Facing 2-degree temperatures and a windchill of minus 13, the Bears almost found a way to freeze themselves out of the playoffs Monday night. But Robbie Gould kicked a 38-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime, giving the Bears a 20-17 victory that kept their postseason hopes alive.
Two second-half interceptions of Kyle Orton passes, a passive pass rush, a barely existent running game and a sharp Aaron Rodgers all spelled disaster for a Bears team fighting for its postseason life.
But the Bears rallied to tie the score at 17-17 on Matt Forte’s two-yard touchdown run with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. Forte set up the score with a 28-yard run into Packers territory, then kept the drive alive by picking up a first down on fourth-and-1 carry from the 4.
Will Blackmon’s kick return and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Adrian Peterson put the Packers in position for Mason Crosby’s try at a 38-yard, game-winning field goal, but Alex Brown stormed through to block it, and the game went into overtime.
The Bears won the toss, and scored on their first possession.
The Packers, with nothing to play for but respect, had the Bears on the brink of postseason elimination at frigid Soldier Field.
The Bears (8-6 coming in) needed to win their last two games and hope the Vikings lose to the Giants this weekend in order to claim the NFC North title. Their wild-card hopes were dependent on even more help.
On a frigid night when fireworks were set off at halftime, the Bears lacked a spark. The offense was held to under 100 yards through three quarters by a Packers defense ranked 24th in the league. Forte was a non-factor for three quarters, hobbled by a right big toe injury. And Orton was off-target, particularly on his third-quarter interception that landed in the hands of Pro Bowl defensive back Charles Woodson.
Had it not been for their defense, the Bears might have faced the same type of deficit they did in a 37-3 loss at Green Bay last month. Nickel back Danieal Manning had success blitzing off the corner, forcing one bad throw by Rodgers and tipping two of the quarterback’s passes, one into the hands of teammate Brown.
Despite trailing by 11 going into the second half, the Bears had a pulse. Early in the third quarter, a Brad Maynard punt bounced off Packers special-teamer Jarrett Bush as Bush was engaged with Rashied Davis. The Bears’ Jason Davis recovered, giving the Bears a first down at the Packers’ 27.
The Packers got on the board first with a 14-play, 91-yard drive, capped by Rodgers’ 7-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings.
The Bears responded with Manning’s 71-yard kick return on which he carried Bush 20 yards to the Packers’ 29-yard line. But the Bears had to settle for a 31-yard field goal.
The Bears were outgained 221-48 in the first half. Orton completed just four of eight passes for 36 yards.
ROAD TO THE PLAYOFFS
* If the Bears win Sunday at Houston and Minnesota loses to the Giants, the Bears win the NFC North.
* If the Bears and Minnesota both win Sunday, the Bears can still make the playoffs if Dallas and Tampa Bay both lose.
