Comeback victories have become a defining feature of the Chicago Bears’ season, and their recent playoff win against the Green Bay Packers drew clear inspiration from one of the NFL’s most legendary games.
Facing a daunting 21-3 deficit, the Bears mounted a remarkable rally on Saturday night, evoking memories of Super Bowl LI, when the New England Patriots famously overcame a 28-3 hole to defeat the Atlanta Falcons.
According to Bears coach Ben Johnson, the team had studied the Patriots’ comeback during training camp as a motivational blueprint.
“The one thing that we had done during training camp was we had shown the film of the Atlanta and New England Super Bowl,” Johnson shared. The goal was to demonstrate that even seemingly insurmountable deficits can be overturned with focus, discipline, and resilience.
For a team like the Bears, who have often found themselves in high-pressure situations this season, it was a lesson in persistence and mental toughness.
Adding depth to this lesson, the Bears roster includes two players with direct experience in that historic Super Bowl. Offensive lineman Joe Thuney had been a member of the Patriots, while defensive lineman Grady Jarrett played for the Falcons.
Their unique perspectives provided firsthand insight into the mindset, preparation, and strategies that helped turn the game around. Johnson emphasized the value of their contributions, noting that hearing from both sides of that matchup helped the team understand that the outcome is never set in stone.
“It was just great to get perspective from both of those players of how that game went down,” he said.
Turning deficits into opportunities
Johnson explained that the key takeaway from Super Bowl LI was not just about the scoreboard, but about attitude and timing.
“I think it’s just a good lesson to be learned that it’s 28 to 3 in the middle of the third quarter, and yet the game still is being played, and there is a lot of time left,” he said. He encouraged his team to view their own 21-3 deficit not as a disaster, but as a chance to craft a memorable victory.
The lesson was clear: even in the face of overwhelming odds, a focused team can seize control and turn the game around.
Rather than succumbing to panic, the Bears embraced the challenge, translating the lesson into action. Johnson described his message to the team: “Just reminding them that this has been done before, and rather than saying, ‘woe is me,’ and ‘oh, crap, we’re in a hole,’ it’s more, ‘this is a great opportunity for us to turn this around into a game we’ll never forget.’ And that’s what they did.”
The Bears’ comeback not only highlights their resilience but also demonstrates the enduring influence of the past.
By studying the past and leaning on the experience of players familiar with one of the greatest comebacks in football history, Chicago transformed what could have been a discouraging deficit into a thrilling triumph.
It was a victory that showcased the value of learning from history, a blueprint for success in high-stakes games that could inspire the team for years to come.
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