BEARRRSSSSSS!!!!!!
Gould's kick gives Bears 20-17 win over Saints
November 6, 2005
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Robbie Gould's 28-yard field goal with :06 seconds remaining gave the Bears a 20-17 victory Sunday in Baton Rouge.
Gould's kick gave the Bears (5-3) a four game winning streak and extended their lead on top the NFC North to two games over Detroit (3-5) and Minnesota (3-5).
"I've really got to attribute this to everyone," Gould said. "This is a winning team and we are all doing our jobs. That's all we can ask for and just keep the streak going."
Wide receiver Justin Gage caught his first touchdown pass since 2003 in the first half of the Bears 20-17 win over the Saints.
After Thomas Jones exited late in the first half with a rib injury, Cedric Benson (14 carries for 79 yards) and Adrian Peterson (6 carries for 58 yards and one touchdown) combined for 137 yards.
"Both of them had huge runs for us in critical situations. That's on them and the offensive line. The offensive line is doing a heck of a job blocking for them and creating holes," quarterback Kyle Orton said.
The Bears trailed 3-0 early when cornerback Nathan Vasher forced running back Aaron Stecker to fumble on a 7-yard reception in the left flat at the Chicago 13. Rookie safety Chris Harris scooped up the loose ball and returned it 49 yards down the right sideline to the New Orleans 43.
The Saints challenged the call, believing that Stecker was down by contact before the ball popped loose, but referee Bill Leavy upheld the ruling on the field after a replay review.
Kyle Orton had Muhsin Muhammad open in the end zone, but the rookie's pass drifted out of bounds. After Thomas Jones' 15-yard run to the New Orleans 8 on third-and-seven sustained the drive, Orton hit Justin Gage on a quick slant for a 4-yard touchdown on third-and-goal.
Gage's first TD since Dec. 21, 2003 gave the Bears a 7-3 lead with 6:26 left in the first quarter.
The Saints responded as Aaron Brooks' 15-yard TD pass to Donte' Stallworth capped a 14-play, 95-yard drive and put New Orleans ahead 10-7 with 9:57 remaining in the second period.
The Saints got the ball back when blitzing safety Dwight Smith stripped Orton from behind on a blitz and defensive tackle Willie Whitehead recovered at the Chicago 39.
But on the next play, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer registered the first interception of his three-year career when he picked off Brooks' pass in the left flat intended for tight end Lamont Hall.
Orton followed with his third turnover of the half when his pass floated well over a leaping Gage and was intercepted by Smith, who returned it 25 yards to the Chicago 42.
The Bears eventually tied it 10-10 on Robbie Gould's 35-yard field goal with :22 left in the half. The kick was set up by Orton's perfectly thrown 33-yard pass to Muhammad on third-and-10 that resulted in a first down at the New Orleans 24.
The Bears had a golden opportunity to take the lead early in the third quarter when defensive tackle Tommie Harris blasted Smith in the backfield, forcing a fumble that safety Mike Green recovered at the 20.
But the offense mustered just one yard on three plays and Orton was penalized for intentional grounding on third down. Gould followed by missing a 47-yard field goal attempt wide right.
Adrian Peterson, subbing for the injured Jones, produced a career-long 36-yard run and a 6-yard TD on successive plays to give the Bears a 17-10 lead with 7:29 left in the third quarter.
After giving up big plays early, the Bears defense contained Saints running back Aaron Stecker in the second half.
"We're a running football team, we get off teh plane running the ball. Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones and Adrian Peterson all did a great job carrying the ball. And what can I say about the offensive line that I haven't said. The same thing has happened each week. They really did a great job," head coach Lovie Smith said.
A key play on the drive was a 28-yard pass interference penalty against cornerback Mike McKenzie that nullified safety Josh Bullocks' interception at the Chicago 44.
The Saints responded as Brooks capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run on a bootleg to the right corner of the end zone, tying the game 17-17 with 7:44 remaining in the fourth period.
John Carney's 21-yard field goal on the game's first drive had given the Saints a 3-0 lead with 12:18 left in the first quarter.
Aaron Stecker returned the opening kickoff 45 yards and Antowain Smith followed with a 42-yard run on the second play from scrimmage, giving New Orleans a first down at the Chicago 3.
On the Bears' first possession, Orton threw high and wide over the middle to Bobby Wade. The ball deflected off the receiver's hand and was intercepted by cornerback Fred Thomas.
"Good football teams find a way to win when you don't play your best ball, and that's what happened today," Smith said.
Roster notes: Roberto Garza made his fourth straight start at left guard in place of the injured Ruben Brown (chest). Reserve wide receiver Bernard Berrian missed his second straight game following thumb surgery.
Other Bears inactives were quarterback Rex Grossman, cornerbacks Rashied Davis and Daven Holly, safety Brandon McGowan and offensive lineman Qasim Mitchell.
Briefly: After not allowing more than 100 yards rushing in six straight games since the season opener, the Bears permitted 104 yards on 19 carries in first half Sunday... Fullback Bryan Johnson made his season debut after missing the first seven games while recovering from foot surgery. Johnson was placed on the 53-man roster on Saturday.
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