Final Drive Did More than Just Seal the Win for the Bears

Nov 4, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown (12) hands the football to running back Matt Forte (22) during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Chicago won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears final drive in their 27-20 won’t go down in NFL lore like the Denver Broncos’ “The Drive” or any of the other historic drives, but the 18-play, nearly 9 minute drive in the fourth quarter will certainly go down in Chicago Bears history.  Let’s look back at the drive that sealed the deal in the Bears win:

Chicago Bears at 9:48
1-10-CHI 11 (9:48) (Shotgun) M.Forte right end to CHI 23 for 12 yards (T.Williams).
1-10-CHI 23 (9:03) M.Forte up the middle to CHI 24 for 1 yard (N.Palmer).
2-9-CHI 24 (8:18) J.McCown pass incomplete short right to B.Marshall.
3-9-CHI 24 (8:13) J.McCown pass short left to M.Bennett to CHI 32 for 8 yards (M.Burnett; D.Jones).

Great effort by Bennett to make a man miss and lay out for the stick.  I thought it was close enough to call for a measurement, which would have also served as a time out and could have resulted in a first down.  This sets up the play of the game and a defining moment early in the Marc Trestman era.