It's become an all-too-familiar tune for the Packers this season: build up an early lead, only to see victory slip away in the game's final minutes.

Monday night in Chicago, the Packers -- already eliminated from post-season contention and assured a losing record -- followed the script perfectly in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Bears.

This time, though, it wasn't so much Aaron Rodgers' inexperience or another defensive meltdown that doomed the Packers. The culprit this time was downright abysmal special teams play.

Jarrett Bush may have committed the game's biggest gaffe when he couldn't get out of the way of Brad Maynard's fourth-quarter punt. The ball bounced off his leg, Chicago recovered and went on to score its first touchdown and cut the Packers' lead to 14-10.

The Packers' coverage units had no answer for Chicago's return tandem of Devin Hester and Daniel Manning. Those two combined for 157 yards -- including Manning's 70-yard return in the second quarter, which would eventually lead to a Robbie Gould field goal.

Aaron Rodgers was again good, but not quite good enough. He completed 24 of 29 passes for 260 yards with a pair of touchdowns and one interception, which came on a quick toss intended for Driver late in the first quarter.

It looked like he might get a chance to lead the Packers to a comeback victory for the first time this season when he led the team down to the Chicago 20 with 25 seconds to play. Mason Crosby's 38-yard attempt was blocked, leaving Rodgers 0-8 this season when trailing by less than eight points with less than 5 minutes to play.

"Aaron had a solid day," head coach Mike McCarthy said after the game. "He had just one interception on the quick throw. We had some big-play opportunities on offense that we didn't hit, but other than that he managed the game very well."

Here are a few other observations from the 177th installment of the National Football League's oldest rivalry:

Numbers don't add up: Here's a head-scratcher: Despite a 5-10 record, Green Bay has actually outscored its opponents this season, 388-359. Of course, when you look at the final scores in the Packers last seven losses, it makes more sense: 19-16, 28-27, 51-29, 35-31, 34-31, 20-16, and 20-17.

Questionable: McCarthy didn't throw the challenge flag late in the game when it looked like Chicago fell just short on a crucial 4th and 1. A measurement showed Matt Forte picked up the first down by just the nub of the football, but replays showed the spot may have been off. McCarthy should have thrown the beanbag.

Tale of two halves: Early on, it looked like the Packers were the ones clinging desperately to playoff hopes and the Bears were the team that was already making their postseason tee times. How good were the Packers in the first half? They led the Bears, 14-2, in first downs; they outgained Chicago, 221-48; Rodgers was 16 of 24 for 176 yards while Bears quarterback Kyle Orton completed just four of eight throws for 34 yards as Green Bay led, 14-3. In the second half, Chicago outgained Green Bay, 162-104 and picked up 13 first downs compared to the Packers' 6.

Stuffed: Ryan Grant "earned" his big-time contract by getting hot when the mercury dropped. To say he's been a disappointment this year is an understatement. He was a non-factor Monday, picking 61 yards on 25 carries -- an average of 2.4 yards per rush. The difference between this year and last? Grant was pretty much the same type of runner -- dinking and dunking his way through the game -- but would rip off a huge run at some point and padded his numbers when the Packers took big leads into the fourth quarter.

Surprise: The Bears didn't notice Matt Flynn lining up on a punt attempt in the second quarter and got burned, as the backup quarterback scampered six yards for the first down, keeping the Packers' drive alive at the Chicago 30. Rodgers capped off the 14-play, 91-yard drive with a perfect strike to Greg Jennings, putting Green Bay up, 7-0 after the extra point.

Wasted profits: McCarthy gambled by going for it on 4th and 1 at the Chicago 9 early in the fourth quarter. The move provided a brief return when DeShawn Wynn ran off left guard for four yards, giving Green Bay a first and goal at the 5. But a pair of incompletions and a failed scramble attempt by Rodgers led to a 28-yard field goal from Crosby instead of putting the nail in Chicago's coffin.

Stepping in: Nobody is expecting right tackle Tony Moll to be as good as Mark Tauscher, who is done for the season with a knee injury. Still, Moll committed a pair of false-start penalties, including one late in the game that set up a 3rd and 19 situation.

Job watch: Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders could have some company on the hot seat. It'd be hard to think special teams coach Mike Stock won't need to update his Monster.com account in the next few weeks after his squad basically gift-wrapped the game for Chicago.

Collins record: Nick Collins' fourth-quarter interception was his sixth of the season and put him in the Packers record books. He returned the pick 28 yards, giving him 258 for the year; the most by one player in one season in Packers history. Collins and cornerback Charles Woodson -- who also picked off an Orton pass Monday -- are the team's lone Pro Bowl starters.

After further review: Safety Aaron Rouse -- making his fifth start of the season -- got hit with a 15-yard penalty for a horse-collar tackle on Olsen on the Bears' overtime drive. On closer inspection, that may have been a questionable call.

Sack-man: Defensive lineman Mike Montgomery finished with 1½ sacks, making him and Aaron Kampman the only Packers to record multiple sacks in one game this season.

Fashion statement: Bears coach Lovie Smith said earlier this week that "it says something about a team when they don't wear sleeves." Yup, coach, you're right. It says you've got a team of idiots. The same goes for the toolboxes that painted "Bears" on their chests and went topless.

Next week: The season comes to an end next week at Lambeau Field. The Packers will try to avoid becoming a historical footnote when they host Detroit, trying desperately to avoid becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history. The odds aren't exactly in the Lions' favor; aside from being atrocious this season, Detroit hasn't won in Green Bay since 1991.