TOO HOT
Tillman’s many happy returns
Kyle Orton doesn’t sugarcoat. “I need to play better,” he said. Then again, numbers like a 23.7 passer rating and 68 passing yards are hard to hide. “We know we need to get going in our passing game,” coach Lovie Smith said. “He’ll play better. That’s all I’ll say right now.” Orton will need to or the public clamor for Rex Grossman will intensify. Orton started slowly, watching his second pass bounce off Desmond Clark and get intercepted by Mark Roman on the Bears’ first possession. Orton admitted that he might’ve thrown the short pass too hard. “He seems like he’s relaxed and everything,” said offensive coordinator Ron Turner, when asked if Orton starts too intense. “Maybe it’s just adjusting to the speed of that particular game.”
TOO COLD
Ratings are in; Orton hard to watch
The Doug Brien era faded ever further into Bears history as Robbie Gould turned four drives into field goals, missing one attempt from 43 yards and providing virtually the only offense the Bears managed from their 25 minutes of possession time. Gould now has converted 15 of 20 field goals (75 percent), which ranks him third among Bears rookie kickers behind Kevin Butler (81.6 percent) and Paul Edinger (77.8). Gould has hit on 14 of 15 kicks from inside the 40. Gould’s 13 points moved him atop the scoring ranks for rookie kickers, past Mike Nugent, the New York Jets’ second-round draft choice. With Gould’s placement and distance aiding coverage units, Green Bay averaged only 17 yards on six kickoff returns.
JUST RIGHT
Gould finishes just shy of pefection
Charles Tillman swung momentum to the Bears’ favor with a 95-yard interception return that killed a Packers drive in the red zone and provided an easy field goal just before halftime. He also crushed Brett Favre on a blitz, forcing a fumble recovered by Adewale Ogunleye, and broke up three passes. But if you think Tillman gloated, think again. “Brett Favre is one of the toughest competitors I’ve ever faced,” Tillman said. “He’s out there getting hit hard, and he continues to go out there, week in and week out and year in and year out, and start games. I tip my hat to him and really respect him.” For good measure, Tillman also recovered a Rashied Davis fumbled punt that could’ve swung the field-position battle Green Bay’s way early.
