One thing was very clear about the Chicago Bears going into the Green Bay Packers NFC Wild Card game: they were going to be aggressive.
The Bears went for it on fourth down six times and converted it only twice. Chicago was going to live or die by the sword. They ended up being the survivors, shocking the Green Bay Packers 31-27 after being down by 18 points at halftime.
After the game, Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden was asked about the offense's aggressive strategy to keep going for it. Burden shared that they had one goal in mind when they went for it every time.
"We knew we was gonna possess the ball," Burden said via ESPN's Kalyn Kahler. "We knew we was going for it on fourth down pretty much anywhere. Because last time we played them, they had the ball way too long. So that was the game plan going in."
Bears wanted to win this one, but did their talking through their gameplan
All week, the Packers were doing a whole lot of talking from Green Bay, Wisconsin, about how much they wanted to play the Bears in the playoffs and get revenge for the Week 16 loss. That's the part that got the Bears.
From the first quarter, the Bears made it clear they would do whatever it took to be aggressive and score while limiting the Packers' possessions. One key moment before the playoff game might have inspired Bears head coach Ben Johnson to do so.
Remember in the Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions game when the cameras caught Johnson saying that he should have gone for it? That moment must have lived in Johnson's head all week because he truly wanted to make sure the Bears did everything they could to win the game.
This game might serve as a bit of a lesson for Johnson on when to pick his spots to go for it and when to just take the field-position game and punt. Some of those from deep in their own territory didn't make sure, but the mindset is in the right place.
The influence of his old boss, Lions head coach Dan Campbell, lives in Johnson's head and takes that aggressiveness to heart. Chicago will win or lose based on how many risks it takes in a game.
Read more: Ben Johnson stuck to his word from 11 months ago after stunning win over Packers
Expect more of that from the Bears in the Divisional Round and further as they want to win badly.