As Thomas Jones saw it, Sunday was just another day’s work. The Bears ran 64 plays. He touched the ball on 30.
“I think their defense got a little tired at the end of the game, and our offensive line is in great shape and blocked just like it’s the beginning of the game,” the Bears running back said.
Jones carried 22 times for 110 yards and caught eight passes for 71 more. He scored his fourth touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter when he felt stronger than ever.
“When you get that late in the game, you’re just like you’re in another zone, so you take whatever the defense gives you,” Jones said. “That’s what I tried to do.”
Jones was in such a zone that he said he didn’t remember what caused his fumble that tackle Qasim Mitchell recovered in the third quarter. He did recall the early breakdowns when the Bears’ first three drives inside the 20 resulted in just two field goals.
“We just made too many mistakes in the red zone,” Jones said. “That can’t happen.”
Tough to beat
Those expecting the Vikings to show the same blitz-happy defense they used against the Eagles were mildly surprised. “They sat back and lined up in a base defense and sent one guy here or there,” center Olin Kreutz said. “They just played good defense.”
Waiver wire beckons
The Bears have so many injuries that their team bus could be an ambulance, and general manager Jerry Angelo may have no other choice than to check the waiver wire this week in search of depth. Besides quarterback Rex Grossman, the only other apparent injury was to safety Bobby Gray. He missed the second half with what coach Lovie Smith called a “stinger.”
Big step
Replays showed veteran Minnesota defensive end Kenny Mixon jumping across the line on the Bears’ two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. “Was I offside?” Mixon mused, then laughed. “It was close, very close. I’ll have to look at the tape on that one.” . . .
Former Bear Marcus Robinson harbors no hard feelings for his former team. He even still lives in Chicago. Robinson was impressed by Grossman, who has shown more ability to improvise under pressure than the Bears’ previous No. 8, Cade McNown. But Robinson has a special fondness for McNown, whose long-distance heaves helped Robinson to a record 1,400 receiving yards and 84 catches in 1999.
“I can’t say anything about that No. 8,” said Robinson, laughing. “[McNown] was throwing me the ball. I kept him looking good, so he couldn’t argue with me.”
Extra points
The Bears resorted to bad habits and committed 14 penalties for 101 yards, more than in any game last season. … Free safety Todd Johnson said he was going for the ball when he hit Nate Burleson in a collision that could earn a league fine. It got Johnson an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty. Speaking plainly about his first NFL start in place of the injured Mike Brown, Johnson said: “I was good enough to get us beat. We weren’t great, and we needed to be.” … Linebacker Brian Urlacher, who missed his first pro game in five seasons, stayed active encouraging teammates and helping coach the young linebacker corps. Urlacher declined postgame interview requests. … Defensive end Shurron Pierson saw extended action for the first time, spelling left end Adewale Ogunleye on occasion. … Anthony Thomas carried twice for 2 yards, once out of the same backfield with Jones.
