bears. It was an insult delivered on a national holiday.
Everything was personal.
“You get scheduled on a homecoming, you know?,” Bears tight end Zach Miller said. “There’s a reason you get scheduled on homecoming. It was just a good night for us. Fun.”
It wasn’t pretty and it was far from perfect, but the result was all that mattered to the Bears. They ruined Brett Favre Night at Lambeau Field with a 17-13 victory in sloppy, rain-drenched conditions.
Favre’s heir, Aaron Rodgers, couldn’t come through with a game-winning driving in the final minutes as his final pass with 22 seconds remaining fell incomplete through the end zone.
While Bears quarterback Jay Cutler notched his first win ever at Lambeau, Rodgers (22-for-43, 202 yards) finished with a 62.4 passer rating – his second-worst mark ever against the Bears.
“This was one was worth a lot more,” right tackle Kyle Long said. “We just beat the Packers’ at their homecoming. It feels really good.”
Many players played key roles in the victory – the Bears’ first under coach John Fox against a team considered among the league’s elite.
Miller had a three-yard touchdown catch. Returner Marc Mariani converted third downs, including a 21-yard gain on a third-and-10 in the fourth quarter. Running backs Matt Forte and Jeremy Langford (one-yard touchdown run) combined 92 yards on 27 carries. Receiver Alshon Jeffery had seven catches for 90 yards.
On defense, veteran cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Rodgers in the fourth quarter. Safety Chris Prosinski forced a fumble on Packers bruising back Eddie Lacy. Outside linebacker Lamarr Houston had a sack, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery.
Houston also rattled Rodgers in the third quarter after a bad snap left Rodgers chasing after the ball, and Houston caught up for a hard tackle. Rodgers left holding his left arm and wrist, and backup Scott Tolzien warmed up. But Rodgers returned on the next series.
“I didn’t really look at him after [the hit] because I give two flying you-knows about him,” Houston said. “I really don’t like that guy.”
Those were the type of emotions overflowing from the Bears’ locker room. It was far different from last year when the Bears were blown out 55-14 in Green Bay.
“We’re just building,” Jeffery said. “We took it personally and as disrespectful. It’s Brett Favre Night and you’re playing the Bears. You’ve got to swallow that. Don’t try to have a homecoming when you’re trying to play the Bears.”
The victory could be a springboard. They have the 49ers and Redskins –- two beatable teams — up next.
It’s clear that the schemes of offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have clicked. It’s clear that the Fox has this team believing in themselves.
After all, they just ruined Brett Favre Night.
“We think we can ride this wave,” Mariani said. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in this locker room. … Despite what everyone else says on the outside, we’re hungry. We know what the schedule looks like, we’ve got to go 1-0 next week. We’re by no means giving up on the season or anything like that. We’re going to go down fighting.”
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Email: ajahns@suntimes.com
