Browsing: Sports

Chicago Sky players, including Chicago Sky MVP Kahleah Copper (2), 2nd from left, celebrate after winning the WNBA championship, 80-74, against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Fans in search of championship t-shirts and other Sky gear are finding their options limited. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Kobe Bryant and the others were killed Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter they were aboard, on their way to a girls basketball tournament, crashed in the hills west of Los Angeles amid foggy weather. Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the wreck.

“We need to get more of that in the middle and not wait from the first start of the game to that (fourth-quarter) drive there,” coach Matt Nagy said. “All of that, when you go back and look at those plays, that’s what gets you excited is being able to see that. Now, we need to do more of that. And how do we get to that?”

The Zags were the runaway top choice in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball preseason poll released Monday. They earned 55 of 63 first-place votes to easily outdistance No. 2 UCLA, which earned the other eight. Kansas, Villanova and Texas rounded out the top five, while reigning national champion Baylor checked in at No. 8.

A rendering shows the “Neighborhood District” envisioned as part of the $20 billion One Central proposal. The area is one of four districts that would make up 1.4 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment, including a grocery store and public market. (Gensler)

The city will be announcing a group of people who will look at the entire Soldier Field campus to ensure it’s being used effectively. Lightfoot, who called herself a “long-suffering” Bears season ticket holder, said during a Monday morning interview with The Score sports radio station that she will continue to work to keep the team here.

With the addition of the 2021 WNBA champions Sky, 13 professional sports teams in Chicago that have won championships since 1985. Here’s a look back at the rings issued to the coaches, players and owners. 1985 Super Bowl XX Twenty-three years have passed since the 1963 Bears won Chicago’s last title in a major professional sport. At last, the Second City can chant “We’re No. 1” without fear of flying too high. — Phil Hersh, Chicago Tribune This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on Jan. 27, 1986: It is a good thing Chicago is the city of the big shoulders. How else could it Bear up to the task of carrying an entire football team in a victory parade from here to eternity? Sporting immortality is where the Chicago Bears are headed. They proved you can get there from New Orleans in a day trip. With a 46-10 victory over the New England Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome, the Bears also took the entire city on a long- awaited joyride. Read the full story. (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 27, 1986) Ring features Logo in 14-karat gold and blue enamel with one half-carat and 40 smaller diamonds. Left side: Bears helmet, season record (18-1), GSH (initials for Bears founder/owner George S. Halas) and “Attitude.” Right side: Bears 46, Patriots 10, Super Bowl XX, Vince Lombardi trophy and the NFC Championship trophy. 1991 NBA championship “(The championship) means so much. Not just for me but for this team and this city. It was a seven-year struggle. It’s the most proud day I’ve ever had.” — Michael Jordan, in tears after the game talking to a national television audience This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 13, 1991: Yes, the Bulls have taken the gold in their silver anniversary season, a tempest of effort finally sending the proud Lakers sinking into the Pacific Wednesday night in a hard-fought 108-101 game and letting loose a tidal wave of exhilaration and emotion. The Bulls are champions! Roll it around in your mouth and savor the sweet taste of victory. Close your eyes and see them raising the banners in honor of the Bulls, in honor of all Bulls teams and, really, in honor of all Chicagoans. Get ready for Friday’s noon rally at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park. (Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1991) Because the Bulls have been Chicago’s team, winning with a bit of Gold Coast glamor and a lot of stockyards effort. This not only has been an inexorable march to glory, it has been a 100-yard dash to success. The Bulls sped through the playoffs with a 15-2 record, equaling the best since the NBA went to the current postseason format and posting the second-best all-time playoff winning percentage. Read the full story. Ring features Small diamonds surround black onyx crest with 14-karat gold logo. Left side: Larry O’Brien trophy. Right side: “World Champions 1991,” NBA logo and the team’s playoff record (15-2). 1992 NBA championship By winning twice in a row, even if it hasn’t been the artistic and overwhelming triumph of their maiden voyage a year ago, the Bulls have combined talent, genius and hard work into a special treat for their followers. They have entered the cathedral of greatness because they were the architects of their own success. — Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 15, 1992: There can be no doubt now about what the Bulls accomplished during the last few weeks in winning their second straight NBA title. They have made greatness and history their principal opponents. They have taken their place beside the Celtics and the Lakers in NBA folklore and excellence. They have taken over a decade. They did it Sunday night at the Stadium, overcoming a 17-point deficit and defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 97-93 to win the NBA Finals four games to two. (Chicago Tribune, June 15, 1992) With Michael Jordan on the bench, an unlikely combination of Bulls reserves helped cut the margin to three in the fourth quarter. Stacey King scored five fourth-quarter points and Bobby Hansen-the only Bull without a 1991 championship ring-contributed a key three-point shot plus a steal. Jordan returned to score 12 of his 33 points in the game’s final six minutes, and Scottie Pippen also hit some key shots down the stretch. Read the full story. Ring features Name in 33 baguette and tapered baguette diamonds and 14-karat gold. Left side: Season record (67-15). Right side: “World Champions,” the NBA logo and “Back to Back.” 1993 NBA championship (Michael) Jordan is the great star in a twinkling universe of bright lights, and winning a third straight title with this Bulls team has been his destiny, too. For when it has all been written, the Bulls will be among the elite sports teams of all time. — Sam Smith, Chicago Tribune This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 21, 1993: The Bulls this time came stalking history, which is a most elusive goal. For history makes one both a target and an enduring memory. It will be hard to forget this third consecutive NBA title, which the Bulls won by outlasting Phoenix in Game 6 Sunday 99-98 on a three-point shot by guard John Paxson with 3.9 seconds remaining. Horace Grant sealed the historic night by blocking the Suns’ Kevin Johnson last-second shot attempt. (Chicago Tribune, June 21, 1993) The night will forever be engraved in the conscience of sport. For few have gone this way, and only the aristocracy of sport reside here, names offered in solemn reverence, like Boston Celtics, Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, Notre Dame football, UCLA basketball. And Chicago Bulls. Read the full story. Ring features Logo made of garnet and 14-karat gold. Left side: Playoff record (15-4) and NBA trophy. Right side: “World Champions 1993,” NBA logo and “3-Peat.” 1996 NBA championship Winning — it’s true — doesn’t get old. — Charles M. Madigan, Chicago Tribune This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 17, 1996: It is undeniably true that for any Chicago sports team, nagged by a second city complex as big as the place itself, victory is always sweet. Now the Chicago Bulls can add another line to their history: Victory is always sweet, but not necessarily easy. The Bulls, finally, captured their fourth championship trophy Sunday night at the United Center, triumphing over a Seattle SuperSonics team that simply would not give up. This series felt a lot like warfare, like crawling up the beach under heavy enemy fire. (Chicago Tribune, June 17, 1996) The final game was not a blowout. Seattle was not embarrassed. The Bulls did not stomp on them and then march away like triumphant Roman legionnaires into the arms of a loving hometown. They just won, and that was enough. The score was 87-75. Read the full story. Ring features Crest of black onyx set with four diamonds and gold nets representing four trophies in a 14-karat gold setting with 72 smaller diamonds. Left side: Bulls logo in color. Right side: “World Champions,” Chicago skyline, 72 wins, NBA logo and “Greatest Team Ever.” 1997 NBA championship “That’s all it was was — a big challenge. Every night we had to find a new way of getting ourselves motivated. That was the difficult part.” — Dennis Rodman, Bulls forward This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 14, 1997: The long journey ended late Friday night, much the way it played out over the previous seven months. From November to June, there were ups-and-downs. Quite a few hairy moments. Big plays that kept the Bulls in games. Big shots delivering victories. Particularly the hard victories. So when Steve Kerr hit the shot, the 17-foot jumper that will be remembered every time people recall the Bulls’ latest championship, it was appropriate. The basket came at the end of an uphill battle, almost magnifying how tough this journey truly was. (Chicago Tribune, June 14, 1997) Bulls coach Phil Jackson didn’t need a do-or-die shot to remind him. “I didn’t enjoy this journey,” he said with a smile big enough for all the United Center to see. “This was filled with injuries and suspensions. But we had a great run, didn’t we? It was wonderful.” And it’s over. The season came to a close with a thrilling 90-86 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the NBA Finals before 24,544 screaming fans at the United Center. The Bulls successfully defended their title, claiming the franchise’s fifth championship in seven years by taking the best-of-seven series 4-2. Kerr hit the shot, a wide-open jumper that hit the bottom of the net with just five seconds left, putting the Bulls up 88-86. Then, after a Jazz timeout, Toni Kukoc deflected Bryon Russell’s inbounds pass intended for Shandon Anderson in the direction of Scottie Pippen. Pippen stretched, got his hands on the ball and found a sprinting Kukoc for a wide-open slam. Within the celebration of the moment — Michael Jordan danced on the scorers’ table — was an enormous sense of relief. The Bulls finally were done with what they believed was their toughest Finals test ever. Read the full story. Ring features Logo set in diamonds, platinum and a 14-karat gold setting. Left side: Five basketball and net trophies. Right side: “World Champions,” “Team of the Decade,” stadium image and NBA logo. 1998 NBA championship “I think it was bittersweet in the sense that it was the toughest route, toughest challenge in the six championships that we’ve won. I was more competitive than I ever was, because I wanted to win more than I ever did.” — Michael Jordan This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 15, 1998: If the final chapter of Michael Jordan’s career was completed on Sunday night, his role in the final gripping moments of a sixth championship for the Chicago Bulls would forever mark the perfect ending. With the capacity crowd at the Delta Center roaring in anticipation of a Utah victory that would have forced a seventh game of the NBA Finals, Jordan’s steal and two scores in the last 37.1 seconds secured Chicago’s shocking 87-86 triumph over the Jazz. And it was the fans in Chicago who got to celebrate victory, although in some areas it was marred by gunfire and several shootings. (Chicago Tribune, June 15, 1998) The statistics will claim that Jordan’s performance was less than artistic. Jordan’s 45 points, his high for the playoffs this year, came on 15-of-35 shooting. But with Scottie Pippen limited by a back injury, Ron Harper ill and Dennis Rodman ineffective, with Toni Kukoc’s 15 points representing the team’s only other double-figure scorer, the Bulls became most dependent on Jordan at the most important point of their season. Read the full story. Ring features Round diamonds for six championships with alternating rows of round and baguette diamonds. Left side: “World Champions 1998,” NBA logo, “Repeat 3-Peat.” Right side: Bulls logo. 2005 World Series “We never had any egos on this team. I think that was what was really special about this club.” — Jermaine Dye, White Sox right fielder This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on Oct. 26, 2005: The White Sox completed their incredible conquest Wednesday night, eliminating the final demons that haunted the franchise since their last World Series title in 1917. They completed their stunning run in a manner that mirrored their amazingly successful season, riding the pitching of Freddy Garcia and the bullpen to a 1-0 victory over Houston and completing a four-game sweep of the 2005 World Series. “In sports, I haven’t had a greater feeling,” said general manager Ken Williams, whose transformation of a franchise to an emphasis on pitching and defense was rewarded greatly in the final game. (Chicago Tribune, Oct. 27, 2005) The players celebrated on the field and in the clubhouse, where Williams was doused with champagne after hoisting the World Series trophy. “Enjoy it and be safe,” slugger Paul Konerko advised several thousand fans who gathered behind the dugout to celebrate. The Sox snapped the second-longest World Series drought in history. The longest dry spell, 97 years, belongs to the Cubs, followed by Cleveland at 57. Read the full story. Ring features Ninety nine diamonds — one for each win — set in black onyx and 14-karat gold. Left side: MLB logo. Right side: “World Champions,” 2005 and playoff record (11-1). 2010 Stanley Cup “It was crazy. At the moment it’s just like, ‘We won the Stanley Cup’ and that’s all you’re thinking about. To play this game, this is the only thing I want to do in the world and be a part of moments like this.” — Patrick Kane, Blackhawks right wing This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 10, 2010: After nearly half a century, the Stanley Cup again belongs to Chicago. The Blackhawks brought it home for themselves and their fans — both long-suffering and those who jumped on board during a remarkable resurgence that began just three seasons ago — when they defeated the Flyers 4-3 in overtime Wednesday night at a raucous Wachovia Center. The NHL championship is the Hawks’ first since 1961, snapping 49 years without the coveted Cup in their grasp and is their fourth in a team history that began in 1926 as members of the Original Six franchises. (Chicago Tribune, June 10, 2010) Jonathan Toews, the youngest captain in the league at 22 years old, hoisted the Cup as the Hawks celebrated on the ice in front of a stunned Philadelphia crowd that saw the Flyers’ miraculous postseason run come to a crashing halt. Patrick Kane scored the game-winner 4 minutes, 6 seconds into overtime and Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd also had goals. Goaltender Antti Niemi claimed his team-record 16th victory in a postseason. The win capped a dramatic turnaround for the organization that began with the drafting of Kane with the top overall selection in 2007, continued with the ascension of Rocky Wirtz to team chairman following the death of his father, William, and the hiring of John McDonough as team president. Read the full story. Ring features Diamond inlay in 14-karat white gold. Blackhawks logo over the Stanley Cup is set with round brilliant and marquis cut diamonds for feathers. Left side: Tomahawk logo made of rubies, emeralds and yellow diamonds on the left side. Right side: Chicago Blackhawks 2010, “One Goal” and Stanley Cup set with diamonds and championship years of 1961, 1938 and 1934. 2013 Stanley Cup “It was like a fairy tale. We were down with a couple of minutes left in the game and all of a sudden, bang, we won the Stanley Cup. We didn’t quit. We knew we had to put the puck at the net, but nobody would think in 17 seconds we would score two goals.” — Marian Hossa, Blackhawks winger This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 25, 2013: The journey began with Jonathan Toews organizing informal workouts while the NHL lockout raged on and ended with the Blackhawks captain holding the Stanley Cup aloft. The Hawks’ magical 2013 season concluded with seemingly the only result Toews and Co. would allow — the franchise’s fifth title and second in the last four years — after a 3-2 victory over the Bruins on Monday night at TD Garden. As with the 2010 champs, the end came in stunning fashion in Game 6 on enemy ice. Trailing by a goal with less than 90 seconds remaining in the third period, the Hawks got goals by Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland 17 seconds apart to stun the Bruins and the crowd of 17,565. (Chicago Tribune, June 25, 2013) “This is an unbelievable group,” Toews said in an interview on the ice after the game. “We’ve been through a lot together this year, and this is a sweet way to finish it off.” Corey Crawford made 23 saves to record the victory — and exorcise some demons after allowing goals in consecutive overtimes in a first-round departure at the hands of the Coyotes last year — and Toews had a goal and an assist for the Hawks. “I don’t really remember the past 20-25 minutes,” said Patrick Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player. “My head is kind of spinning right now. It’s all worth it. All the hard work pays off in the end. These are the feelings you live for. It’s going to be a great summer enjoying this. This year we had a great team and we really followed through.” Read the full story. Ring features Logo in diamonds along with rubies. Left side: Tomahawk logo set with rubies and emeralds. Right side: Five diamond-studded Stanley Cup trophies. 2015 Stanley Cup “I think for us, we want to win almost more for (the fans) than for ourselves. Nothing better than getting the Cup at home. It’s a moment I want to … hold on to forever.” — Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks captain This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on June 16, 2015: With patience wearing thin everywhere else Monday night in Chicago due to a scoreless tie at the United Center, Blackhawks star Patrick Kane waited near the blue line. And waited. Then Kane waited some more. The Hawks had waited two years for another chance to win a Stanley Cup. What was another few seconds? Especially with Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith rushing down the ice to make the wait worthwhile. Keith skated into the Hawks’ offensive zone, and Kane set up his tireless teammate with the perfect pass between two Lightning defenders. Firing a rocket that bounced off the left pad of goalie Ben Bishop, Keith followed up by knocking the rebound past Bishop’s glove at the 17-minute, 13-second mark of the second period. (Chicago Tribune, June 16, 2015) The horn blared, the crowd of 22,424 exhaled loudly and “Chelsea Dagger” played after Keith’s goal that served as, well, the dagger. It seemed only fitting that the game-winner in a legacy-defining 2-0 victory over the Lightning came from Keith, who plays hockey the way teenagers use iPhones — without worrying about the minutes that accumulate. The best player for the Hawks this postseason should be the one remembered most for winning the biggest hockey game in the city since 1938. “Every moment is special, and this one is special because we did it in front of our fans,” Keith said. “I’m just thankful and blessed. The third time winning the Cup in six years, that’s unreal.” Read the full story. Ring features More than 10.8 carats — 355 diamonds — in 14-karat white gold. Left side: Blackhawks secondary logo in diamonds. Right side: Six Stanley Cup trophies. 2016 World Series The funny thing about waiting 107 years for a championship was that when it finally happened, you didn’t want the season to end. It was that much fun, from Kyle Schwarber’s smashing of a windshield outside the outfield wall with a spring training home run to Wednesday night. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on Nov. 3, 2016: Finally. The most epic drought in sports history is over, and the Cubs are world champions. After 108 years of waiting, the Cubs won the 2016 World Series with a wild 8-7, 10-inning Game 7 victory over the Indians on Wednesday night at Progressive Field. The triumph completed their climb back from a 3-1 Series deficit to claim their first championship since 1908. A roller coaster of emotions spilled out in a game that lasted almost five hours, featuring some wacky plays, a blown four-run lead, a 17-minute rain delay and some 10th-inning heroics that sealed the deal. (Chicago Tribune, Nov. 3, 2016) It was a perfect ending for a franchise that had waited forever for just one championship, and your stomach never will be the same. This is not a dream. The Cubs did it. Read the full story. Ring features Front: 108 diamonds, 33 rubies and 46 sapphires. Left side: 31 round diamonds, blue corundum stone and bricks and ivy silhouette. Right side: Wrigley Field marquee, trophy with diamond and two additional diamonds for previous titles. Inside band: Date and time of championship victory; postseason opponents and series records. Oh, and a goat’s head. Sources: Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Elmhurst; Jostens; Chicago Tribune archives Created by the Chicago Tribune Dataviz team. On Twitter @ChiTribGraphics

“He would never want to see me, and the boys, and our family hurting the way we are,’’ Kristen Hayes told the Globe. “I know he would give anything to still be here with us today. I am heartbroken and devastated, but I will choose to remember my husband and the boys’ dad by all the joy and love he brought us, and I hope everyone else does, too.’’

10 thoughts after the Green Bay Packers came to Soldier Field and won for the 11th time in their last 12 visits, playoffs included, defeating the Chicago Bears 24-14 on Sunday afternoon. 1. If this season is all about the development of Justin Fields, there were some positives to take away from yet another loss to the rival that is most important to the McCaskey family and the fan base. Bears quarterback Justin Fields walks to the sideline after throwing an interception in the first quarter against the Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} Justin Fields became the eighth Bears quarterback to lose to Aaron Rodgers and was clearly outdueled, but the rookie showed a little something. There will be teachable moments and corrections. The interception in the end zone is unacceptable, whether defensive tackle Kenny Clark was in the neutral zone before the snap or not. (More on that play in a bit.) The Bears should have come away with at least a field-goal attempt at the end of the second quarter. Fields is losing too much yardage when he takes sacks, and while there’s risk/reward with his superior athletic ability and the opportunity for him to turn broken plays into big gains, he needs to develop a better sense of when and how to escape danger. The Bears left some yardage on the field, but faced with a 17-7 deficit to open the fourth quarter, Fields put together an impressive drive that gave the defense a chance to keep the team in the game. Advertisement The Bears went 80 yards in 10 plays, with Fields finding a wide-open Darnell Mooney for a 5-yard touchdown to draw them within a field goal with 8:44 remaining. The defense didn’t do its part — and we’ll also get into that in a bit — but this was a really nice drive. It was how you want to see a young quarterback perform when trailing in the fourth quarter against a good opponent, even if the Packers were missing key frontline players, especially in the secondary. It was the kind of drive the Bears have to be able to replicate because the bottom line is they’re not scoring enough points and they won’t beat many quality opponents unless this offense can get rolling. “I’m really proud of where he’s at,” coach Matt Nagy said of Fields. “And every day he’s going to keep growing, every single day in practice, these games he’s going to grow. He’s doing a really good job of making sure he communicates with us where he’s at, and in the game he’s going to keep getting looks. He’s starting to see more and more defenses. He’s starting to get more and more timing with these wide receivers and tight ends. The beautiful thing about Justin is he’s a competitor, he stays extremely positive, he’s hard on himself in a good way.” Advertisement Fields hit Allen Robinson for a 20-yard strike on third-and-3 to reach midfield. On the next snap, he connected with tight end Cole Kmet over the middle for a 21-yard gain, the longest pass play of the game for the Bears and the kind of connection these two should start making with regularity. Two snaps later, Fields scrambled around the left side for a 14-yard gain. He ran for a season-high 43 yards on six carries, and those kind of numbers will boost the offense’s yards per carry, which was 5.4 for Sunday’s game. The problem is with the sacks — he took four for a combined loss of 37 yards — those numbers are almost a wash. Included was a 10-yard sack on third-and-13 from the Packers 38 with 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Throw the ball away — or better yet find a short check-down for a minimal gain — and Cairo Santos has a shot at a long field goal. Ideally a quarterback loses 5 yards or fewer when he’s sacked. For the longest time I’ve called sacks for big yardage “Krenzels.” Former Bears quarterback Craig Krenzel, another Ohio State product, had a knack for taking really bad sacks when he was a rookie in 2004. Krenzel had 16 sacks on which he lost 6-plus yards and eight on which he lost 8-plus yards. He took only seven sacks on which he lost 5 yards or fewer. In no way am I comparing Fields to Krenzel; I’m noting that the Bears want to see Fields rush for close to 50 yards and lose significantly less when he’s sacked, which will happen from time to time. It’s something he will get better at as he gains more experience. Bears quarterback Justin Fields kneels on the ground while Packers linebacker Jonathan Garvin and nose tackle Kenny Clark celebrate after Clark sacked Fields during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Oct. 17 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} “He can make plays with his legs,” Nagy said. “When something’s not there, he’s going to look to try to make plays. We tell him that. We want him to do that. He’s a very smart quarterback that makes a lot of good decisions. Every now and then there’s a lot of quarterbacks that make decisions where you end up taking a sack and you don’t throw it away. You’ve got to get into understanding what happened on the play. Was it a protection issue? Was it a Mike (linebacker) ID? Was it he had somebody open and he should have (thrown it)? There’s a lot of things that go into it. After we watch the tape, we’ll be able to evaluate it. As you go into this you understand, in particular (on) third down, you come into situational football and how you have to grow from it.” On the snap after the 14-yard scramble, a holding penalty backed up the Bears to first-and-20 from the Packers 26. There was no panic. Fields connected with Robinson and Kmet again to create a manageable third-and-2, and after a Khalil Herbert run, they scored on the pass to Mooney. The Bears opened the game with an 80-yard, eight-play touchdown drive, but other than that, it was a slog moving the ball and that is where they need to be better. Fields, who finished 16 of 27 passing for 174 yards, needs to have four or five high-quality possessions a game, not two. “I should have played better,” he said. “I didn’t play as well as I wanted to. The drive before the (first) half ended, we should’ve got points right there, so that’s on me. And I mean, I’ve just got to play for my teammates. I think Bill (Lazor) was calling a great game, what we were doing. I’ll take the blame. I just need to be better.” Going back to the drive at the end of the second quarter, Dean Lowry sacked Fields for a 13-yard loss on third-and-13 from the 38. It knocked the Bears out of range for Santos. I’m not sure what Fields could have done. It was a tough call. The Packers were playing 2-man coverage and the Bears had three deep curls, all at about 15 yards. It takes a long time to develop and that is a tough route to throw against 2-man. Fields waited for Robinson to come open before feeling the pressure. In that situation, the Bears might have been better off with leveled routes in the middle of the field. A target at maybe 7 yards and another at 12 to 15 yards against a team that plays a lot of split-safety coverage. There just weren’t any windows for Fields on this play. The Bears were counting on a receiver to get a one-on-one and no one did. Fields should be better the next time the Bears face the Packers on Dec. 12 at Lambeau Field. Who knows? Maybe the passing game will be clicking by then. It would really help. It’s crazy that in the entire history of the Bears-Packers rivalry, a series that includes 203 games, the Bears have passed for 300 yards in only six of those meetings. That’s not suggesting passing yardage always correlates to winning, but it does underscore how abysmal the team’s passing history is. 2. The Bears figured they had 5 yards in their pocket and a chance for much more late in the first quarter when Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark appeared to enter the neutral zone before the snap. Bears coach Matt Nagy on the sideline in the fourth quarter of a game against the Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} That’s what center Sam Mustipher saw. Advertisement “He came across the football,” Mustipher said. “I thought it was a free play. I snapped the football. That’s why Justin threw it up.” Fields went deep for Allen Robinson, and safety Darnell Savage intercepted the ball in the back of the end zone. Robinson had pulled up his route short of the end zone. No big deal, the Bears figured, they would take a 5-yard penalty and have third-and-2 at the Packers 42. But there was no flag on the play and the Packers got a touchback on what turned out to be the only turnover of the game. Advertisement Privately, I figure the Bears are incensed about the play. They’ll surely pore over the film and ask the league office for clarification. It was definitely close and it’s precisely the kind of play Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has killed opponents with over the years. He’s considered the best in the league at manipulating defenses with his pre-snap cadence. It’s impossible to deliver up-to-date statistics, but in November 2019 the NFL released data that indicated from 2006 to that point, Rodgers had thrown more passes on free plays (84) than any other quarterback in the league for nearly 2,000 yards — almost double the next-closest QB on the list, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger. In that span, Rodgers averaged 25 air yards per attempt. Given a free play, he’s going deep just like Fields tried to do. “That was a weird-looking play,” Rodgers said of the Savage pick. “It looked like it was almost a false start as well. A lot of times in those situations where we’re trying to draw them offside, you have to time it perfectly where the guy’s offside and the snap happens before the tackle or the guard of that side moved. It looked like that (play) could have been blown dead possibly. “But most times, including 12 (players) on the field, I’ll peek to the line judge to the side of the foul and just make sure that there’s a flag coming out. Now, I think there’s been a couple times over the years where we think we’ve got them and we didn’t, maybe we didn’t check, but because of those reasons, I usually like to check and make sure that flag’s in the air.” Maybe that’s something Fields can learn from moving forward. It will take patience and discipline to scan for a flag while the play is going, but it’s certainly a teachable moment even if the Bears believe referee Brad Rodgers’ crew got it wrong. “I saw him jump,” Fields said. “After he jumped, I saw Sam snap the ball and I threw the ball downfield. Wanted A-Rob to go down the middle, and when (Savage) picked it off, I was confused on why there weren’t any flags on the ground. So I don’t know if the refs just missed that or he didn’t jump offside or what.” It certainly can’t hurt to study some tape of Rodgers on free plays. He is the master of them, and it’s a good sign that Fields wanted to be aggressive. 3. The backbreaker for the Bears turned out to be the 41-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams. Packers wide receiver Davante Adams flips into the end zone after running out of bounds on the 21-yard line during the fourth quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} It came a little more than a minute after Justin Fields led the touchdown drive I detailed above. The Packers were facing second-and-10 from their 38. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson followed Adams wherever he went for the majority of the game, and Adams got a clean release off the line of scrimmage. After that he was wide open, and Rodgers, as he’s prone to do, dropped the ball right in there. Free safety Eddie Jackson made another poor tackling effort, refusing to wrap up, and was fortunate he knocked Adams off balance just enough for him to step out of bounds at the Bears 21. The Bears were in nickel personnel and brought a simulated pressure with inside linebacker Roquan Smith. It looked like some form of zone coverage, but it’s hard to tell what happened. Johnson tried to quick jam Adams, missed and stopped. Something went wrong on the play besides the missed jam, and Johnson wasn’t playing true man coverage. It’s why playing Rodgers can be so maddening. The Bears defense did a pretty good job against him all day. He completed a 32-yard pass to Adams in the second quarter, but the league’s leading receiver entering the game is going to get his yardage. If you would have told folks before the game that the Bears would limit Rodgers to 195 passing yards and Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Akiem Hicks would all have sacks, I think most would have described that as a good day and figured the Bears would be in position to win. The long pass led to a 6-yard scramble by Rodgers for a touchdown, and the Bears, unable to get enough explosive plays from their passing game, were done. “That was a great call by (Rodgers),” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “I actually called the quick-game version of that, and he checked it to the double move. He recognized the look and thought we could get it, so that’s what he did. It’s nice to have big-time players that can make you look pretty good.” That’s where the experience of Rodgers and Adams comes into play. They’re going to counter and counter throughout a game and usually they’re going to hit one. It happened to be at a critical point in the game when the defense badly needed a stop. How did the play evolve? Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a touchdown pass in the third quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} “Just a conversation on the sideline about certain things,” Rodgers said. “I told him in the locker room, the thing that I will miss 20 years down the line is moments where you make a solid adjustment and look over at the guy, and it’s a stud like (Adams) and he just went like this (nodding his head). My whole body started tingling. I just knew it was going to be one of those special plays. And the guys gave me enough time, and he ran a nice route and almost scored, other than stepping out there barely.” Adams got so loose, it looked like something broke down in the coverage. Whether that is the case or not, Johnson owned it. “It was on me,” he said. Advertisement Is that what happened? I don’t know. If it’s on Johnson, I figure he would have been turning and flying after Adams, but he didn’t. And then whatever error there was got compounded when Jackson didn’t wrap his arms in an effort to make the tackle. Adams finished with 89 yards on four receptions. He was targeted five times. Pedestrian numbers by his standards, but his two long plays — which accounted for 73 of his yards — came on two of the Packers’ three touchdown drives. It was a monumental task for Johnson, who followed Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during the Week 3 game in Cleveland. “I feel like I did all right,” Johnson said when asked to sum up the entirety of his game. “At the end of the day, I didn’t do good enough, and that is all that counts.” 4. What really hurt the Bears was the run defense. Packers running back Aaron Jones runs the ball in the fourth quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} The Packers rolled up 154 rushing yards with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon leading the way. Jones had gains of 32 and 28 yards, and Dillon had a 36-yard run against a Bears front that had nose tackle Eddie Goldman and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks on the field for the first time since the 2019 season, with the exception of the first snap against the Detroit Lions in Week 4 this year. That’s the play on which Hicks suffered a groin injury. The Bears had to be mindful of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, and that led them to lean heavily on nickel personnel and even a good amount of dime personnel. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai likes his defensive backs and knows them really well after working with that group in previous seasons. He replaced Duke Shelley with Xavier Crawford at nickel this week, subbed in DeAndre Houston-Carson in that role a little and had a package to use safety Deon Bush as well. The Packers saw an advantage there even after center Josh Myers went out with a knee injury. They attacked the Bears up front. “Early on we tried a lot more outside zone,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “And that wasn’t working too well. And then we started to go a little bit more downhill and we seemed to have a little bit more success with that. And so we kind of shifted, I’d say midgame. But you know, that’s a credit to that defense. I mean, that defense is one of the tops in the National Football League. And it’s tough to run against, it’s tough to throw against.” Jones totaled 76 yards on 13 carries and Dillon had 59 on 11 rushes. Jones busted off his 32-yard run at the start of the third quarter to reach midfield against a nickel front. The defense had six in the box with strong safety Tashaun Gipson walking down. The Bears got whipped by a pair of combination blocks. Right guard Royce Newman climbed to block inside linebacker Alec Ogletree at the second level, and there wasn’t any backside pursuit. Jones read Gipson coming down and cut to find daylight. With a 10-point lead and the ball at midfield with 2:14 to play, the Packers had passing personnel on the field and the Bears responded with nickel. The Packers ran right at them to grind out the clock and leave with a victory. “They had some big runs there toward the end,” Matt Nagy said. “We talked about it in the huddle down there toward the end of the game. We’ve got to, at worst case, hold them to a field goal and make it a six-point game, and they ended up getting that touchdown on the scramble. The leaders we have on that defense, they understand where we’re at. That defense has been playing really well. That’s a good offense that we played. They’re well-coached. They’ve got a great quarterback. And so that’s a challenge. “What you do is you look at where you went wrong. The effort by our guys is always there. It never changes. I thought Coach Desai and the rest of the coaches have coached them well and done a good job, so now you figure out why. You look at each other and say, ‘OK, let’s pick the pieces up. Let’s get right back at it.’ ” It will be interesting to see what strategies the two sides take when they meet again. The Bears need to be more stout against the run, but focus too much on that and you’re opening a world of possibilities for Rodgers. 5. If you were left wanting to see a little more from rookie running back Khalil Herbert after he carried 18 times for 75 yards a week ago in Las Vegas, he certainly delivered. Bears running back Khalil Herbert celebrates in the end zone after running in a touchdown during the first quarter of a game against the Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} With David Montgomery (left knee) on injured reserve and Damien Williams moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday as the result of a positive test, the sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech was forced into the starting lineup and delivered. Herbert had 97 yards on 19 carries and caught two passes for another 15 yards, proving the Bears made a nice pick on a player who had only one season of big-time college production after he struggled to get consistent playing time at Kansas before transferring. So what was Herbert planning to do after a solid outing that included his first NFL touchdown? “Yeah, I’m going to get in the film and see what I’ve got to correct,” he said. “There’s always stuff I’ve got to fix.” That sounds like the same player Hokies running backs coach Adam Lechtenberg described. Virginia Tech signed Herbert after he entered the transfer portal during the fall of 2019 because they wanted a veteran option at the position. Herbert wanted out of Kansas, where he didn’t feel he was being used properly. It turned into a perfect match as Herbert rushed for 1,183 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns in 11 games for the Hokies in 2020. “It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Lechtenberg said. “First, he’s very talented. Second, the way he approaches everything. When he got here, he never worried about anybody else. He just did what he was supposed to do and worked his tail off and he has talent. Happy for him but not surprised. “It wasn’t a deal where we promised him a job here. He had to come in and earn it. He did that. He didn’t really win the job until the end of fall camp, and he didn’t complain one time about anything. You could tell pretty early on he was pretty talented.” Bears running back Khalil Herbert breaks a tackle from Packers linebacker Jaylon Smith during the third quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} Lechtenberg said Herbert, even though he was new to the program, emerged as a leader by example as he was constantly in the facility doing extra film work and studying upcoming opponents. That’s what Bears teammates have noted as well. He’s one of the first players in the building every day. What has struck me about Herbert is the Bears, going back to the Week 5 victory over the Raiders, haven’t shied away from using him on passing downs. They had a veteran option against the Raiders in Williams, who has a lot more experience in handling blitz pickup assignments, yet Herbert was on the field for more snaps. Often NFL coaches are hesitant to put unproven rookies on the field in passing situations until they have a good feeling that a mistake in blocking won’t get the quarterback killed. “When he started training for the NFL, some of our conversations were about him having to improve in that area,” Lechtenberg said. “The one thing with him, if you tell him something, he doesn’t take it personally. He evaluates it and says, ‘OK, how can I fix it or how can I solve the problem?’ He was OK in pass protection, but you saw at the Senior Bowl he took it seriously and improved in terms of fundamentals. “With COVID, we didn’t have spring (practice) or any time to work with the kids, and then you get into fall camp, he had to learn the offense. So fundamentally he had a little bit of improvement to make, which I felt like when he went to train for the NFL he obviously did. Schematically, we do a bunch of different things in protection that probably helped him because I think where he was before, they probably just did one or two protections. We do a ton of different things, scanning all the way across to half-slide to full-slide and play-action protection. So we do of different things and he was exposed to them and that probably helped him. He’s a tough kid. He was always willing. He works at it. That’s why he is good.” Advertisement I think the Bears have stumbled onto a player who can be a part of the offense even when Montgomery is back. Herbert is a downhill runner who doesn’t hesitate like rookies do at times. He’s a very nice discovery for general manager Ryan Pace and his staff. 6. The Bears have to get more explosive plays. Packers cornerback Eric Stokes and safety Adrian Amos guard Bears wide receivers Allen Robinson and Marquise Goodwin while they go up for a pass in the final minutes of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} I’ve written about that extensively this season, and it was another big issue Sunday. Justin Fields had the 21-yard pass to Cole Kmet and two 20-yard passes to Allen Robinson, and he scrambled for a 16-yard gain when he was flushed out of the pocket. There was also a 14-yard scramble and that was about it for explosive plays in the passing game for an offense that has now gone 13 consecutive games without passing for 300 yards. That’s why the Bears couldn’t mount more scoring drives. It’s really hard to dink and dunk down the field against even an average defense, and while the Bears have run the ball well for three straight weeks, they have yet to parlay that success into shot plays downfield via play action. One opportunity for a huge play happened late in the second quarter. The Bears were on their 35 facing second-and-7. It was a positive play as Fields ran for 7 yards to move the chains, but Robinson was ridiculously open deep down the middle of the field. The only thing surrounding him was grass. If Fields had seen and hit him, Robinson could have waltzed into the end zone on the possession during which the Bears were knocked out of field-goal range just before halftime. “That’s a naked play — yeah, I know what play you are talking about,” Fields said. “(Robinson) is usually running off the corner on that, but that’s a naked play and I just pulled up because the end was upfield, but that play is not designed to go to him.” Robinson was wide open, but according to Fields, he wasn’t in the progression. I don’t know if Fields didn’t see Robinson until it was too late, but this struck me as the kind of off-script play that can be turned into a huge gain. The kind of blown play by a defense that elite quarterbacks don’t miss. “That’s a naked play and my eyes aren’t supposed to go there,” Fields said. I get that, but, wow, I can tell you everyone in the stadium saw Robinson uncovered. The play is straight out of the Kansas City Chiefs playbook. It’s a post (Robinson)/wheel (Darnell Mooney) with a bootleg. The Bears cleared out with the post/wheel and Kmet was the flat read and Jimmy Graham was the crosser, so it’s a high/low read for the tight ends. That wasn’t there because the Packers jumped the tight ends and dropped Robinson. The Packers blew it as two defenders took the wheel to Mooney. You have to understand where the read is for Fields and what he’s prescribed to do on the play. The Bears were trying to clear space for Graham. When Fields rolled out, he needed to see the post to Robinson and hit him. That’s a throw that will come with experience. Aaron Rodgers is going to read high to low, not just where the ball is supposed to go on a card in practice where the scout team defense doesn’t blow coverage. 7. We’ve covered the breakdown on the long pass to Davante Adams and the success the Packers had running the ball. Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson guards Packers wide receiver Davante Adams while a pass goes over his head during the first quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} It was still a pretty good game for Sean Desai’s defense. The Bears held the Packers to 17 points until late in the fourth quarter. That’s what you’re hoping for going against that offense. Desai continued to be creative with tilted fronts, freeing Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Akiem Hicks for opportunities to win for sacks. Those were really well-designed plays. The Packers’ second touchdown came on a check-down to Aaron Jones. Rodgers’ first read was Allen Lazard and his second was Adams. The Bears covered both of them. Safety Tashaun Gipson was the curl defender. He had outside leverage but stopped his feet and lunged at Jones, who did the rest, going 12 yards for the touchdown. Maybe there should have been better help — perhaps safety Eddie Jackson has to get there to make a tackle — but that’s a play Gipson has to make. He has to run through the ball carrier Jones in that situation and force the action. Schematically, it wasn’t an error. The Bears just got beat by high-caliber offensive personnel, players with a knack for producing in big moments. The defense will have another huge challenge this week as the Bears have to travel to Tampa, Fla., to face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 8. Mario Edwards Jr. was called for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first quarter, his third 15-yard penalty in two weeks. Bears defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. lines up for a play during a game against the Browns on Sept. 26, 2021. (Kirk Irwin/AP) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} That will get the attention of coaches, and future opponents will target Edwards as a player who can be provoked into doing dumb things. That kind of stuff is put in advance scouting reports each week. One scout told me he looks for a “penalty guy” on each side of the ball to alert coaches and players of someone to target. In this instance, Aaron Rodgers grabbed Edwards’ face mask before Edwards retaliated, and the Packers benefited. “They usually get the second guy,” Rodgers said. “I don’t think my grabbing of his face mask was that physical. It was a strange tackle from behind, one of those weird ones where you kind of go knee first. And he got up talking a lot of trash. So I wasn’t trying to grab his face mask, necessarily, but that’s where my hand kind of stuck. The taunting, I don’t think was to me. I think it was more to some of the other guys that were coming to my defense. But, again, it wasn’t any forceful contact on my part. But whatever it was, got him a little heated.” Edwards will have to play through being the “penalty guy” for a few weeks until he proves he can get through games without being flagged. 9. The Bears entered the game ranked in the top 10 or just outside of it in nearly every significant defensive metric. Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack celebrates after sacking Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} The one area where they haven’t been great is on third down, but having the league’s third-ranked unit in the red zone has helped make up for that. The defense entered Week 6 ranked 23rd on third down at 43.9%, but it did a nice job against the Packers, limiting them to 2-for-8. The key was putting Aaron Rodgers in third-and-long. The Packers needed 10, 14, 7, 1 and 25 yards on five third downs in the first half. In the second half, the Packers had to gain 1, 9 and 13 (during kneel-downs). That went according to plan for the Bears. Looking at the numbers on third down entering the week, a few things were going on. Advertisement For starters, the Bears were in third-and-short too much. Opponents had 11 third-and-1s and converted six. There were six third-and-2s and two were converted. One other problem showed up through the first five games. Opponents converted 8 of 25 situations in which it was third-and-8 or more. The Bears can and will improve in this area, and they were better against the Packers. 10. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer had a crazy quote last week in which he said he wanted his offense to achieve a 250/250 game — 250 passing yards and 250 rushing yards. Danielle Watson, Charlene Tomazin, Madison Gabouer and her father Kurt Gabouer take a shot while tailgating before the Bears play the Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) img.full-width1{flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain;min-height:50%;height:auto;width:100%} I’d love to win 1 million frequent flier miles in a contest too. Lofty goals are great, but there’s a big difference from coaching at a college powerhouse with a few patsies on the schedule annually against whom that’s possible. The NFL, as Meyer should know, is a different animal. It got me to thinking, when was the last time the Bears had a 250/250 game? Turns out it happened against the Packers in the most lopsided game in series history when the Bears won 61-7 on Dec. 7, 1980. They had 327 passing yards (316 for Vince Evans) and 267 rushing yards (130 by Walter Payton). Packers coach Bart Starr was furious and reportedly refused to shake hands with Bears coach Neill Armstrong at midfield after the game. That’s one of only 26 instances of a 250/250 game since the 1980 season. Most recently, the New Orleans Saints had one in a 52-33 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day last year. The Tennessee Titans also had one last season in a 42-36 overtime victory over the Houston Texans. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers had 250/250 games in 2019. Still, they are exceedingly rare. Doing a little quick math here, the NFL had 9,896 regular-season games from the start of the 1980 season through Week 5 last week. That means there were statistics for 19,792 offenses with 26 250/250 games. So it happens .13% of the time. Like I said, it’s great to set huge goals. 10a. Keep an eye on the status of defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. He pulled up gingerly after his sack of Aaron Rodgers on the second-to-last play of the third quarter and, by my count, wasn’t on the field for another play. Hicks missed the previous week with a groin injury. 10b. The status of wide receiver Jakeem Grant is worth noting too. He suffered a left ankle injury, was checked out and returned, but running back Artavis Pierce handled kickoff return duties at the end of the game. Grant gives the Bears some real juice in the return game, and they need to get him back healthy. 10c. When Aaron Rodgers said, “I still own you,” after running for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, well, it’s hard to argue with him. The Packers are 22-5 against the Bears with Rodgers starting at quarterback, and he entered Sunday’s game with a 105.3 passer rating against the Bears, the highest rating for any quarterback with at least 250 pass attempts against them. “Sometimes you black out on the field — in a good way,” Rodgers said. “I’ve definitely blacked out in a concussion, which isn’t a good way. But I looked up in the stands and in the front row, all I saw was a woman giving me the double bird. So I’m not sure exactly what came out of my mouth next. “I’ve played a lot of games over here. You know, 18 times I’ve been in this locker room — 17 regular seasons and an NFC championship game. Had a lot of fun. I love playing on this field, even though it’s always the longest grass in the NFL. But I enjoy this rivalry so much and I’ve been so thankful to be a part of it. I still feel like I can move around a little bit. I don’t think this is my last one, but I have enjoyed every single one of them.” 10d. The 82-yard punt by the Packers’ Corey Bojorquez was the longest ever at Soldier Field by an opponent and the longest punt there since Dave Finzer uncorked an 84-yarder for the Bears against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, 1984. 10e. I don’t understand the pitch to tight end Cole Kmet on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The play didn’t work. Fortunately for the Bears, Khalil Herbert ran it in on second down for the score. No need to flex your creative muscle at the 1. 10f. The Buccaneers opened as 12½-point favorites over the Bears at Westgate SuperBook for Sunday’s game at Raymond James Stadium. The last time the Bears were that big of an underdog was the 2017 season finale at Minnesota, the final game of the John Fox era. The Vikings were favored by 13½ and won 23-10.

Green Bay Packer Charles Martin (94) checks his victim after slamming Bears quarterback Jim McMahon to the ground during a Nov 23, 1986 game in Soldier Field. The play occurred after a Packer interception in the second quarter. Referee Jerry Markbreit (9), who witnessed the act from a few feet away, assessed a 15-yard penalty to the Packers and ejected Martin. McMahon was out for the season after the hit. The Bears won the game, however, 12-10. (Tribune photo by Ed Wagner)