Emma: On Special Night At Lambeau Field, Bear Makes Memories Of Their Own
By Chris Emma--
GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS) -- Tears flowed down the face of Packers legend Bart Starr as he embraced Brett Favre at Lambeau Field. An extraordinary halftime ceremony to honor Favre brought great memories for all, Packer backer or not.
But as Favre's No. 4 was enshrined and retired at the famed football cathedral, the Bears were in the locker room preparing to exorcise their Packer demons. What's arguably one of the best top-to-bottom coaching staffs in the NFL was readying its team for victory.
Then the Bears stunned all of Green Bay with a 17-13 victory over the Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
"This one is worth a lot more," Bears tackle Kyle Long said. "We just beat the Packers at their Homecoming. It feels really good."
A little more than a year ago, the Bears trailed 42-0 to the Packers at halftime on the road. Laughter filled Lambeau as Marc Trestman's team was humiliated with one of the worst losses in franchise history.
But in this short week of work, the Bears were better prepared than the Packers, putting together a game plan to frustrate Aaron Rodgers. Despite an off game from the offense, Chicago's defense prevailed, shutting out Green Bay in the second half.
The Packers faced first-and-goal from the Bears' 8-yard line in the final minute, needing a touchdown to take the lead and likely win the game. Facing great adversity and a future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Bears revealed their uniqueness this season.
"We got a tough group, physically and mentally," Bears safety Chris Prosinski said. "I think we all had confidence that we were going to stop them, those last couple plays, right there by the goal line."
Added Bears receiver Marc Mariani: "We've been in that situation enough times where we're not afraid of it. We don't flinch."
Rodgers threw four incomplete passes. Jay Cutler came out and took a knee, sealing the victory.
Afterward inside the cramped visitors locker room, the Bears let loose. They were simply thrilled, because what a win it was.
"I'm proud to be a part of this group," Mariani said. "We just got a group of guys who are unselfish and ready to do whatever it takes to win games."
In contrast, the Bears left Lambeau Field one year ago were in utter disarray, folding on each other. They had quit somewhere in the first quarter of that loss, as if each Rodgers touchdown pass ripped their hearts out.
These Bears are resilient, not afraid of any moment or challenge. What coach John Fox and his entire staff has done in Chicago -- from coordinators Vic Fangio and Adam Gase to assistants Dowell Loggains, Stan Drayton, Ed Donatell and more -- is nothing short of spectacular. At 5-6, the Bears are in the playoff picture, with a favorable schedule ahead.
Cutler even admitted he likes the slate looming. And speaking of Cutler, he rebounded from a loss on Sunday by delivering with big plays in the second half to solidify the victory.
He also worked through this short week following the birth of his daughter, Saylor, on Monday.
Now, Cutler is 1-4 at Lambeau Field, finally breaking through with a win. He pointed to his teammates with the credit.
"You look across that locker room, you see a lot of guys fighting for each other," Cutler said.
The Bears opened the game with three drives that lasted three plays. They tallied 20 yards in nine plays and seemed to be doomed -- or so the narrative of Bears-Packers in Lambeau Field would suggest. But this team is different.
Green Bay offered a special night at its famed football field, honoring the franchise's rich tradition with a touching ceremony. As the Packers remembered their past, the Bears gave a glimpse of a future that could hold promise. But that's for another time.
What a win it was for the Bears, who finally made memories of their own at Lambeau Field.