A banner behind the Bears bench said it all: "Win one for Walter."

"It was an honor for us to wear the patch today," said rookie Bears coach Dick Jauron, who coached defensive backs in Green Bay for nine seasons. "You've got to believe he had a hand in the final play."

Third-string quarterback Jim Miller, the sixth-year journeyman who didn't play a down in the previous two years and had just 22 pass attempts this season, led the Bears to the win after rookie starter Cade McNown sprained his right knee in the first quarter.

Miller threw three interceptions, but was was 16-of-29 for 142 yards, while Chicago's 160 rushing yards kept the ball moving. Both teams ran simple, short-yardage offenses which made for a dull game until the thrilling finish.

The Packers (4-4) lost for the third time in four games, having scored just one touchdown in all three losses. Green Bay has lost consecutive home games for the first time since 1991, the year before Mike Holmgren became coach and the team's rebirth began.

"This one right here is as ugly as it gets for me," Rhodes said. "(It was) a game we should win, and we didn't."

GAME NOTES

The Bears successfully challenged a 24-yard reception by Green Bay tight end Jeff Thomason on a fourth-down play deep inside Chicago territory in the third quarter. Replay officials ruled Thomason hadn't established possession before fumbling the ball out of bounds, and the Bears killed the Packers' best drive to that point. Shortly before kickoff, Bears owners Ed and Virginia McCaskey joined commissioner Paul Tagliabue at midfield, and the Lambeau Field crowd observed a moment of silence for Walter Payton.

Green Bay's locker room was "a ghost town," in the words of receiver Antonio Freeman, after the game. Rhodes said the coaching staff discussed allowing Favre, who was 27-of-40 for 267 yards, to try for the end zone, but they elected to kick the field goal instead.

Glyn Milburn ran untouched 49 yards through the Packers defense for the game's first score late in the first quarter. Chicago's other TD came late in the third quarter, when Bobby Engram caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Miller.

Tyrone Davis scored the Packers' only touchdown on a 7-yard catch late in the first half.

The Packers trailed 14-10 entering the fourth, but Green Bay got a 26-yard field goal from Longwell with 11 minutes left and got the ball back from the Bears at the Green Bay 17 with 3:19 left after Chris Boniol shanked a 34-yard field-goal attempt. Ironically, had Boniol made the kick, the Packers would have been forced to go for the end zone on the final drive instead of playing for a field goal.

Longwell said the snap, the hold and his hit on the final kick were all good, but Robinson batted the ball down rather easily. Longwell also had a field goal blocked and returned 61 yards for a touchdown by the Seattle Seahawks in last week's 27-7 loss.

"I hit the ball pretty good, but I need a lane to kick it through, and obviously somebody made a great play," Longwell said. "Sometimes things just happen that you can't explain."