Nov. 28--A day before the Bears departed for their Thanksgiving excursion to Green Bay, coach John Fox was probed for his philosophy on signature victories. Did he believe in them? How are they achieved? What are the affects of grabbing one?
Predictably, Fox steered around the premise, insisting all NFL victories are hard to get. Yes, he acknowledged, the Bears' final November game was important against the rival Packers. It was, after all, a conference contest for an improving team still harboring playoff hopes.
But beyond that, the Bears couldn't attach too much pressure to their holiday gathering with the Packers.
Still, after Thursday night's 17-13 victory at Lambeau Field, it was clear the Bears had taken great pride in the upset. There was Fox making a dancing cameo in a celebratory locker room Snapchat video that Alshon Jeffery took. There was Jarvis Jenkins endorsing the team's aggressive mindset.
There was a sense throughout the locker room that a momentous victory had occurred.
So what was the exact meaning of Thursday's triumph? Here's three key questions:
1. What gave Thursday's victory its greatest significance?
Ironically, the beauty of the Bears' victory could be found in how ugly it was. And that's intended in the most complimentary way.
Offensively, the Bears picked up only one first down on their first five possessions.
Defensively, they were gashed for a season-high 177 rushing yards with Eddie Lacy busting off a 29-yard run on the opening drive and stampeding around Lambeau Field all night.
Across all three phases, the Bears experienced lapses, committing 13 penalties -- 12 accepted for 95 yards.
Yet through all that, even on the road, even against the Packers, even on a soggy night, the Bears never were flustered. They kept digging deeper, kept moving past their blunders and kept believing they were meant to win.
That mentality has been consistent the last two months. And the Bears' ability' to beat a good team without their best stuff provided evidence of a resilient team deserving of its success.
2. Is it OK to start talking about the playoffs now?
Pump the brakes, at least until this team reaches .500 for the first time all year. Remember, if Aaron Rodgers completed any of his final four passes, all with a chance to put the Packers ahead, the tone of this weekend's conversation would be decidedly different.
We would be talking about a team struggling to break through in key moments, a team that would have been 4-7 and all alone in last place in the division.
Perspective remains key.
That said, Jay Cutler was the first to acknowledge the favorable upcoming schedule, a slate that includes only one more contest against an opponent currently with a winning record. The Bears also play at home the next two weekends, against the 49ers and Redskins, foes who are a combined 0-10 on the road with an average margin of defeat of 18.1 points.
The Bears very well could be 7-6 for their visit with the Vikings in Week 15. They should remain relevant in a cluttered wild-card chase. But as the weekend began, they also still found themselves behind eight NFC teams: the Panthers, Cardinals, Vikings, Packers, Falcons, Seahawks, Giants and Buccaneers.
Amid the optimism that context must be recognized.
3. What has made this team suddenly dangerous?
Need a microcosm of Thursday's victory? Review Marc Mariani's three catches, all chain-moving third-down grabs, including two that extended the Bears' first touchdown drive.
After the game, Cutler praised Mariani's savvy, noting how he's always in the right places and how his consistent effort is representative of the team at large.
It's easy to recognize now just how passionate and low maintenance this roster is and how many workmanlike contributions the Bears are getting from unexpected standouts.
Chris Prosinski, signed off the scrap heap in Week 4, forced a fumble Thursday.
Zach Miller caught a touchdown pass, his fourth in as many games.
Jonathan Anderson, an undrafted rookie, was in on a fourth-down stop of Lacy on the opening series.
Bryce Callahan, also an undrafted rookie, contested Rodgers' final throw in the end zone, sealing the victory.
Credit the front office for finding so many hidden gems. Credit Fox and his coaches for positioning them to succeed. It all adds up to a competitive Bears team that appears to be turning a corner.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
