October 21, 2007
Improved Bears defense has Eagles seeing red
By Larry Mayer
PHILADELPHIA – Though far from perfect, the performance of the Bears defense in Sunday’s thrilling 19-16 comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles was a vast improvement over recent weeks.
After allowing 12 touchdowns in its previous four games, the unit gave up just one TD Sunday, forcing the Eagles to settle for field goals on three straight trips in the red zone in the first half.
Tommie Harris registered two of the Bears' three sacks on a three-play span early in the fourth quarter Sunday in Philadelphia.
Seven days after yielding TDs on runs of 73, 67 and 35 yards and a pass of 60 yards in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Bears didn’t permit a run over 12 yards or a pass of more than 25 yards.
“The big thing we did today is we didn’t give up any big plays,” said defensive coordinator Bob Babich. “I think in the long run that really helped us out.”
Keeping the Eagles out of the end zone in the first half didn’t hurt either. Philadelphia settled for field goals after rookie cornerback Trumaine McBride broke up a pass intended for receiver Reggie Brown in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 6, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye pressured Donovan McNabb into an incompletion on third-and-two from the 14 and McNabb overthrew tight end Matt Schobel in the middle of the end zone on third-and-four from the 19.
After registering only five tackles against the Vikings, All-Pro middle linebacker Brian Urlacher matched that total in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 12 stops.
“He had some big tackles,” Babich said. “He was playing fast.”
Playing keepaway: The Eagles kept the ball out of Devin Hester’s hands entirely on special teams. Rookie Sav Rocca averaged 33.0 yards on four punts, booting three out of bounds and one into the end zone for a touchback. David Akers’ four pooch kickoffs were returned by Rashied Davis (3 for 24 yards) and Adrian Peterson (1-2).
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Improved Bears defense has Eagles seeing red - Chicago Bears
Improved Bears defense has Eagles seeing red
Improved Bears defense has Eagles seeing red
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