CHICAGO, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears (6-1), who are tied for the NFL's best record after winning five games all of last season, host Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers (5-2) on Sunday in one of 12 division matchups highlighting Week Nine of the NFL.
Favre is 8-1 in nine career starts at Soldier Field, including seven straight wins. Ironically, in the Packers' last loss in 1993, Favre threw for a career-high 402 yards.
However, the way this year has been going, the Bears probably believe they're ready to beat their NFC Central rivals, especially after back-to-back miracle victories at home.
Last week, the Bears scored two touchdowns in the last 28 seconds of regulation--the second on a 34-yard "Hail Mary" pass from Shane Matthews to running back James Allen with no time remaining to tie the Cleveland Browns. Safety Mike Brown then played the role of overtime hero for the second straight week, returning an interception 16 yards for a touchdown.
Count Packers coach-general manager Mike Sherman among those who believe the Bears are not getting by on luck.
"I believe a well-prepared team has more luck," Sherman said. "They recover an onside kick. They had to practice that and coach that up. They had to practice that end zone pass. Good coaching and good play put them in that position more than luck."
Brown scored on a 33-yard interception return 16 seconds into overtime in a 37-31 win over San Francisco on October 28. In that game, the Bears rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit.
