This is not a pattern the Bears want to establish, but the defense picked up the slack as the offense struggled Saturday night.
The exhibition against the Seattle Seahawks could have been more lopsided in the Seahawks’ favor early had the Bears’ defense not been so resilient. Charles Tillman’s first-quarter interception, a forced fumble by Kevin Payne and a veteran play in coverage by Nathan Vasher limited the Seahawks to three field goals instead of touchdowns in a low-scoring first half. The Bears trailed 9-5 at halftime.
The Bears needed the lift, with Rex Grossman struggling through a miserable half and his offensive line succumbing to the Seahawks’ relentless pressure up front.
Israel Idonije set the defensive tone for a team looking to atone for a sluggish performance in the exhibition opener. Idonije, starting in place of Tommie Harris, almost single-handedly held the Seahawks to a three-and-out on the home team’s first possession. Idonije nailed Julius Jones after a 5-yard gain on first down, then sacked quarterback Charlie Frye on third-and-5.
Idonije and strong safety Payne, starting in place of injured Brandon McGowan, were capable replacements.
The Seahawks drove to the Bears’ 34-yard line in the first quarter when Jones took a short pass from Frye and turned up the field for a 9-yard gain, only to fumble following a jarring hit from Payne. The Seahawks kept the ball, but Payne’s play kept them from picking up a first down and forced them to settle for a 48-yard Brandon Coutu field goal.
The defense was equally stout on the Seahawks’ next possession. Frye marched his team to the Bears’ 26-yard line and in position to score. But on third-and-10, Adewale Ogunleye and Mike Brown brought pressure to Frye, who panicked and lofted a pass that Tillman intercepted at the 8-yard line and returned 25 yards to give the Bears a little breathing space.
Too bad the offense gave it right back. Grossman threw an interception to Seattle’s Leroy Hill two plays later.
With 2:20 left before halftime, Frye had receiver Jordan Kent streaking toward the end zone on a second-and-23 play from the Bears’ 38. Frye placed the ball in Kent’s hand, but Vasher, moving step for step with Kent, uses his left hand to knock the ball free. Seattle settled for Coutu’s 46-yard field goal.
Earlier in the week, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher talked about expecting a better defensive effort than against Kansas City in the exhibition opener.
There were some flaws. But as a whole, the defense played more inspired than it did a week ago.
Urlacher and Briggs flew around the field in the first half and combined for nine tackles. Alex Brown and Ogunleye brought consistent pressure from the edges, and Idonije was all over the field. Rookie Marcus Harrison made his presence felt with two tackles in limited duty. Linebacker Jamar Williams intercepted a pass in the third quarter, as did Corey Graham, who returned his 6 yards for a score.
Earl Bennett returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown and a 19-9 Bears lead with 5:08 left in the third.
But the Bears still didn’t get a true measure of their defense. The Seahawks rested quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and had several key offensive players out.
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vxmcclure@tribune.com
*For Saturday’s late Bears-Seahawks result, go to www.chicagosports.com
