There aren’t many games around the NFL Sunday that mean much to either team. With playoff positions pretty well set, the regular season ends with a fizzle rather than a bang.
But the Green Bay Packers are one of the few teams with something still on the line. Slim as the chance is, the Packers can force the San Francisco 49ers to travel to Lambeau next week if they beat the Bears and the St. Louis Rams beat the 49ers.
Question: But is playing in Lambeau Field in January really that big of a deal?
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Answer: “Not really,” safety LeRoy Butler said. Quarterback Brett Favre has never really figured out what’s so great about playing in sub-zero weather, either. Since the Packers have beaten the 49ers in San Francisco two of the last three years in the playoffs, they don’t really mind another trip.
Q: So is this good news for the Bears?
A: Probably not. The Packers haven’t been playing well enough and haven’t been healthy enough to coast no matter what’s at stake. With a little incentive tossed in, they should have little trouble getting up for the Bears.
Q: Isn’t Favre great in cold weather?
A: He’s usually great no matter the weather, but yes, he does have a remarkable cold-weather record. The only road game he has ever lost when the temperature was below 35 degrees was in Kansas City in 1996, which also happens to be the only road game he has played in temperature that cold.
Q: Why is this?
A: Don’t ask him. He would rather play while sweating.
Q: How come he didn’t make the Pro Bowl?
A: Voters wanted to give somebody else a chance. The 21 interceptions gave them a good excuse to send Randall Cunningham, Steve Young and Chris Chandler.
Q: But doesn’t Favre say this is his best year?
A: In some ways he believes it is. He has 30 TD passes for a record fifth year in a row. Because of injuries, he’s had to introduce himself to his receivers before every game. “Hi, I’m Brett. Go deep.” Plus he’s had an assortment of injuries himself that threaten to age him.
Q: Isn’t it bad news for everybody else that Favre didn’t get selected?
A: Sure is. He loves to prove people wrong. Lately he’s had to make up reasons. Now he doesn’t have to use his imagination so much. Coach Mike Holmgren also uses the Pro Bowl slight “to tweak him.” This is all the Bears need, of course, a fired-up Favre.
Q: Is this really Reggie White’s last season?
A: Even if it’s not, it’s yet another reason for the Packers to play hard. Said Butler: “We want to send him out on a good note. We want him saying he was on the No. 1 defense. The defense wants to shut down everything to become No. 1.” Since the Packers are fifth, 291 yards behind San Diego, this is bad news for Steve Stenstrom.
Q: If the Bears lose their 10th straight game to the Packers, will they stop the series?
A: There is no slaughter rule.
Q: If they lose their 10th straight, does it mean it’s no longer a rivalry?
A: Rivalries generally are two-sided. Cliff Christl, a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writer who co-wrote a book on the Bears-Packers rivalry (“Mudbaths and Bloodbaths”), didn’t intend for the book to end up on the ancient history shelves. He already has implored Mike McCaskey to hire Holmgren just to rejuvenate the interstate hate.
Q: Would that do it?
A: Movie rights to follow.
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