CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- It's far too easy to chalk up Green Bay's triumph over Chicago on Monday night as just the latest reason why "Bear Killer" Brett Favre shouldn't be allowed in the Land of Lincoln, whether it be down in East Central Illinois or up in Chi-town.

	Donald Driver is one reason the Packers are flying high again.

Favre's record (now 17-4) against the long-time rivals of the Pack is mythical in these parts, and another chapter or two was certainly added after the future Hall of Famer torched Chicago for 359 yards and three TDs in a 34-21 victory.

But there was more to the story of what happened in this college town on Monday Night Football.

Perhaps it was the inescapable scent of manure from the endless farm animals grazing near Memorial Stadium. Or maybe the bright orange Fighting Illini logos in both end zones -- and everywhere else -- didn't provide Dick Jauron's squad with the home-field mystique that has existed at Soldier Field in the past. Maybe it was the injuries to several Bears players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

But instead of searching for Bear excuses, the best way to describe Monday night's game, plain and simply, is this: one team ascended toward the league's upper echelon again, while the other continued its fall down into the NFC doldrums after lifting its head briefly last fall and getting the Chicago faithful excited.

Whether that's too hard of an assessment on the current Chicago Bears squad, there is no escaping the fact they have now lost three straight games after going the entire 2001 season without back-to-back defeats.

And for the Packers, now winners of four straight against Chicago and 15 of the last 16 since 1994, there might not be enough elite teams left on the radar screen to not include them among the league's superpowers. Their 4-1 mark and three-game winning streak is pretty solid evidence that Favre and Co. once again are a force.

"I think we should be considered one of the elite teams," said safety Darren Sharper, who had an interception and two pass deflections against Chicago. "I would have said that at the beginning of the season, too. Some people wouldn't have said that early on maybe because we weren't playing well in all facets of the game, but we've definitely improved and should be considered a contender."

	“	I think we should be considered one of the elite teams. I would have said that at the beginning of the season, too. Some people wouldn't have said that early on maybe because we weren't playing well in all facets of the game, but we've definitely improved and should be considered a contender. ”
		— Packers safety Darren Sharper

Where they've improved most from last season is by shedding some of their reliance on do-it-all running back Ahman Green. Last year, it seemed as if Green was catching every ball when he wasn't running it. Now, with the addition of Terry Glenn (8 catches for 154 yards) and the emergence of Donald Driver (4-120 and one TD), who played in the shadow cast by Antonio Freeman and Bill Schroeder the last three seasons, the passing game has been enhanced.

"I think we're stepping up," Driver said. "I think that's the biggest thing they wanted to see. A lot of people thought we weren't going to be that good, but we've proven that the last four games and we're going to continue to prove it for the rest of the season."

Packers punt returner Darrien Gordon certainly agreed with that assessment.

"Donald Driver is having a Pro Bowl year, and Terry, that's why we brought him here," Gordon said. "That's helping Brett, and it showed tonight. That was the most impressive display I've ever seen from a quarterback. It was fun to watch."

Anyone who loves the long ball must have had the same elation as Gordon. The Packers simply carved up the Bears with their deep passing game. It happened right away, too, with Favre's biggest strike coming on his fourth pass of the game.

Rolling to his left, with enough time to mow the AstroPlay beneath him and fix that mini-playbook on his left forearm, Favre flung a perfectly spiraled ball down the middle of the field to hit Driver, who had a full four steps on R.W. McQuarters. Driver enjoyed so much freedom to chase down Favre's pass due to the drag run by tight end Bubba Franks across the middle that froze the safeties. By the time strong safety Mike Green could recover, Driver had ball in hand and was gone, giving the Pack a 7-0 lead.

Favre later hit both his tight ends -- Tyrone Davis and Franks -- for TD strikes, but it was his connection with Glenn that kept Chicago off-balance, and what ultimately has to be striking fear throughout the NFC. Among his eight grabs were gains of 21, 26 and 49 yards that showcased all of Glenn's unique skills -- the ones that brought him prominence six years ago when he finished his first year with an NFL rookie-record of 90 receptions as Drew Bledsoe's main target. Glenn's old sprinter's speed was there, as was his ability to snare passes out of the air with a safety ready to level him.

And that's not even what had Favre most excited.

"He's got remarkable hands," said the three-time NFL MVP, whose 180 yards passing in the first quarter was a career high, as were his 287 yards in the first half. "And he'll catch the ball in traffic. I had confidence that when I threw him the ball that he'd make the play … he did that all night."

Meanwhile, the Bears are starting to look like a team that has run out of magic and can no longer sneak up on anyone. It's one thing to lose against a strong team with one of the game's greatest players putting on an epic show. But to make mistakes such as fumbling away kickoffs and forcing passes into double coverage shows this club is not a playoff contender. At least not right now. And it resulted in a frustrated locker room.

"We are making too many mistakes to overcome," said quarterback Jim Miller, who managed to rack up 353 yards and 3 TDs on 27-for-49 passing, yet was intercepted three times in game-deciding moments. "Good football teams can overcome mistakes, but not as many as we are making. There is plenty of blame to go around. It's not repeatedly the same guys. That includes me. That includes everyone."

Much of that blame has to be pointed at the secondary, which allowed Green Bay's slew of receivers to roam free for much of the night.

"I guess we just have to go back to calling the ABC's, because we were blowing Cover 2 and Cover 3 schemes," Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. "You can't get much simpler than that."

Said linebacker Rosevelt Colvin: "We're not making tackles, covering guys, basically not playing our style of defense that we are used to playing and being successful at."

The Bears now have a week off to get it together and gear up for what should be a winnable game against Detroit on Oct. 20.

"We got to get the confidence back and just do the things we have to do to be successful," defensive end Phillip Daniels said. "We got two weeks to heal now, so hopefully this will help us out."

What doesn't help is knowing that they're already down two games to Green Bay in the NFC North while still having another game against the Pack up at Lambeau on Dec. 1., where Favre and Co. own them.

But then again, that's now the case anywhere, as Green Bay linebacker Nate Wayne screamed to anyone who would listen upon leaving Memorial Stadium:

"We own Champaign now, too!"