Good as Gould Again

My first Soldier Field experience turned out to be a success.

Not only was it the coldest (-2) Bears game in history at kickoff, but they also defeated their most hated rival the Green Bay Packers 20-17.

The Bears were trailing 14-3 at half to the 5-9 Packers and basically did nothing offensively.

They adjusted at half, just like me.

My hands were pretty much frozen, so I put multiple hand warmers in my gloves.

That saved me, and the Bears.


Three reasons how they won:

1. Special Teams- Robbie Gould, Danieal Manning and Alex Brown had huge plays.

2. Matt Forte- He came up big late in the game.

3. The fans- they play a huge role in this one.


If they lost, I would have wasted my time freezing my hands.

Thank goodness they won.

Now they play a 7-8 Houston Texans team in Houston, a must win game to even have a shot at the playoffs.

They need Minnesota to lose to the Giants in Minnesota and the Cowboys and Bucs both to lose.

If Minnesota loses and we win were NFC North champs, and if Dallas and Tampa Bay lose and we win we clinch a wild card spot.

What a great weekend for me.

Not only do the the Chicago Bulls win Saturday night, but all the teams the Bears needed to lose lost and they pick up a huge win.


Just a few notes:

S Mike Brown injured his calf late in the second quarter and did not return.

Brad Maynard’s third quarter punt hit Green Bay’s Jarrett Bush, who was blocking on the play, and the Bears’ Jason Davis recovered at the 27.

The 4th and one, when it was 17-10 was converted by only an inch.

Matt Forte played through an injured toe to keep the Bears playoffs hopes alive.

The coin toss in OT went off of Brian Urlacher's Helmet.


Alex Brown had this to say about his blocked field goal to save the day:

We got a great push from a lot of different people. I was just the one who got my hand on it, we were saying on the sidelines that we have to block it. I got through pretty good but I didn’t really think that was going to happen. You just go as hard as you can and see if you can get a hand up and hopefully you can get it.”

Orton had this to say after the game:

“Everything fell right, gave us a lot of momentum and energy coming into this game. We just had to carry it all the way through."

Lovie on team win:

"I don't know if I've ever been prouder of a team."

All quotes from Yahoosports.com

Lance Briggs lone bear heading to Honolulu

Lance Briggs was selected to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl today

Lance Briggs leads the Bears in tackles with 122.

He also has three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.


Briggs on Pro Bowl:

"Obviously, I'm ecstatic about it, I'm extremely excited. It's always nice to get voted to the Pro Bowl, and this is going four years in a row."


Urlacher on Briggs' Pro Bowl vote:

"He’s having a great year, man, after the first game of the year I told him, 'You should be defensive player of the year. There’s no doubt in my mind.' He just makes plays."

Brian Urlacher was named a third alternate at MLB.

Tommie Harris was named a first alternate at defensive tackle.

Center Olin Kreutz, punter Brad Maynard, and tight end Greg Olsen were named second alternate.

Also, Devin Hester was named a third alternate kick returner.

All quotes from Chicagotribune.com

Vasher back at full practice

Cornebacks Nathan Vasher (wrist) and Charles Tillman (shoulder) and receiver Marty Booker (knee) had full participation in practice Thursday, one day after being limited.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) returned to practice in a limited role after missing Wednesday's session.

Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer continues to be limited coming off right thumb surgery. He is not expected to play Sunday vs. Detroit.

Look for Nick Roach and Jamar Williams to get a lot of playing time this Sunday.

Punter Brad Maynard was also limited in Thursday's practice.

The Bears sign backup punter to Practice Squad

The Bears signed punter Zac Atterberry to the practice squad this morning to replace guard Tyler Reed, who was released

Atterberry was on the team through the summer and averaged 41.5 yards in the preseason with a net of 39.5.

He has had four workouts since, including one in Green Bay on Monday.

''All I can tell you is they're bringing him in and they're going to put him through a fire drill,'' said Rob Sheets, Atterberry's agent. ''They want to see what they have in him and make sure he is at where he was when he left.''

It's a curious move considering teams rarely have two punters around.

Brad Maynard, who missed a game last season with a pulled groin muscle, leads the league with 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and has had only 11 of his 31 kicks returned.

Signing Atterberry might be in preparation for a potential emergency down the road.