Bears Hold On as Packers Are Left Stunned Again

Ryan Longwell never even got the chance to make up for last year’s last-second stunner.

Phillip Daniels knocked down Brett Favre as he was releasing a fourth-down pass at midfield with 11 seconds to play, forcing an incompletion that preserved the Chicago Bears’ 27-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

It was nearly as big a surprise as last season’s 14-13 victory when Chicago’s Bryan Robinson blocked Longwell’s 28-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.

The Bears (1-4) had dropped their first four games and came in groping and griping. The Packers (2-3) had begun to believe in themselves after consecutive dominating defensive performances.

But the Packers fell behind, 17-0, on their way to a fifth loss in their last eight games at Lambeau Field.

“This was a long time coming,” Bear Coach Dick Jauron said. “This was a great win for us. Winning at Lambeau Field made it even better.”

Just before Daniels snuffed Green Bay’s last chance, rookie tight end Bubba Franks dropped a high but catchable pass at the 30 on third down that would have put the Packers in position for a game-tying field goal.

“I think all receivers should catch balls that are thrown to them,” Packer Coach Mike Sherman snapped.

But the defeat wasn’t Franks’ fault, Favre said.

“The last thing Bubba wanted to do was drop that ball,” Favre said. “It’s easy for us as players and coaches to say, ‘Hey, had he caught that. . . .’ That’s the easy way out. It shouldn’t have come down to that.”

Favre completed 31 of 48 passes for 333 yards.

Marcus Robinson caught touchdown passes of 58 and 68 yards from Cade McNown, who eluded pass rushers all game. McNown, who completed 11 of 20 passes for 203 yards, also had a one-yard touchdown run.

Green Bay pulled to 27-24 with 1:58 to play, but failed to regain possession after an onside kick .

Bear tight end John Allred recovered the kick at the Green Bay 41.