Bears' playoff win was unforgettable. Now they have to forget about it - Sun-Times

After a 31-27 win over their hated rival on Saturday, the Bears should turn the page to focus on the Rams in one day.

As the Bears trailed the Packers by 18 points at halftime Saturday night at Soldier Field, coach Ben Johnson told his players they had an opportunity to “turn this around into a game we’ll never forget.”

Now they have to forget it.

After having another day to revel in the impressive 31-27 comeback victory that eliminated their NFC North rival, the Bears must now turn the page to focus on the Rams, their opponent Sunday at Soldier Field (5:30 p.m., NBC 5, 1000-AM).

Third-string quarterback Case Keenum, speaking from experience, reinforced that message to his teammates after Monday's offense.Eight years ago Wednesday, he was the starting quarterback for the Vikings, who trailed the Saints by one point with 10 seconds remaining in the divisional round of the playoffs.Keenum was on his own 39-yard line and hit a shotgun blast from 27 yards to right field.Jumped down the sideline and threw the ball to receiver Stefon Diggs.Saints safety Marcus Williams ducked down for a tackle but missed, and Diggs ran untouched for a 61-yard touchdown at the end of the game.

They called it the "Minneapolis Miracle."

Next week, when there is a chance to win the NFC and host the Super Bowl in their stadium. The Vikings also lost to the Eagles by 31 points.

Keenum's message Monday, as Pro Bowl center Drew Dahlman told him, was that beating the Packers was emotional and important, but none of those feelings next week.It's a lesson the bears need to learn quickly.

"You celebrate it — you enjoy all the positivity," Dolman said. You can't get out of a game like that or anything."

That's one reason the Bears brought in players on Monday for meetings and light work — to change shoes before an off day on Tuesday and three days of practice.

"We're prioritizing the next simple thing, focusing on the next step in the process, rather than thinking about really big, big things like an emotional win or another big game," Dahlman said.

Linebooks Tremaine Edmans said he will remember many of the packers games for the rest of his life, called it the kind of championship that goes down in the story books.But he will wait until later to fully enjoy it.

"Where we're at right now ... you've got to move forward," Edmunds said."We've had a good couple of days, but we have a game to prepare for this week - a great opponent coming to town. It's important that we enjoy the game, but at the same time we have a bigger challenge ahead of us and we have to be ready to turn the page."

That may be easier said than done.The Bears' win on Saturday was the fifth-largest comeback in playoff history.Four of those five other returning winners failed the following week:

• The 2013 Colts rallied from 28 down to beat the Chiefs, then lost to the Patriots by 21.

• The 2022 Jaguars came back from 27 down to beat the Chargers, then lost to the Chiefs in seven.

• In 2002 the 49ers stunned the Giants with a 24-point comeback, then lost to the Buccaneers by 25.

• The 2017 Titans, like the Bears, dropped by 18.They then lost to the Patriots by 21.

Only the 1992 Bills, whose 32-point comeback against the Oilers remains the largest in NFL playoff history, won their next game.They eventually lost to the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.

One of the most encouraging aspects of Johnson's first year as a head coach at any level is the Bears' ability to focus on the week at hand.The only game this season he didn't look nervously ready for his debut was the Jan. 4 season finale against the Lions.

Johnson's job this week is to get his players to switch to the Packers.The goal of getting to the NFC championship game should be an easy source of motivation, but try telling that to the other playoff comeback teams getting robbed next week.

However, the Bears should be ready for the Rams on Sunday.After several players, including quarterback Caleb Williams,Made it through the playoffs for the first time.Only four forwards had appeared in postseason games before last week.

“This time of year, every point matters, every play matters, every blade of grass matters,” Johnson said.“And we learned that last night in those 60 minutes.”

Like anything, bears have to learn to let go.

"Obviously, everyone is surprised," says Edmunds.

the next game will be here before we know it.

Sun-Times Chicago Bears Reporter