A version of this story first appeared in 2020 as part of a series covering the 50 greatest moments in Wisconsin sports history over the previous 50 years. The Packers were scheduled to face the Bears 10 seasons later in the regular-season finale with a playoff berth on the line.

Like so many great plays in sports history, the memory is as much about the journey to get there as the moment itself.

It's incomprehensible that the 2013 Packers even had the opportunity to play for an NFC North title on Dec. 29, 2013, facing off with eternal rival Chicago at Soldier Field. Battling a boatload of significant injuries and scratching by with just enough, the Packers came into the season finale with a 7-7-1 record, alive for a playoff spot by the skin of their teeth.

On 4th and 8 with 46 seconds left, two players who'd been sidelined for a huge chunk of the season connected on one of the most memorable receptions in Packers history. Randall Cobb, in his first game back since Week 6 with a broken leg, found himself wide open on a beeline toward the end zone. Aaron Rodgers, back for the first time since Week 9 when a sack against the Bears in the teams' first meeting broke his clavicle, barely eluded the pass rush, then lofted a pass in Cobb's direction.

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"Oh my gosh it was sitting up for so long," Cobb said. "You know, I had so many thoughts going through my head: 'You better not drop it.' 'If you drop it, they're going to kill you.' 'You better catch it.' 'Just catch the ball.' 'Body catch it if you have to. Do what you have to do.' And I was able to make the catch."

Cobb cradled it, then plunged into the end zone for a touchdown. The Packers had a 33-28 lead.

"It's two guys making a great, great play that will be running on the highlights the rest of my time on earth," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.

The Packers weren't done; Chicago crossed midfield and had a last-gasp attempt toward the end zone, but Sam Shields intercepted the Jay Cutler pass as time expired, and Green Bay was in the playoffs at 8-7-1. The Packers had one of the six-worst division-winning records in NFL history, but it hardly mattered. It felt like a massive accomplishment.

"You talk about the guts, the grit, the final achievement, the glory we were able to accomplish on the field this afternoon," McCarthy said.

Matt Flynn leads the Packers to two nail-biting wins, including one all-time comeback

You can't appreciate the winning drive without discussing the weeks leading into the game.

The Packers used four quarterbacks in 2013, including Matt Flynn, a backup on the Super Bowl winning team in 2010 who eventually signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012. But Flynn never got a chance to shine there when a third-round pick out of the University of Wisconsin named Russell Wilson seized the reins of the starting quarterback gig. When the Packers signed Flynn in November in 2013, Green Bay was his third stop that season.

On Nov. 24, Flynn entered the game in relief of another former Wisconsin quarterback, Scott Tolzien. The Packers had lost three straight games, starting with the contest in which Rodgers was injured, and Green Bay was able to gut out a tie against Minnesota, 26-26. The following week, though, the Packers lost to Detroit in lopsided fashion, and the season appeared destined for a miserable end. After the Detroit loss, NFL Network ran a poll, and 2% of respondents predicted Green Bay would win the division.

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But then, a 22-21 win over Atlanta. Special-teams ace Jarrett Bush broke up a 4th-and-5 pass to Tony Gonzalez with 2 minutes to go, when Atlanta could have attempted a 51-yard field goal. He also made an impressive interception with 11 seconds left to seal the victory.

Still crazier was what happened next, a near-impossible 37-36 win in Dallas. Green Bay trailed at halftime, 26-3, but a hobbled Eddie Lacy broke off a 60-yard run to start the second half, and by the time he scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:31 to go, Green Bay had rattled off 34 second-half points. It was the biggest Packers comeback since 1982.

But the season was back in jeopardy after a heartbreaking 38-31 loss to Pittsburgh in the season's penultimate week. Flynn's final pass sailed out of reach of Jarrett Boykin in the back of the end zone as time ran out.

Fortunately for Green Bay, Chicago was blown out by Philadelphia later that Sunday, leaving the door open for the Packers with a winner-take-all battle for the NFC North one week later.

"First thing is, we have a chance," said cornerback Tramon Williams. "It's Green Bay-Chicago, the oldest rivalry in sports. That's the way you want to end it, with Green Bay and Chicago."

The Packers had gone 2-5-1 without Rodgers, and backups Seneca Wallace, Tolzien and Flynn had combined for eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Injuries to Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Lacy, Cobb and Johnny Jolly had left the team stitching it together. Still, it was just enough.

John Kuhn's huge final drive gave the Packers a chance

You can't appreciate the winning play without discussing the winning drive.

The 15-play sequence began on the Packers 13-yard line, and it nearly ended with a quick 3-and-out for Green Bay. The Packers faced 4th-and-1 on Chicago's 22, and McCarthy sent out the punt team with 4 minutes 41 seconds left.

As a measurement was taken, McCarthy reconsidered after talking to Rodgers and guard Josh Sitton and waved the offense back out. John Kuhn took the ball and got the necessary yard.

At the 2-minute mark, the Packers faced another 4th-and-1 from their own 44. Jordy Nelson hcradled a low throw from Rodgers for a 6-yard completion to move the chains.

Green Bay got 2 yards on the next three plays, and the Packers faced their third fourth down of the drive with 46 seconds on the clock.

The Bears elected to send a seven-man rush, and Kuhn came up big again. The lone setback slid in front of Rodgers and chipped future Packer Julius Peppers just enough to give Rodgers an escape route.

"I tried to cut him the best I could," said Kuhn. "I got enough of him so Aaron was able to get out of the pocket."

When nickel back Isaiah Frey moved inside to pressure through the B gap, Packers lineman David Bakhtiari blocked down on Frey, leaving Peppers momentarily unabated to Rodgers.

"I looked out with my peripheral vision and saw (Peppers)," said Bakhtiari. "I thought he was sacked."

But with Kuhn's help, Rodgers rolled left and found Cobb. Defensive back Chris Conte anticipated the rush would force a shorter throw, but four receivers were running vertical routes. Cobb couldn't have been more open.

"I was able to get the edge and saw Randall running wide open," said Rodgers, who threw two first-half interceptions as he tried to shake the rust. "I knew I had to get a little bit on it just to make sure that I didn't way underthrow him. When that ball came down in the end zone, it was just pandemonium."

The play gave the Packers a third straight division title and seventh since 2002.

"It was a special moment," Rodgers said. "There's nothing quite like a road victory and especially on this stage right here. We had to win to get in, otherwise we're going home. And there were a lot of opportunities for us to give up, and we just kept believing in each other.

"So I'm proud of our guys, thankful for the opportunity. I feel very blessed, I appreciate the prayers from all the fans and obviously my friends and family, but this is a great group of guys. We just want to keep this journey going."

How the Packers win over the Chicago Bears in 2013 lives on

The Packers weren't expected to do much in the playoffs given their record, and they did end up falling to San Francisco at Lambeau Field in the wild-card round, but it required a Phil Dawson field goal as time expired for a 23-20 49ers win.

Rodgers bounced back in the best way, with a huge 2014 season that led to his second MVP award. In 2015, Green Bay cobbled together another playoff run despite long odds, then advanced to the NFC Championship Game after the 2016 season.

In 2017, history repeated when Rodgers again endured a broken collarbone after a sack, this time against Minnesota. Brett Hundley tried to keep the season alive in his place, and Rodgers tried to return later in the season, but the Packers didn't get the breaks this time and finished 7-9.

The Cobb ending – complete with the slightly misspoken "He's got Brandon Cobb!" from radio commentator Larry McCarren in the exuberance of the moment – will be forever remembered as one of the most improbable and dramatic finishes to any Packers season.

But it wasn't the last time Aaron Rodgers found Randall Cobb for a big touchdown.

Aaron Rodgers finds Randall Cobb for a big touchdown against the Bears ... again

In 2018, a hobbled Rodgers once again delivered an incredible performance against the Bears, this time in the season opener. And once again, he capped it with a pass to Cobb.

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Rodgers and Cobb connected on a 75-yard touchdown catch with 2:13 to go, and the Packers prevailed, 24-23. Rodgers, who looked like a surefire bet to miss the rest of the game (if not the entire season), finished with 286 yards passing and three touchdowns.

The injury lingered and the Packers struggled during the season, finishing 6-8-1 in the final year of McCarthy as coach. But it was one more knife in the heart of the Chicago Bears and one more chapter in the Rodgers legend.

Rodgers and Cobb are both with the New York Jets now as the 2013 touchdown turns 10 years old, but a win over the Bears in the 2023 season finale at Lambeau Field would again give the Packers an improbable playoff spot ... and possibly set up a meeting with McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.

Rules of the 50 in 50 series

• Moments are recorded over the 50-year window from 1970 to 2019 (sorry 2020, but you're disqualified)

• These are moments and not achievements, although that largely goes hand-in-hand.

• These are "greatest" 50 moments, so you won't see moments that are pivotal but ultimately heartbreaking (like the NFC Championship loss to Seattle, Kareem getting traded, etc.)

• You also won't see (many) moments that came to be recognized for their greatness later, such as the day the Bucks drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo or the day the Packers traded for Brett Favre.

• Moments considered include teams based in Wisconsin and Wisconsin athletes competing in individual sports or as part of national teams (such as the Olympics), or moments on Wisconsin soil.

• These are singular moments. You're supposed to remember where you were when they happened.

More of the 50 greatest Wisconsin sports moments of the past 50 years

No. 50:   Kulwicki's Polish Victory Lap

No. 49:   David Gilreath takes it to the house

No. 48:   Giannis in the Garden

No. 47:   Tiger Woods greets the world

No. 46:   Sam Dekker at the state tourney

No. 45:   Miracle in the Metrodome

No. 44:   Rodgers finds Cook in Dallas

No. 43:   Lambeau Leap is born

No. 42:   Aaron Rodgers tumbles in 2005

No. 41:   Al Harris pick-six against Seattle

No. 40:   Paul Molitor's hitting streak

No. 39:   Bronson Koenig beats the buzzer

No. 38:   Yelich and Cain on the same day

No. 37:   Doc Rivers stuns Notre Dame

No. 36:   Ray Allen in Game 6

No. 35:   Badgers at the Bradley Center

No. 34:   Russell Wilson in Big Ten title game

No. 33:   The 1980 Brewers blockbuster

No. 32:   Dan Jansen finally strikes gold

No. 31:   UWM rampages to Sweet 16

No. 30:   Jane Pettit donates the Bradley Center

No. 29:   UWGB stuns Cal

No. 28:   Al McGuire jumps on the table

No. 27:   Badgers make thrilling run in 2000

No. 26:   Baseball returns to Milwaukee

No. 25:   Juan Nieves throws a no-hitter

No. 24:   Brewers acquire CC Sabathia

No. 23:   Bucks acquire Oscar Robertson

No. 22:   George Petak switches his vote

No. 21:   Wide open Randall Cobb

No. 20:   The Hail Mary in Motown

No. 19:   Robin Yount reaches 3,000 hits

No. 18:   Game 163

No. 17:   Bevell, Badgers win Rose Bowl

No. 16:   Nyjer Morgan gives Brewers a playoff winner

No. 15:   Mark Johnson scores twice in Miracle on Ice

No. 14:   BJ Raji takes it to the house

No. 13:   Dwyane Wade carves up Kentucky

No. 12:   Ryan Braun sends Brewers back to playoffs

No. 11:   Easter Sunday

No. 10:   Eric Heiden wins record fifth gold

No. 9:   Ron Dayne storms into record books

No. 8:   Badgers beat undefeated Kentucky

No. 7:   Marquette wins thriller in 1977 semifinal

No. 6:   Favre wins one for his father

No. 5:   Reggie White signs with Packers

No. 4:   Bucks win 1971 NBA title

No. 3:   Cooper's hit gives Brewers first pennant

No. 2:   The Packers win Super Bowl XLV

No. 1:   Howard's returns spark Super Bowl XXXI run

'The Next Ten'

No. 51:   Abdul-Jabbar's winning skyhook in 1974

No. 52:   Favre finds Sharpe for breakthrough playoff win

No. 53:   Yount goes 4 for 4 in Game 5 of 1982 World Series

No. 54:   Antonio Freeman's Monday Night winner

No. 55:   Brandon Woodruff takes Clayton Kershaw deep

No. 56:   Yancey Thigpen's drop gives Packers division title

No. 57:   Marquette reaches 1974 NCAA final

No. 58:   Jamar Fletcher's pick-six is Rose Bowl dagger

No. 59:   Badgers football delivers a stunner to No. 1 Michigan

No. 60:   Brewers survive in 1982 finale

'The Next 40'

61-70   From instant replay game to Freddie Owens' winner

71-80   From UW's first hockey title to Villanova stunned twice in same season

81-90   From the Brewers clinching in 1981 to the Bucks in the draft lottery

91-100   From Andy North to a legendary high-school streak

JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Randall Cobb's game winner in 2013 against the Bears lives on