McKenzie Provides Pick-Me-Up

Mike McKenzie is a man of his word.

After getting burned early for a 61-yard score, McKenzie promised to make amends.

“He said on the sideline, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get it back for you guys,’ ” Packer teammate Na’il Diggs said.

McKenzie sure did, picking off two second-half passes and returning the second one 90 yards for a touchdown to spark Green Bay’s 34-21 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

In the first quarter, Marty Booker blew past McKenzie and hauled in Kordell Stewart’s pass at the 20, then trotted untouched into the end zone for a 7-0 Bear lead.

“I was in shock about it,” McKenzie said. “I told the guys, ‘That was definitely my fault. I’m going to get it back.’ ”

The Packers (7-6) led, 19-14, with just over nine minutes left when McKenzie stepped in front of receiver Dez White, picked off Stewart’s pass at his 10-yard line and ran it all the way back.

“I was licking my chops. I was hoping it was a quick throw,” said McKenzie, who broke just as Stewart released the ball.

“I thought my momentum would take me out of bounds, but I saw all that green grass ahead of me,” McKenzie said after his second career two-interception performance and second career interception return for a touchdown.

Chicago Coach Dick Jauron figured it was a safe call: if the Bears (5-8) didn’t get a first down, they’d get a short field goal.

“You think at the worst you’re going to be two down, then all of a sudden, the whole thing is turned around,” he said.

“It was a long day.”