The Bears’ concern coming into Sunday night’s Philadelphia game was supposed to be the defense, with Pro Bowl tackle Tommie Harris out with a knee injury and visions of Brian Griese’s 67 passes still fresh in mind.
But they adjusted with a first half of efficient offensive play, then held on for a 24-20 victory when the defense staged a goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter. They stopped Correll Buckhalter inches short of the end zone on a fourth-down running play from the 1-yard line with 3 minutes 40 seconds left, then the clock ran out on Donovan McNabb on the Eagles’ last possession.
Kyle Orton threw a career-high three touchdown passes in the first half, helping the Bears build a 21-14 halftime lead. Defense dominated the second half, with both teams bringing relentless pressure. The Eagles sacked Orton four times through three quarters, forced four turnovers and held the Bears without a first down in the third quarter.
A 49-yard interception return by Kevin Payne in the third gave the Bears the ball at the Eagles’ 11-yard line with a chance to take a commanding lead, but Orton was intercepted in the end zone by Quintin Mikell one play later.
Another Orton mistake allowed the Eagles creep within 21-17 going into the final quarter. He fumbled the ball as he was being sacked by Trent Cole. Eagles linebacker Omar Gaither recovered at the Bears’ 28. The turnover resulted in David Akers’ 24-yard field goal.
Orton was charged with another turnover when a handoff to running back Kevin Jones fell to the ground and was recovered by Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley. That led to Akers’ 31-yard field goal that closed the Eagles’ gap to 21-20.
Robbie Gould pushed the lead back to 24-20 with a 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, capping the Bears’ most efficient possession of the second half.
Defense led to the Bears’ first score of the game. A blitzing Danieal Manning combined with Adewale Ogunleye to sack McNabb on the Eagles’ first series — the Bears first sack in 72 pass attempts dating to the Carolina game. The third-down play allowed the Bears to start their initial drive from their own 41.
It took Orton three plays to capitalize, starting with a 34-yard completion down the middle to Rashied Davis. He then hit Matt Forte for a 9-yard gain, setting up a 19-yard TD pass to Greg Olsen. The tight end streaked down the right side ahead of Eagles linebacker Chris Gocong.
As quickly as the Bears scored, the Eagles responded, McNabb marching them 74 yards in eight plays and threading the needle on a 23-yard touchdown strike to rookie DeSean Jackson. The ball sailed barely beyond the reach of Brian Urlacher, and safety Mike Brown was late closing, allowing Jackson to grab the ball in stride.
Jackson’s fumbled punt in the second quarter set up the Bears’ second score. Linebacker Nick Roach recovered the muffed punt at the Eagles’ 24-yard line. It took two plays for Orton to find Marty Booker for a 23-yard touchdown.
The Bears’ 14-7 lead was short-lived. McNabb calmly guided the Eagles on a five-play, 67-yard drive, ending in Correll Buckhalter’s one-yard blast for a score. McNabb had three passes of 16 yards or better on the drive, including a 31-yard completion to Reggie Brown with Payne covering.
Philadelphia had a chance to move ahead before halftime. The Bears faced third-and-12 from the Eagles’ 49 when Orton dropped back and was drilled by Juqua Parker. The ball floated in the air and was picked off by Darren Howard.
But the Eagles went three-and-out, and then David Akers missed a 50-yard field goal. Akers also missed a 47-yarder in the third quarter.
The Bears didn’t squander their final first-half chance. Orton directed a nine-play, 60-yard march ending with his 20-yard touchdown strike to Devin Hester. The receiver/return specialist got behind All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, who slipped. Hester looked fluid and comfortable as he stretches for the pass, showing no signs of torn rib cartilage that knocked him out of action last week.
Hester did make a costly mistake in the third quarter. He fielded a punt deep in his territory, then was run out of bounds at his own 4 for a 75-yard change in field position.
Regardless of Hester’s blunder, the Bears desperately needed him back in the lineup.
————
vxmcclure@tribune.com
