GREEN BAY, Wis. (Dec. 25, 2005) -- Most playoff teams would expect to get more than 166 yards passing from their starting quarterback.
For the Chicago Bears, however, it represents a giant leap forward.
Rex Grossman didn't pile up gaudy statistics in his first regular-season start in nearly 15 months. But his ability to throw accurate deep passes gave the Bears a new dimension, helping them clinch the NFC North and a first-round bye with a 24-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
"We mixed it up a little bit," Grossman said. "We saw a lot of tape where we could do some things down the field, and we made a few plays there. We got a lead and came back to our running game and great defense."
"I don't think you can change the magnitude of winning in Green Bay or clinching the division in Green Bay," said linebacker Lance Briggs, who returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter. "It's the Packers. They're our biggest rival."
The Packers (3-12) are well on their way toward their first losing season in the Brett Favre era. With one game remaining, the futures of Favre and coach Mike Sherman remain in doubt.
"This one really hurts, because we didn't want them to win the division on our field," Packers defensive tackle Grady Jackson said. "This season feels like a bad dream."
The season has been a nightmare for Favre, who tried to rally the Packers in the final minute but came up short. A potential game-tying drive ended with yet another Favre interception.
Favre had four more passes picked off, bringing his total to 28 for the season and surpassing his previous career high of 24 in 1993.
"Anytime a quarterback gets four interceptions, you have to look at that," Sherman said. "I do know this: He gave us a chance to win there at the end."
Favre has gone four straight games without a touchdown pass, the first time in his career he has gone more than two games without throwing for a score.
Favre, who has yet to decide if he will return to play next season, didn't speak to reporters after the game.
Favre outdueled Grossman with 317 yards on 30 of 51 passing, including six passes to Donald Driver for 106 yards. But Grossman threw more effective deep passes, opening up space for running back Thomas Jones. Jones had 25 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown.
"It was great to see the offense do that," coach Lovie Smith said. "It was good to see the defense finish the job at the end. It was a great team effort, a great team win."
Grossman missed most of last season with a knee injury, then broke his ankle in a preseason game in August. He was replaced by rookie Kyle Orton, who played mostly mistake-free football but didn't make spectacular plays.
But he gave Grossman license to let it fly.
Grossman heaved a deep pass toward wide receiver Bernard Berrian on the Bears' first offensive play. The pass fell incomplete, but Grossman kept throwing.
Grossman completed his next five passes, including three for first downs and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad on third-and-goal from the Packers 12.
Jones plunged into the end zone two plays later, putting the Bears ahead 14-7.
Bears kicker Robbie Gould added a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter, making the score 17-7. Packers kicker Ryan Longwell missed a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 39-yarder in the third.
"It was just one of those days -- should have made the kicks," Longwell said.
Briggs returned his interception 10 yards for a touchdown, making it 24-7 in the third quarter. But the Packers didn't quit.
Antonio Chatman returned a punt 85 yards for a score to make it 24-14 with 7:54 remaining. The Packers drew to within a touchdown when Longwell finally connected on a 26-yard field goal with 1:54 remaining.
The Packers got the ball back with 1:26 left, and Favre hit Driver on a 56-yard completion to put the Packers at the Bears 35 with less than a minute remaining. But a spike and consecutive sacks left Favre only with time for a fourth-down heave that was picked off by Chris Harris -- his second of the day -- as time expired.
Notes: Four Bears starters were inactive Sunday: Safety Mike Brown (calf); defensive tackle Ian Scott (hamstring); linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (thumb); and right guard Terrence Metcalf (shoulder). ... Packers center Mike Flanagan left the game after aggravating his sports hernia.
