Bears Overcome Four Turnovers To Defeat the Eagles

Who doesn’t love it when the Bears prove you wrong? Despite being plagued by some of the same problems we’ve seen all season, Chicago held on to beat a solid Philadelphia Eagles ballclub. It was a game filled with great plays and absolutely mind-numbing ones. Luckily, The Bears left Solider Field with a much-needed win. It was a tale of two halves on both sides of the ball for Chicago, but luckily it was in an order that allowed for the victory.

Since recent blogs of mine have been filled with negativity after losses, I’ll start out with the positive aspects of last night’s thriller. Kyle Orton threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. It was a notable performance for a quarterback that isn’t known for being anything more than a “game-manager.” Greg Olsen was used to perfection on the first touchdown of the game, making a tremendous catch on the out-and-up. That series was also a great change of pace for the Bears’ offense, as Ron Tuner came out with the no-huddle to put the Eagle defenders on their heels and out of their normal aggressive blitzes. The Bears went 59 yards in three plays to score seven points on their first drive of the game. Marty Booker went to the middle of the end zone early in the second to put the Bears back on top. Devin Hester made up for his drop early in the game by catching Orton’s pass on the sideline route, beating the Eagles’ best corner in Asante Samuel for touchdown number three. The offense put up 21 points in the first half, when they normally couldn’t reach that total for an entire game. Even more shocking was the execution of the screen pass, which was ran three times and always went for positive yardage.

 In the second half, however, the Bears only managed to put up a field goal, and that was very late in the game. It was a total switch flip for Kyle Orton, as he balanced out his three touchdowns with three turnovers. He had two poor throws that turned into interceptions as well as a fumble caused by the Eagles pass rush. He only threw for twenty-five yards in the first half, falling one yard short of his second 200 yard game this season (my prediction stays accurate). The offensive line had trouble picking up the exotic blitzes, giving up four sacks and multiple pressures. Backup tailback Kevin Jones fumbled after a handoff from Orton, which gave the Bears four turnovers in a half. The offense didn’t even muster a first down in the entire third quarter. They sank back into their typical pattern of running up the middle on first down, which never was particularly successful. The mix of calls that gave the Bears the lead in the first half was not to be found in the second, and it almost cost them the game.

Defensively it was the complete opposite for Chicago. Donovan McNabb and Desean Jackson connected for a touchdown following the Bears’ first score. The defense allowed two touchdowns in the first half, on Eagle drives dependant on the pass. The Bears did manage key third and long sacks on McNabb, but never corralled Desean Jackson. The running game never materialized for Philly, as Brian Westbrook sat out this game and backup Correll Buckhalter left early with an injury and returned late. It was just another example of the Bears making an opposing offense one-dimensional, but still not being able to game plan against the remaining strategy.

After allowing 2 touchdowns in the first two quarters, the Bear defense stepped up by allowing only two field goals in the last two quarters. Kevin Payne came away with a key interception on a McNabb to Jackson miscommunication, halting a key Eagles drive. The real defensive highlights came on three red zone possessions in that half that only allowed two field goals. One David Akers kick came after a goal line stand, but it would not be the only stand made by Chicago. With less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Bears stopped Philadelphia three times from the one yard line to cause the turnover on downs. It was a tremendous showing by a defense that had been deservedly maligned for giving up fourth quarter leads in the past two weeks. This was a statement game for that defense.

 There wasn’t a lot to see in the special teams department of note, as Devin Hester didn’t make many positive plays. There was a key return in the second half where he decided to run backwards to field a punt that went over his head. Instead of letting it bounce and making the kicking team make a play, Hester helped out by trying to return a kick from the three, which is where he went out of bounds after the Eagles forced him to the sidelines. It was another dumb decision by an otherwise talented return man. In the same vein for Philadelphia, rookie Desean Jackson muffed a punt in the first half, which the Bears recovered punched into Marty Booker for seven. Fortunately, Hester didn’t cost his team the game, unlike Jackson.

Now that the Bears have beaten a team they weren’t supposed to have a chance against, next week they must beat a team they should dominate. The Lions are at the bottom of the NFC North at 0-3 and are recuperating after firing team president Matt Millen last week. This is another trap game for the 2-2 Bears, so Lovie Smith better prepare his team well, or no one will care that he beat the Eagles. I know I won’t.