With their playoff hopes on life support, the cardiac Bears are still alive after a huge win over the NFC South New Orleans Saints (7-7) on a frigid Thursday night at Soldier Field.
With their playoff hopes on life support, the cardiac Bears are still alive after a huge win over the NFC South New Orleans Saints (7-7) on a frigid Thursday night at Soldier Field.
“We live to play another week,” said Bears kick returner/free safety Danieal Manning. “Every win is crucial from here on out.”
Manning would take matters into his own hands, returning the opening kick-off for an 83-yard touchdown return, along with a sarcastic taunt to the crowd, leaving the Saints special team players in the dust. His play and taunt was similar to Reggie Bush’s finger point at the Bears’ Brian Urlacher in the 2005 NFC Championship.
“He’s been showing signs of being able to break one in the last couple of games,” Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith said of Manning. “As far as celebrating before he gets into the end zone, we would work with that,” Smith said sarcastically.
With the Bears leading 7-0 early in the first quarter, the Saints were putting together a decent drive–mainly on the ground–before Drew Brees was picked off by safety Mike Brown on the Bears’ 23-yard line on third and 10.
This play would help the Bears defense gain confidence throughout the half, shutting down Brees’ arm and Bush’s swift feet, and holding them to a first half total of 103 yards passing and rushing combined. The Bears lead would balloon to 21-7 at the half.
In the second half, the Saints would answer on a drive of 2 plays, 45 yards in 42 seconds, capped by running back Pierre Thomas’ 42- yard touchdown run right into the heart of the Bears defense, trimming their lead to 21-14.
Although the Saints would eventually comeback and tie it up and send the game into overtime, the Bears would fortunately win the toss and score after benefiting from a pro-bowl like defensive pass-interference call on Saints strong safety Roman Harper, whom the refs say grabbed Devin Hester on a quarterback Kyle Orton under thrown pass.
That put Robbie Gould in position for the game-winning field goal. The final score, Bears 27, Saints 24.
Unfortunately, the Bears got no help from the Arizona Cardinals, who were throttled by the Minnesota Vikings 35-14. Minnesota is now 9-5 and if they win their next two contests, they wrap up the division title, leaving the Bears foraging for a Wild Card playoff berth. The Bears are currently in sixth place for the two playoff spots and will need a lot of help to get in, even if they run the table.
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