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Bears fans remember: 38-17 and 55-14.

Two excruciating losses to Green Bay in 2014. Although Chicago always hopes for the best against the Packers, to say anyone was shocked with those results would be a stretch.

On Sunday, however, the Bears had the element of surprise working for them with a new coaching staff and schemes.

Ultimately it wasn’t enough. The Bears started the 2015 season on the wrong foot with a 31-23 loss to their archrivals.

Here’s what shocked us and what looked all too familiar.

Pleasantly surprising

Bears No. 1 receiver Alshon Jeffery, who barely practiced during training camp, was on the field Sunday. Now that Brandon Marshall’s a Jet, Jay Cutler needs a target who can steal the ball from defensive backs. Jeffery was relatively quiet against Green Bay but did catch a huge third-down pass to keep the Bears’ opening drive alive, which led to a field goal.

“For not to be outthere really at all this week and missing three to four weeks of the preseason, I thought he did well,” Cutler said of Jeffery. “Hopefully we can continue to grow on this and get him back to full time.”

Utterly shocking

The Bears caught a break when an apparent fumble by Cutler (and Packers recovery) was overturned on review. Which had to fluster former, arguably overpaid Bear Julius Peppers, who shushed the Soldier Field crowd after the play. At least he didn’t tear his ACL during the celebration.

Sadly familiar

If it’s not Brett Favre pulling a rabbit out of his helmet, it’s Aaron Rodgers. The Packers QB flipped a pass juggler-style to a streaking Eddie Lacy, who made a nifty one-handed catch for a first down in the first half. Naturally it led to a Green Bay touchdown.

Always comforting

There’s a reason Robbie Gould is the only player left on the Bears from the team that went to the Super Bowl in 2007. With his 28-yard boot in the first quarter, he broke the franchise record for field goals made with 244, passing Kevin Butler.

Always comforting

Ah, Matt Forte, a fantasy football owner’s best friend. He’s equally as effective in the real world. The star running back had 124 of the Bears’ 189 yards of offense in the first half (105 rushing, 19 receiving), including a touchdown. That more than made up for him dropping a sure TD pass at the goal line. HIs final stats: 141 yards rushing and 25 receiving.

“The sky’s the limit for him,” Cutler said of Forte. “He does so many things well. … It’s just going to be up to us and the coaching staff to keep him fresh and not overdo him.”

Pleasantly surprising

Cutler was more proactive than usual in terms of tucking the ball and rumbling for positive yards. He even juked one Packers defender out of his shoes on a 12-yard run for a first down.

“[Cutler] played his ass off,” Jeffery said. “We just didn’t come out with the win. We just need to cut down on the penalties, and knowing our assignments. Jay [Cutler] played his ass off, Matt [Forte] ran his ass off and the O-line blocked their asses off.”

Utterly shocking

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Bears fans are used to Rodgers ruining their weekends, but James Jones? All he did Sunday was make one impressive catch after another, including a touchdown grab in which he wrestled the ball away from Bears cornerback Alan Ball. He ended up with 51 yards and a pair of scores. Maybe the Bears, with all their question marks at receiver, should have signed him a week ago instead of Green Bay.

“I should have had three [touchdowns],” Jones said. “I let that last one go, and I’m probably not going to be able to sleep tonight, but I’m glad we got the win.”

Sadly familiar

Just when it looked like Cutler might play the hero, he threw a costly fourth-quarter interception into Clay Matthews’ midsection. That makes six straight losses to the Packers at Soldier Field for the Bears.

“That’s 0-1,” Bears coach John Fox said, not buying into any moral victories. “But we have 15 more, which is the good news.”

Chris Sosa is RedEye’s sports editor. @redeyesportschi

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