Long-snapper Patrick Mannelly revealed that he was responsible for the botched fake punt that ultimately cost the Bears the lead early in the fourth quarter.
Thinking that the Packers had 12 men on the field on fourth-and-11, Mannelly snapped the ball to punt protector Garrett Wolfe, who was dropped at the Bears’ 30 after a four-yard gain. The Bears challenged the play, but replays showed that a 12th Packers player had reached the sideline well before the snap.
“Originally the count was 12 men,” Mannelly said. “I didn’t see the guy run off the field. We actually have a play in. If there are 12 men, it’s pretty much a free play. So it’s just a direct snap to Garrett and you just try to get as many yards as you can. I didn’t see the guy run off the field. I wish I would have. I would have never done that.
"It was just a dumb play on my part not seeing that. I feel stupid. I thought we were making a smart play, and unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.