Win-chill factor
Packers quarterback Brett Favre said Sunday’s conditions were the worst he had played in during his 17-year career, a mouthful for a player whose home turf is the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Wind gusts up to 30 m.p.h. conspired with minus-18 windchills to make every Green Bay punt an adventure. The Bears took advantage, blocking two Jon Ryan punts and taking over on downs after Ryan muffed another. The weather also negated the obvious advantage Favre had. Credit Mother Nature as much as Bob Babich’s schemes for slowing down the future Hall of Famer.
That looks familiar
Playing without four starters on defense, the Bears more than compensated in limiting one of the hottest offenses in the second half of the season to 274 yards — 106 in a dominating first half — and seven points. Except for Ryan Grant’s 66-yard TD run, the defense set the tone that had been missing since training camp. Brian Urlacher scored the first TD on defense all season. Fill-in and should-be starter Alex Brown picked off a pass, and the Bears dropped two more potential interceptions. Young players Jamar Williams, Trumaine McBride and Matt Toeaina gave Jerry Angelo plenty to consider.
Winning formula
In a nod to 2005, Kyle Orton didn’t turn the ball over, a Bears running back cracked the 100-yard barrier when Adrian Peterson got 102 and special teams dominated, despite Devin Hester being a non-factor. It’s a winning equation because of an offensive line that took advantage of a less-than-motivated Packers defense. And for anyone wondering if offensive coordinator Ron Turner can make in-game adjustments, consider he scrapped the first 15 plays he had scripted after the opening snap because of the weather. Even Garrett Wolfe captured the imagination with some nifty open-field work that been a rumor until Sunday.
Get out the brooms
For the Bears who insisted that beating the rival Packers twice would salvage a disappointing season, they got their sweep. But all it really means is the Bears will not finish 5-11 and will draft a little lower in April. Momentum for ’08? Perhaps. Give the Bears credit for showing the pride that was all they had to play for in Week 16. But the truth is the Packers looked as sloppy and disinterested as the Bears did last Dec. 31 against Green Bay after they had wrapped up the NFC North. Maybe Favre was distracted by Christmas Eve plans.
