Chicago — With 4 minutes 41 seconds left in the game and his team facing the end of its season, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasn't going to take the gamble it seemed so many were sure was the right decision.
McCarthy wanted to punt.
His team was trailing, 28-27, and facing a fourth and 1.
Given the ball was at the Packers 22 and running back Eddie Lacy had failed to get the first down on third and 1, McCarthy had good reason to punt. Failing would have put the Bears in scoring territory with a chance to push its lead to eight points.
So, as the officials brought out the sticks to measure for a first down on Lacy's run, players on offense started motioning for the punt team to go back.
"It was fourth and 1 and we kind of had to talk coach into letting us go for it," guard T.J. Lang said.
Several players gathered around McCarthy, who ultimately decided to go for it.
"When we came to that first fourth down and Coach was calling the punt team out, we were like, 'No, let us get this. This is our time; this is our moment,'" Randall Cobb said. "We were able to come through in that moment. Later on we had another fourth down and everybody was calm. Go out there and handle your job and make some plays."
McCarthy came out with quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center, receiver Jarrett Boykin split wide to the right and tight ends Ryan Taylor and Andrew Quarless on the line of scrimmage.
In the backfield, John Kuhn was the fullback in front of Cobb.
"It was a very tough call," McCarthy said. "We only had one timeout. Clearly the response of the players with one timeout — it was the right call. If I didn't go for it, I might have looked back at that with some regrets."
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