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© Oak Park Journal photo of the Chicago Bears
Dan Peters Sports Editor
Oak Park Journal
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Bears
prove they are the “Real Deal” Beat Vick and the Eagles 31-26
by Dan Peters Game Photos by Scott Krause Bears Linebacker Lance Briggs summed it up best about the Bears win today “I think it’s a statement for the team. Every week is a statement. I don’t know if we’re not given enough credit or whatever it is, but the character on the team week-in and week-out has been great.” The game started with both teams failing to score on their first possessions. The Eagles would draw first blood on Akers' 45-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead with just under nine minutes left in the first quarter. Philadelphia settled for the kick after Michael Vick overthrew a wide-open tight end Brent Celek on third-and-three at the 27. DeSean Jackson's 35-yard return of Brad Maynard's 56-yard punt to the 50-yard line set up the field goal. It would be the only lead of the day for the favored Eagles. But the Bears had an answer for nearly every Eagle challenge; the first was taking a 7-3 lead as Jay Cutler guided a 10-yard TD pass over the middle to Earl Bennett with in the first quarter. Cutler squeezed the pass between defenders Joselio Hanson and Nate Allen. The TD came two plays after Matt Forte busted loose for 61 yards to the Philadelphia 9. Blocks by Frank Omiyale and Chris Williams sprung Forte. Run Matt Run Game Photo by Scott Krause The Bears continued to use the running game more consistently than they did earlier in the season. In the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Matt Forte rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries, including a key 61-yard sprint. The Bears ran the ball 28 times for 131 yards and a 4.7-yard average. "When we come out and establish the run, it just helps the passing game that much more," said Forte, who averaged 8.4 yards a carry. "As you can see, when we come out and establish the run early, receivers get open and (the defenders) kind of bite on the run. It opens up the receiving game." Sunday's game marked the first 100-yard rushing game allowed by the Eagles this season. "The offensive line did a great job, tight ends also, getting those guys off the ball and getting to the second level," said Forte, whose 61-yard run in the first quarter tied for his second-longest in his brief career. It was his seventh career 100-yard rushing game. Cutler's 20-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Knox gave the Bears a 14-3 lead late in the first quarter. Knox made a stellar move inside and then broke outside. Joselio Hanson slipped while trying to keep up with Knox. The TD was set up by Devin Hester's 39-yard reception on a receiver screen. Chris Williams and Earl Bennett delivered excellent blocks to spring Hester. Hester in High Gear.......................... Game Photo by Scott Krause “Jay Cutler was outstanding throughout,” said Coach Lovie Smith. “Whether he was throwing the football or taking off running with the ball, I just felt like he was in total control of our offense.” The score was 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. In winning their last three games, the Eagles had outscored their opponents 48-0 in the first quarter. Not today. They met the Monsters of the Midway. The Bears defense on the other hand had not allowed a touchdown in six quarters, dating back to third period of Nov. 14 win over the Vikings. That would change as well Vick's 8-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin drew the Eagles to within 14-10 with 13:18 left in the second quarter. After allowing the Vikings and Dolphins to convert on 2-of-20 third-down opportunities, the Bears permitted the Eagles to go 3-of-3 on third-down on their TD drive. That was the first TD the Bears have yielded in seven quarters. The Bears found a way to slow Vick down and keep him under control. Peppers has Vick’s number Akers' 36-yard field goal draws the Eagles to within one, 14-13 with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter. The Bears held Philadelphia out of the end zone after Julius Peppers sacked Michael Vick on third-and-goal from the three, causing a fumble that Vick recovered. Peppers now has six sacks of Vick, the most of any player in the NFL. The Key Play of the game.. comes on defense and could well be the play of the season The Bears defense delivered an absolutely huge play. On second-and-goal at the Chicago 4, Chris Harris intercepted a Michael Vick pass that was deflected by Tommie Harris two yards deep in the end zone. Chris Harris returned it 39 yards to the Chicago 37. “I wanted to be the first one to pick him, get it on his résumé,” said Chris Harris. “We were in cover-one, single high safety. I was the middle-field safety, just reading his eyes. We got great pressure up front. Tommie ended up tipping it and I saw it and got it and then got a few extra yards.” Earl Bennett breaks two tackles on a spectacular 30-yard reception, giving the Bears a first down at the Philadelphia 20. Jay Cutler's 6-yard touchdown pass to Earl Bennett gives the Bears a 21-13 lead with less than a minute left in the first half. Cutler was 4 of 6 for 63 yards on the drive. What a huge turnaround.. “When you get into the two-minute drill, you want to go down and you want to score,” said Bennett, who caught two TD passes for the first time in his three-year NFL career. “That’s something I really thrive on, run after the catch. I feel like I’m bigger than everybody else and they can’t tackle me.” Earl Bennett has caught two TD passes in a game for the first time in his three-year career. That's the end of the first half with the Bears leading 21-13. The Best quarterback wore a Bears uniform today. Cutler had 152.1 passer rating at halftime. And he finished with a career high of 146.2. He's thrown three TD passes in the first half for the first time since Sept. 14, 2008 against the San Diego Chargers when he played for the Denver Broncos. Cutler has never thrown more than four TDs in a game, something he has accomplished four times in his career and twice with the Bears. “Guys came in today, put their hats on, punched in the clock and were ready to work,” said defensive end Israel Idonije. “We knew it was going to be a full day of running, working and changing direction. If you miss one tackle, the next guy’s got to come. It was a challenge and a competition that we were excited about as a group up front, and man, it was a good day.” Ball Control and keeping Vick off the field. Robbie Gould's 23-yard field goal puts the Bears ahead 31-13 with 1:26 left in the third quarter. The kick is huge because it puts the Eagles down by three scores. Gould's field goal capped a 17-play, 83-yard drive that burned 10:05 off the clock The last time the Bears had a scoring drive that last more than 10 minutes was on Dec. 23, 2007 against Green Bay when an 18-play, 68-yard drive burned 10:45 off the clock and resulted in a field goal. The Eagles slowly try and get back into the game Akers' 22-yard field goal drew the Eagles to within 31-16 with 11:51 left in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia opted to kick on fourth-and-goal from the four. I thought it was the right decision. They have to score three times to win, and had they tried for the touchdown and not made it, the game basically would have been over. Playing with Fire.. Not only was Jay a great quarterback, but he showed some fire as well, something we have not seen so far this year. He drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing a non-call after it appeared that Matt Forte was interfered with on a third-down incompletion. DeSean Jackson catches the ensuing punt. For Vick and the Eagles, it was too little, too late. The Bears nearly stumbled and went three-and-out and had to punt to the Eagles. They took over at their own 32 with just over four minutes left in the game. Vick drove the Eagles for a touchdown to Celek. Vick split three Bears defenders with the precision of a surgeon. The Eagles pulled to within five points, 31-26. The fans were getting just a bit nervous as they saw their decisive lead dwindle. This game would come down to an onside kick with 1:48 remaining. Johnny on the Spot Johnny Knox recovered the onside kick. Game over. The Bears will move to 8-3. Lovie Smith is certainly pleased with the progress his team has made in winning all of its November games for the first time since 2005. “We’ve taken steps each week,” Smith said. “Even the times when we lost, we found out something that we needed to know about our football team. Forte on the Run...................................... Game Photo by Scott Krause |
