That message was lost on the Bears for the first 3? quarters Monday night at Soldier Field when they showed little interest in being involved in the coldest game in franchise history since 1963, when records of such things began being tracked.

But staring elimination from postseason contention squarely in the face, the Bears rallied for one of the more improbable victories in the longest-standing rivalry in NFL history.

Alex Brown's long right arm blocked a 38-yard field goal try by Mason Crosby to force overtime with 18 seconds remaining in regulation, and they triumphed 20-17 over the Green Bay Packers as Robbie Gould hit a 38-yarder less than four minutes into the extra session. It was their second consecutive OT win after Gould kicked them past New Orleans on Dec. 11.

The victory kept the Bears (9-6) alive in the race for the NFC North crown. They need a victory Sunday at Houston and the defending Super Bowl-champion New York Giants to win at Minnesota. The Bears also have a slim shot at the wild card but need to win and have both Dallas and Tampa Bay lose or tie.

For the first 50 minutes Monday, it looked like the 2008 season was headed into a deep freeze in the brutal conditions. It was 2 degrees at kickoff with a 9 mph wind, making it feel like minus-13. But behind running back Matt Forte, who surpassed Anthony Thomas' franchise record for yards in a season by a rookie, the moribund offense finally got in gear.

Forte broke off a 28-yard run to start a fourth-quarter drive that ended when he ran in from three yards out to tie the game at 17 with 3:11 to play. The Packers (5-10) quickly moved into position for Crosby's kick, but Brown, sensing a weakness earlier, moved from the left side of the block formation to the right side.

''[Brian] Urlacher was like, 'Get over, get over!''' Brown said. ''I said, 'I got it.'''

Brown had cleared it with special-teams coordinator Dave Toub earlier in the game after sensing a weakness, and Crosby's kick was low. Special teams boosted the team once again. Danieal Manning's 70-yard kickoff return set up their first score, a 31-yard Gould kick. Rashied Davis blocked Jarrett Bush into a bouncing punt to create a turnover that led to Greg Olsen's three-yard touchdown catch from Kyle Orton.

Other than that, the Bears did almost nothing. Green Bay had outgained them 291 yards to 92 through the first three quarters, and the Bears had only five first downs. Given chances to deliver in the final 17 minutes, Orton (14-for-27, 142 yards) was picked off twice. Forte, who had just 20 yards on his first 11 carries and was spelled by Adrian Peterson in the third quarter with his right toe bothering him, came back and carried the offense, securing the tie.

But it looked to be short-lived. Peterson was called for unnecessary roughness on the ensuing kickoff, and the Packers were set up at the Bears' 35. That's when Brown stepped in.

The Bears won the coin toss in overtime when it came up heads after referee Ron Winter's flip went off Urlacher's head.

''I looked at the ground the whole time,'' Urlacher said. ''I didn't even see it coming. Shoot, I need to get that guy to throw it at my head every time.''

A 17-yard catch by Olsen and a horse-collar call against Aaron Rouse moved the Bears into Packers' territory, and Gould then kicked life into the Bears for another week.

The fluky coin toss was just one of the breaks the Bears got after a weekend of them when every scenario they needed went their way. Now they've got to play better against the Texans, who are 5-2 at Reliant Stadium. They were admitting that even before thawing out.

''We didn't do it pretty,'' Orton said. ''When you play in December, it's never going to be pretty. Two overtime wins at home is not pretty, but a win is a win is a win.''

The Bears still need help but also must help themselves.

''Please, please Eli [Manning], play four quarters,'' Brown said. ''Please, beat Minnesota. You're going to get a week off [for a bye], so just play the whole game.''

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HOW THE Bears CAN GET IN

Here's what needs to happen on Sunday:

NFC North

1. Bears must beat the host Texans.

2. Vikings must lose to the visiting Giants.

WILD CARD

1. Bears must beat the host Texans.

2. Cowboys must lose or tie against the host Eagles.

3. Buccaneers must lose or tie against the visiting Raiders.