2008 Woodie Awards
Say it eight so: Bears keep streak alive
Bears improve to 9-3 on year thanks to pair of key interceptions
Mark Johnson
Issue date: 12/16/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Most football teams have trouble winning when facing a nearly 2-1 deficit in total yards.
As they proved again Sunday with a 19-7 defeat of the rival Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears are not most football teams.
Despite being outgained 358-188, including by a 258-49 margin through the air, Chicago took advantage of four Packers turnovers to win its eighth straight game. Even without an offensive touchdown, the Bears were able to end Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre's 11-game winning streak in Soldier Field.
The Bears used another big play by Nathan Vasher, who has already twice earned NFC Player of the Week honors, to put the game away. Green Bay was down just 12-7 when it tooked over at its own 33-yard line with 4:04 to play, but after Favre completed passes to Antonio Chatman and Donald Driver for a first down, Vasher intercepted a pass intended for Driver on a quick out pattern and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown and a 12-point Bears lead.
The pick marked the third straight Packers fourth-quarter possession that had ended with a Favre turnover. He followed a 15-yard pass to Robert Ferguson by fumbling on first down in Bears territory with 7:31 to play in the game and then lost the ball after being hit from behind by Chicago's Charles Tillman with 5:08 to go and the ball at the Packers 40.
Chicago did not capitalize on either Favre fumble by putting points on the board, but was able to continue its advantage on field position after the Packers seemed on the verge of taking the lead at the start of the fourth quarter. A10-play, 42-yard drive at the end of the third quarter had brought the Packers to the Bears 38 at the start of the fourth trailing just 9-7, but they were forced to punt after a Favre pass went incomplete on third-and-9.
From there, Bears rookie QB Kyle Orton and reserve running back Adrian Peterson engineered the Bears' longest drive of the day, which covered 63 yards over 11 plays. Orton completed passes of 7 and 18 yards to Bernard Berrian and Peterson ran eight times for 33 yards to set up a 35-yard field goal by rookie kicker Robbie Gould.
As they proved again Sunday with a 19-7 defeat of the rival Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears are not most football teams.
Despite being outgained 358-188, including by a 258-49 margin through the air, Chicago took advantage of four Packers turnovers to win its eighth straight game. Even without an offensive touchdown, the Bears were able to end Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre's 11-game winning streak in Soldier Field.
The Bears used another big play by Nathan Vasher, who has already twice earned NFC Player of the Week honors, to put the game away. Green Bay was down just 12-7 when it tooked over at its own 33-yard line with 4:04 to play, but after Favre completed passes to Antonio Chatman and Donald Driver for a first down, Vasher intercepted a pass intended for Driver on a quick out pattern and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown and a 12-point Bears lead.
The pick marked the third straight Packers fourth-quarter possession that had ended with a Favre turnover. He followed a 15-yard pass to Robert Ferguson by fumbling on first down in Bears territory with 7:31 to play in the game and then lost the ball after being hit from behind by Chicago's Charles Tillman with 5:08 to go and the ball at the Packers 40.
Chicago did not capitalize on either Favre fumble by putting points on the board, but was able to continue its advantage on field position after the Packers seemed on the verge of taking the lead at the start of the fourth quarter. A10-play, 42-yard drive at the end of the third quarter had brought the Packers to the Bears 38 at the start of the fourth trailing just 9-7, but they were forced to punt after a Favre pass went incomplete on third-and-9.
From there, Bears rookie QB Kyle Orton and reserve running back Adrian Peterson engineered the Bears' longest drive of the day, which covered 63 yards over 11 plays. Orton completed passes of 7 and 18 yards to Bernard Berrian and Peterson ran eight times for 33 yards to set up a 35-yard field goal by rookie kicker Robbie Gould.
