INDIANAPOLIS–As usual, nothing about Kyle Orton stood out except that he won.
INDIANAPOLIS–As usual, nothing about Kyle Orton stood out except that he won. Orton passed for just 150 yards, but his mistake-free performance let Chicago’s running game and defense shine in a 29-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night. The performance was the kind Chicago coach Lovie Smith was looking for when he chose Orton as his quarterback over Rex Grossman. Orton improved to 13-6 as the Bears’ starter but was especially impressive in helping ruin the Colts’ first regular-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium. "Kyle Orton did a great job of running the offense," Smith said. "That’s what we expected from him." The game was a rematch of the 2007 Super Bowl, won 29-17 by Indianapolis. But perhaps the biggest difference between the two games was the fact that Orton, not Grossman, was under center. The former Purdue star made three clutch plays. The first came late in the first half on a third-and-12 from the Indianapolis 33. Orton rolled right and couldn’t find a receiver, so he took off. He spun off a shoulder-tackle attempt by Kelvin Hayden and gained another couple yards, and Robbie Gould made a 41-yard field goal on the next play to give Chicago a 10-3 lead. On Orton’s next big play, the Bears received a free kick after a safety. On a third-and-15 in the final minute of the first half, Orton completed a 29-yard pass down the right sideline to tight end Greg Olsen. It set up Gould’s 25-yard field goal as time expired that made it 15-6. His final big play was on a third-and-1 from the Colts 27 early in the fourth quarter. Orton avoided the rush and bought some time, then found an open Desmond Clark, who rumbled down to the 1. Jason McKie scored on the next play to increase Chicago’s lead to 29-13. Orton said the Bears executed their gameplan well. They controlled the clock and converted 10 of 16 third downs. "There were a couple times I thought we were close to putting it away," he said. "Finally, it seemed like whenever we needed a big drive, we moved the ball and made big third downs." Orton did fumble once, but the Bears recovered it. He also fumbled the snap on the Bears’ first offensive play, but that was wiped out by a false start. Orton completed 13 of 21 passes, to seven different receivers. "We’ve heard how we don’t have a (number) one receiver," Smith said. "We do have a lot of options. Kyle did a good job getting the ball to all those guys." Orton’s success was set up by Matt Forte’s big debut. The first Chicago rookie to start at running back since Walter Payton in 1975 ran for 123 yards. He scored on a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter after he broke a tackle and outran Bob Sanders, last season’s defensive player of the year. Chicago’s win ended Indy’s remarkable streak of 21 consecutive victories in September and October, the league’s longest run since the Green Bay Packers won 23 pre-November games from 1928-32. It’s also the first time since 2004 the Colts won’t start at least 7-0. Chicago’s defense limited the Colts to 53 yards rushing, which forced quarterback Peyton Manning to win it with his arm. Manning was 30-of-49, but for just 257 yards and one touchdown. That score, on a 6-yard pass to Reggie Wayne, made it 15-13 with 9:18 left in the third quarter. The Colts had a chance to go for the lead after forcing Chicago to punt. On the second play of the possession, Bears defensive back Charles Tillman stripped the ball from receiver Marvin Harrison, and Lance Briggs recovered it and ran it back 21 yards for a touchdown that made it 22-13. Chicago ran for 183 yards passed for 150. More important, the offense didn’t put the defense in bad positions. "We really ran the football on them, and we’re a running football team," Orton said. "Anytime we do that and control the clock and make key plays in the passing game, we are going to be right there." Notes: Indy’s last September loss came Sept. 9, 2004 at New England. The Colts opened the retractable roof and the sliding glass window before the game. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who attended the game, called the stadium "spectacular." No Bears receiver caught more than three passes. Wayne and Harrison combined for 18 catches and 162 yards. AP ______ In photo: Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs (55) returns a fumble 21-yards for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008. Bears safety Danieal Manning (38) blocks for Briggs. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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