GREEN BAY, Wis. _ Try telling someone who didn't watch the Bears' encouraging first half against the Packers on Sunday night that Khalil Mack had a strip-sack and a pick-six in a span of six snaps late in the second quarter of his Bears debut.
Why would they believe it? Not even Disney would produce that script.
Even those who saw the feat live had to sort through the disbelief. As Mack rumbled 27 yards to the end zone with the ball in his left hand like a loaf of bread, an exclamation of: "No freakin' way!" could be felt throughout Lambeau Field.
Yes, it happened.
And yes, the Bears suffered a stunning 24-23 loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers after going up 20-0 early in the third quarter in Matt Nagy's debut as head coach.
And, yes, it was a jaw-dropping debut for Mack, the Bears' newly-minted outside linebacker.
Eight days after he arrived at Halas Hall, Mack held up a megaphone to all the voices saying it was crazy for the Raiders to trade him.
By ripping the ball away from Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer on third-and-goal, then intercepting a screen pass and returning it for a touchdown, Mack essentially created a 10-point swing.
One reason the Bears traded two first-round picks for him and made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history was because he came as a ready-made game-changer. No assembly required. Just put the two-time All-Pro on the edge and sic him on the quarterback.
And he did it at his best after Rodgers left the game in the second quarter with a left knee injury.
Kizer entered the game with the score 10-0 and actually breathed some life into the Packers' offense after it managed only one first down on its first four possessions. The Packers drove to the Bears' 8 before being pushed back to third-and-goal from the 9.
Mack actually began the play by disrupting receiver Davonte Adams' release from the slot before rushing the passer. Kizer held the ball long enough for Mack to go to work on right tackle Bryan Bulaga.
Bulaga held his ground well enough, but Kizer drifted to his right and within Mack's reach. The All-Pro grabbed hold, and when he went to the ground, he took the ball with him.
Just like that, a scoring opportunity for the Packers vanished. Mack got up and performed LeBron James' "silencer" celebration, pressing his hands downward. It earned a tweet from King James himself, telling Mack "I see you hit em with the 'Silencer.' Give me that ball."
And that was just the first act.
On the next series, Mack got Kizer off his spot, enabling rookie linebacker Roquan Smith to sack him on his first NFL snap.
Then, on third-and-19, Mack read a screen pass attempt and bailed out of his pass rush. Defensive lineman Roy Robertston-Harris surged through as the Packers' offensive line released into their blocks. Roberston-Harris dove and was wrapped around Kizer's legs when he threw.
The ball floated right to Mack, who immediately took it the other way as his teammates needed a second to figure out what had happened.
Mack eluded Bulaga's tackle, then broke toward the left sideline. He secured the ball just before Adams got to him at the goal line.
Mack ended under a pile of deliriously happy teammates. The Bears finally have their game-changer. And there promises to be a sequel.
