With four games left, the Chicago Bears realize their margin for error is as slim as the distance they failed to cover during a crucial goal-line sequence against Minnesota on Sunday night.
With four games left, the Chicago Bears realize their margin for error is as slim as the distance they failed to cover during a crucial goal-line sequence against Minnesota on Sunday night.
“We have to win out,” defensive tackle Tommie Harris said Monday.
Center Olin Kreutz added, “Win out. Win the NFC North. We know what we have to do to get in (the playoffs).”
The Bears (6-6) had four shots at the goal line in the second quarter at Minnesota, four chances to take control of the game and the NFC North. Instead, they’re shaking off a 34-14 beating that gave the Vikings a one-game lead. Even though another loss wouldn’t necessarily eliminate the Bears from the race, winning the remaining four doesn’t necessarily guarantee them a division title, either.
“We need some help,” defensive end Israel Idonije said.
While the Vikings face the possible suspensions of star defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams along with games against Arizona, Atlanta and the New York Giants, the Bears have a more favorable schedule. Their next three games are at home starting with this week’s match-up against Jacksonville, and although they play New Orleans the following Thursday, at least they won’t have to travel to that game. They’ll then have 11 days to prepare for a Monday night game against Green Bay before the finale at Houston.
By then, they might have control of their destiny – something that slipped away Sunday just as they were ready to grab it.
With a 7-3 lead in the second quarter, Chicago had a first down at the Minnesota 1 after a 26-yard run by Matt Forte and then, in a flash, everything came apart.
First, there was an incomplete pass to Greg Olsen in the corner of the end zone. Then, the Vikings stopped Forte on the left side and the Bears decided to send fullback Jason Davis, who entered the league with Philadelphia in 2006, up the middle with the first carry of his career. That didn’t work, and a defensive line that ranks among the league’s best again refused to budge when the Bears went back to Forte on fourth down.
He got swarmed trying to go around the right guard after coach Lovie Smith decided to go for a touchdown rather than a field goal.
“Obviously, they did a great job,” Kreutz said. “They’re a difficult defensive line to move the ball on anyway. They have three Pro Bowlers out of four guys, so they’re a very good defensive line. But at the same time, we’ve still got to punch it in at that point.”
As if that missed opportunity wasn’t enough, the pain mounted on the next play when Gus Frerotte connected with former Bear Bernard Berrian for a 99-yard touchdown along the sideline with a big assist from cornerback Charles Tillman. He drifted toward the middle when Frerotte faked a pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and left his former teammate wide open. Berrian then beat Tillman to the end zone, by far the longest touchdown in Vikings history, giving Minnesota a 10-7 lead and completing a sudden, drastic momentum swing.
Another mistake by Tillman – a 15-yard horse collar penalty – helped set up a 1-yard TD run by Frerotte in the final minute of the half, making it 17-7, and the Vikings blew it open after the Bears pulled within three early in the third. With Kyle Orton (11-for-29, 153 yards, three interceptions) enduring his worst game of the season, Chicago was unable to sustain a run in the second half, yet that sequence at the goal line stood out.
Even so, Smith had no second thoughts about the play selection.
“We didn’t get the ball in so sure there are things you would want to do some things differently now, but then? We had a sweep to the left, an off-tackle play to the right, we went up the middle and we tried to pass,” Smith said. “In that situation, it just comes down to you against them. You have to be able to get it in no matter what the play is. You have to be able to block up front. You need to make a play. We weren’t able to do that.” AP
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