bears packers time

The Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers. In mid-January. For a Superbowl berth.

Any fan thinking this last September was living in fantasy-football land. But now in mid-January on a frigid Sunday morning, tailgaters are

packing the parking lots at Soldier Field several hours before the 2 p.m. kickoff. In fact, Soldier Field lots were full well before 11 a.m. Despite the cold, people laid out picnic-style spreads that rivaled Ravinia in the summer. Most stayed warm with barbeque grills or portable woodburners.

For the first time in 70 years, the Bears and the Packers, one of the longest rivalries in pro football, go helmet-to-helmet today for a trip to

Dallas for Superbowl XLV.

The Bears defeated the Packers in their last playoff match — in 1941, a week after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

Yet today’s match-up is being called by many the biggest game in Chicago history.

Soldier Field’s Waldron Deck parking area bloomed blue and orange. Among the hearty fans was Joe Pawelecki of Rolling Meadows, who said he hasn’t been to a game since the 1985 NFC championship. He brought his tailgating gear after winning the tickets at a giveaway sponsored by his local Mejier store.

“The Bears will do it, but it will be a close game,” he said.

Other fans also voiced confidence mingled with respect for the Packers. “They’ll win by a touchdown at least,” said Brian Scott of Naperville.

Packers fan Kristine Frank and husband Steve Frank, a Bears fan, of Rockford were in the gates early.

“We started dating in the off-season and by the time football season started it was too late,” he said while grilling next to their car.

“For one of us it will be a quiet ride home,” Kristine Frank said.




All agreed this was a football game that wouldn’t soon be forgotten.

At the beginning of the season, or even mid-season, fans didn’t think much of either team’s chance of becoming a Superbowl contender.

“Whomever wins this game wins 20 years of bragging rights,” said Mark Plichta, a Packers fan and Wisconsin resident, who was at the game with one other Packer fans as well as Bears fans. Plichta was slicing green and yellow peppers to grill.

Also stuck deep in enemy territory among Soldier Field tailgaters was Green Bay resident Craig Stillman, who said he got his tickets Tuesday on Ebay, paying about $600 each.

“We got 11th row end zone. We were lucky to get them,” he said. Stillman added that Bears fans have been polite, even directing them to the closest port-a-potties.

Bears diehard Shawn McCracken said he’s been at every game since 2002, the year of the Champaign home games. “I’m confident because the Bears match up well with Green Bay,” said McCracken, of Chalmers, Ind.

Today’s winner will face whomever wins the AFC Championship matchup between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, which starts at 5:30 p.m. Chicago time. The Super Bowl XLV will be Feb. 6 in Dallas.

The Bears last were in the Super Bowl in February 2007, losing to the Indianapolis Colts. The last time the Bears won the Super Bowl was in 1985.

source: http://www.suntimes.com/3454996-417/bears-game-fans-packers-field.html