TOO HOT
Tillman’s back? He never left
Charles “Peanut” Tillman’s celebratory moves were almost as impressive as his game-ending interception return for a touchdown. But the third-year cornerback downplayed any sense of vindication he might have felt after allowing several high-profile plays this season. “I don’t feel like I really lost my swagger,” Tillman said. “I was a little down, but my teammates never lost confidence in me if I had a bad game. Now I’m playing well and don’t feel like it’s `Peanut’s back.’ I never thought I was gone.” Tillman broke impressively to step in front of the Jeff Garcia pass intended for Mike Williams. “Once the play started, I was thinking, `He might throw it because he might not see me because he’s off balance.’ And he did.”
TOO COLD
Many hits and a few misses
One of the true impact players on the Bears’ defense all season, Lance Briggs was initially credited with six tackles Sunday. But he also was uncharacteristically victimized on consecutive plays that contributed to Detroit’s one touchdown. On third-and-3 from the Bears’ 14, Briggs lost coverage on running back Shawn Bryson, who drifted out of the backfield and in position for an 8-yard completion and a first down. On the following play, tailback Kevin Jones started into the line but then broke outside around Briggs and scored the first rushing touchdown against the Bears this season. Briggs, in his third season out of Arizona, has missed zero games in his career and few plays like those on Sunday.
JUST RIGHT
Gould scores with kicks . . . and tackles
This is what kickers are supposed to do–whether they’re rookies or not. Drill makeable field goals of 38 and 20 yards and boom kickoffs high enough and far enough that Eddie Drummond can’t hurt you. The Lions’ return specialist averaged just 19.2 yards on five kickoff returns. But perhaps Robbie Gould’s most impressive moment came when he put an abrupt end to Drummond’s near-breakaway kickoff return in the second quarter. His crushing hit–right in front of the Bears’ bench–earned the kicker a congratulatory battering from teammates, led by defensive lineman Alfonso Boone. Gould is now 4-for-6 on field goals this season and continues to show a strong leg on kickoffs. Too bad Gould can’t kick indoors all the time.
