CHAMPAIGN—D.J. Richardson went into halftime Tuesday night with three points and his Illini looking for a way to get past Yale.No. 19 Illinois found it. Richardson scored 13 second-half points and Illinois played smothering defense, holding the Bulldogs to 27 percent shooting in a 73-47 win.Demetri McCamey added 11 for the Illini and Mike Tisdale had 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.Illinois led 30-17 at the half, but needed Richardson’s second-half shooting to put the Bulldogs away. Richardson was 6 for 8 from the field and 3 for 4 from the 3-point line.Yale, coming off a 75-67 upset of Boston College last week, stayed close to Illinois for much of the night.But the key to the Bulldogs win over B.C. was 11 for 17 3-point shooting, including 6 for 9 by Austin Morgan, who had 25 points against the Eagles.Yale couldn’t duplicate that effort on Tuesday.The Bulldogs were 4 for 20 from the 3-point line.Still, Yale closed within 40-31 with 15 minutes to play when Morgan hit a 3-pointer.But the Illini quickly widened the gap over their next three possessions, turning a dunk by Mike Davis and a 3-pointer and a short jumper by D.J. Richardson to a 47-31 lead with 13:41 to play.Yale got no closer.The Illini shot 61 percent in the second half, and tightened their defense over the final 15 minutes. That included holding Yale to five points over a seven-minute span as Illinois stretched the lead to 22 points at 58-36.

Considering that Northwestern beat Iowa last week while Illinois lost to Minnesota, one would think the Wildcats would have been the favorites,but with QB Dan Persa done for the season with a torn Achilles,this was not the same Wildcat team,and the Illini ran all over the NU defense that came out flat. Mikel Leshoure ran for a School marki 330 yards and Illinois never trailed in winning the first and likely last Wrigleyville Classic 48-27.

Illinois won the coin toss and elected to receive,but of course Northwestern did not get to pick which goal to defend. Darius Mikkines returned the kickoff to his 34. Leshoure proceed to run through the Northwestern defense like it was tissue paper. First he got a quick 32 yards around left end to the NU 34. Then he got 28 to the 4,and he scored on the next play to give the Illini a quick 7-0 lead 1:17 into the game.The Wildcats started at their own 30,and Evan Watkins fumbled the ball away when sacked by Martez Wilson on third down, Clay Nurse recovered,giving the Illini the ball at the NU 30.Two big runs by QB Nathan Scheelhaase got the ball,to the 13,and Leshoure ran to the 4 for a first and goal.He followed that up with a three yard pick up to the one and then powered over to make it a rather easy 14-0 lead just 9:54 into the game.A shot kickoff was returned to the Cats 39. The Cats got their initial first down when backup QB Cain Colter ran for it.Watkins returned and hit Sidney Stewart for 13 and a first down to the Illini37,but Adonis Smith then fumbled the ball away on the next play,and Michael Buchanan recovered for the Illini who took over at their own 29.Jason Ford had a wide hole for 16 yards to his 44.Scheelhaase then ran around left end to the 35. The Illini tried some razzle-dazzle but back up QB/WR Eddie McGee’s pass was picked off by Brian Peters who ran it 55 yards into the “Forbidden” East end zone and the Illinois lead was suddenly cut to 14-7.Illinois started their next drive on their 27.NU, still unable to stop Leshoure saw him run for 70 yards to the 3.After a two yard loss, the Illini went Ford for a five yard run and it was 21-1 with 4:52 left in the first quarter.Northwestern got their next possession started at their 28.To make things worse for NU, Watkins threw a third down pass right to Ian Thomas of Illinois who ran it back to the NU 30.A 15 yard personal foul on the Cats allowed the Illini to start at the 15. Scheelhaase got 8 yards to the 7, but then a holding call pushed the ball back to the 17.On third down, Scheelhaase threw a pass to Spencer Wilson who fell down out of bounds,then came back in and caught the ball but there was also a holding on NU,so the play went over and a pass to A.J.Jenkins was stopped at the 11. Derek Dimke was wide right from 28 yards and the score remained 21-7 Illinois. The Wildcats took over at their 20 and Mike Trumpy broke free around the left side and won a foot race with the Illinois secondary,scoring to trim the lead to 21-14 with 1:00 remaining in the lengthy first quarter.Troy Pollard returned the kickoff 28 yards to the Illinois 46. The Cats defense stiffened a bit but Dimke was still able to connect on a 45 yard field goal to make it 24-14 with 11:55 left in the half.The NU offense was ineffective and Brandon Williams became the first in this game to punt, kicking it to the Illini 20,but for the first time,they also had to punt after three downs.Venric Mark,after dropping the kick,picked it up and broke three tackles,ran to the left side and got 48 yards to the Illinois 14.A two yard loss by Trumpy was followed by Colter’s keeper for two, and after a pass out of bounds by Watkins, Stefan Demos kicked a 31 yard field goal,leaving it to 24-17 Illini.Troy Pollard returned the kickoff 18 yards to the Illinois 35.On a third down,Scheelhaase had his long pass picked off by Peters, his second of the game and NU took over at it’s 25.Watkins hit Stewart for 19 to the NU 46.Tony Jones then grabbed a Watkins pass for 32 yards to the Illinois 9.Adonis Smith got seven, to the 2,and Trumpy scored untouched his second TD of the game and after early problems,the Wildcats came all the way back to tie the game 24-24 with 2:53 left in the first half. After an illegal block in the back penalty on the kickoff,the Illini started at their 9.A 39 run by Leshoure got the ball on the NU 40.Scheelhaase was able to move his team to the NU 22 with :05 left and Dimke,after the Wildcats called two timeouts in an effort to ice the kicker, still kicked a 39 yard field goal as time elapsed and the Illini regain the lead at halftime,albeit by just 27-24.Leshoure rushed for 218 yards on 18 carries in the first half for Illinois.

The Wildcats received the second half kickoff and after a touch back,started at their 20 and went nowhere.Williams punted and the Illini started at their 39 and kept it on the ground with Lashoure and Ford to get to the NU 25.On a fourth and one, Leshoure picked up a first down at the 15.Scheelhaase would eventually hit A.J.Jenkins with a ten yard TD pass and the Illini regained a two possession lead 34-24 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.After an exchange of punts, NU got the ball at their 20 with :37 left in the third quarter.A nice scramble by Watkins got the ball to the Illini 29 as the third quarter ended,but he was later sacked and Williams punted into the end zone.LeShoure broke another long one, 62 yards to the NU 8.Scheelhaase then ran to the 2,and Ford put this game on ice with a TD run to make it 41-24. Watkins worked a mostly no huddle drive to the Illini 11 after a nice pass to Tony Jones. But they had to settle for a Demos 25 yard field goal to get to within 41-27 with 7:43 left. They still could not figure out Leshoure who broke the Illinois record with his first carry on the next drive.Robert Holcombe held to old mark of 315 against Minnesota in 1996.Ford added another one yard TD with :36 left.

NOTES—The sold out crowd was 41,058….Illinois is now 2-0 at Wrigley Field as they also beat NU here(29-0)in 1923…..This was Illinois’s first game in Chicago since losing to Washington State at Soldier Field in 1988…..NU’s last game in Chicago was the Pigskin Classic at Soldier Field to open the 1997 season and the Wildcats shutout Oklahoma 23-0……NU closes it’s regular season at Wisconsin next Saturday while Illinois plays at Fresno State…..With both teams Bowl eligible,it would be the first time ever that the Illini and Wildcats BOTH go to a Bowl the same season.

LES

DALLAS — Taj Gibson had 17 points and a career-high 18 rebounds before fouling out with under a minute to play, Derrick Rose scored 22 points, and the Bulls rallied from a 12-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 88-83 on Friday night.Rose went 8 for 17 from the field and handed out six assists as the Bulls won for the fifth time in their last six games.Rose joined Gibson in attack mode even after sustaining a cut on his nose in the final minute of the third quarter when he was fouled by Dirk Nowitzki. Rose remained in the game after getting treatment from a team trainer, scoring eight fourth-quarter points.Joakim Noah contributed 10 points and 17 rebounds, and Kyle Korver had 14 points to help the Bulls end a five-game skid in Dallas.The Bulls held a 59-34 rebounding edge — 20-9 on the offensive glass for a 25-8 advantage in second-chance points — and outscored the Mavericks in the paint, 42-26.Nowitzki scored a season-high 36 points for the Mavericks, but Caron Butler was their only other double-figure scorer with 12.Korver’s corner jumper with 1:59 left put the Bulls ahead to stay at 81-79, and the lead grew to six when Rose made one of two free throws for an 86-80 advantage with 10.1 seconds remaining.Jason Terry‘s 3-pointer with 6.9 seconds left got Dallas within 86-83, but Korver hit two foul shots with 6.0 to play to ice the victory.After trailing by as many as 11 in the first half, Dallas opened the third quarter with a 20-4 run that included six straight points from Butler and two 3-pointers from Nowitzki to go up 55-43 with 5:07 left.But the Bulls closed with a 13-4 spurt over the final 4:26 of the period to narrow the deficit to 59-56 entering the final quarter.Dallas started the night No. 1 in the league in field goal defense, limiting opponents to 42.9 percent shooting. The visitors entered the game 10th in the league in the same category, with opponents hitting 44.6 of their attempts from the floor.Bulls defense got the job done early, with Dallas going 5 for 17 from the field in the first quarter while the Bulls were building a 19-13 lead.The Mavericks matched their worst-scoring quarter of the season, with Nowitzki notching 10 of the 13 points. Dallas was outscored in the paint, 12-0, and outrebounded in the first half, 28-18.The Bulls got 10 points from Rose and was in front at halftime, 39-35, holding the Mavs to a season low for points in any half. Nowitzki’s 16 points and Shawn Marion’s eight kept Dallas close.

NOTES—Carlos Boozer is about two weeks away from making his Bulls debut as he continues his recovery from a broken right hand. Boozer is running and shooting, and is expected to begin practicing next week…..The Bulls are off until Tuesday night when they resume their trip against the Lakers.

CALGARY—Jarome Iginla has been controled by the Blackhawks in the Playoffs,but not on this evening. Iginla doubled his goal total in one night and gave the Calgary Flames a confidence boost just when they needed it most..Captain Iginla scored three times to help the Flames beat the Hawks 7-2 on Friday.Iginla still believes the Flames (8-10) can get back into playoff contention in the Western Conference. Calgary is ahead of only its Alberta rival, the Edmonton Oilers, in the West standings.David Moss had a goal and two assists for the Flames, who had lost eight straight to the Blackhawks, dating to March 16, 2008. Niklas Hagman, Brendan Morrison and Curtis Glencross each had a goal and an assist, and Alex Tanguay set up three goals. Tanguay said this win was especially important for the Flames, who will begin a five-game road trip on Sunday in Detroit.Calgary will play five games in seven days while on the road.Jack Skille and Troy Brouwer scored for the Blackhawks, who dropped to 1-1 on their six-game road trip. Marty Turco stopped 29 shots just two nights after recording an 18-save shutout at Edmonton.The Flames scored seven consecutive goals after Skille opened the scoring at 6:12 of the first period. Skille broke into the Calgary zone on the right side and fired a shot that squeaked under Miikka Kiprusoff’s left arm for his third goal of the season.Hagman scored at 8:52 and the Flames went ahead for good just over three minutes later on a power-play goal by Moss, who shoveled a rebound past Turco. Tanguay took a point shot with Moss providing a screen in front.Kiprusoff, who finished with 31 stops, made a pair of big saves to help the Flames carry a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. He turned aside Patrick Kane’s heavy wrist shot before making a great glove grab on Marian Hossa’s slap shot.Iginla scored twice in the second to make it 4-1. He finished off a nice three-way passing play with linemates Tanguay and Matt Stajan at 10:01 and tipped Tanguay’s shot past a screened Turco during a power play late in the period.With 4:17 left to play, Quenneville brought Turco to the bench and put an extra attacker on the ice. Kiprusoff then made a nice glove save on Kane.With Turco back in the net, Morrison sent a rebound over the fallen goalie. Iginla converted a slap shot to complete the hat trick.

NOTES—Calgary had lost three straight…..Patrick Kane celebrated his 22nd birthday…..The Hawks are at Vancouver Saturday night.

Miami won the toss and received and started at the Bears 47 after a 46 return by Nate Carroll.After getting a first down, Henry Melton killed the drive by sacking Tyler Thigpen and Devin Hester fair caught Brandon Fields punt at his 11. The Bears quickly and quietly went three and out and Brad Maynard punted off the right side of his foot but it rolled out of bounds at the Miami 41.An offensive holding on first down killed the Dolphins series before it started.Hester returned the punt 46 yards to his own 40.On the drive, Forte got 21 to the Miami 40.Cutler hit Greg Olsen for 7 and Johnny Knox for 11 to the 26.He was Thigpen sacked by Cameron Wake,lost the ball,but Chris Williams fell on it.Gould kicked a 46 yard field goal to give the Bears first blood.This time Gould’s kickoff was downed in the end zone.After Thigpen ran for an apparent first down,an illegal block in the back called that back.Then Peanut Tillman picked off Thigpen’s next pass which Julius Peppers had deflected and the Bears took over at the Miami 46 after a five yard return.On a third and nine,Cutler found Earl Bennett in the near flat for 13 and a first down at the Miami 32.Next, Knox caught a nine yarder and Chester Taylor on the last play of the quarter,lost two yards. Hester kept the drive going with a diving grab at the Dolphins 19.A holding call on second down forced Cutler to run on third and he scrambled for 16 and got a first and goal at the nine.Taylor got to the five with a couple of neat moved up the middle,but then was hit for a one yard loss by Tony McDaniel.Cut then threw one away from Bennett and Gould kicked a 24 yard field goal.This time Carroll returned Gould’s kickoff to his 26.Brandon Marshall caught a pass from Thigpen but threw the ball at a Bears player on the sideline and got called for taunting.But Thigpen then threw a 24 yard pass to Brian Hartline.Rickey Williams lost three on first down.Then Thigpen overthrew Marshall.Thigpen then picked up six before Melton dropped him,forcing a Fields punt which Hester fair caught at his own six.On a third and five,Cutler connected for 14 yards with Hester to the 25.On another third down,Cutler hit Knox for a dozen yards to the Bears 43.This time he hit Olsen on first down for 11 to the Miami 46.On a draw play,Forte went off right tackle for 11 and got to the Dolphins 35.Taylor slipped and lost a yard on first down as the clock ticked to the two minuet warning.After a holing penalty on J’Marcus Webb,Cutler threw one up for grab which Bennie Sapp picked off at his own 33 with 1:46 left.Thigpen went right for Marshall and got 18 yards at Miami’s 49.Marshall was also shaken up with a hamstring pull on the play but walked off on his own.On third down,Lance Briggs tried for a diving interception but replay showed it hit the ground,so Fields punted to Hester who fair caught it at his 14.Forte carried for nine,Cutler threw one into the ground and Cutler took a knee as the clock ran out with the Bears taking a 6-0 lead into the locker room.

The Bears started the second half at their own 30,and Cutler went right to Knox for 16 yds at the 46.Forte then ran around right end for nine,and then went up the middle for seven and another first down at the Miami 38.But then he was stuffed for a two yard loss.Cutler then threw into triple coverage,but luckily the ball fell to the ground.Cutler then ran around the right side for eight,but on fourth down, Gould came in a nailed a 50 yard field goal to make it 9-0 Bears just 3:13 into the second half.Gould’s kickoff again reached the end zone for a touch back.The Dolphins drive was halted when Thigpen was caked for a twelve yard loss by Israel Idonije and Fields punted to Hester to downed it at the Bears 39.Forte again started running the ball effectively and with the help of Taylor they moved to the Miami 38 for a first down.Then after a near interception the Bears got bailed out by an illegal contact and got a first down at the 33.Olsen made a nice diving grab for 12 more at the 20.Olsen then got a first and goal by catching a 10 yd grab to the 8. Forte ran for two,and then got four to the two yard line.On third and goal, and then Forte got the game’s first touchdown, scoring untouched from the two with 1:57 left in the third quarter to make it 16-0 and sending many locals out onto Florda’s Turnpike and I-95. As the fourth quarter began, Miami picked up one first down but punted and the Bears started at their 22.

NOTES—White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen was in attendance…..The crowd was 68,752…..This was the Bears third win against only one regular season loss in this stadium which opened in 1987(for a Bears 10-3 Pre-Season win).The Bears never won a Regular Season game in the Orange Bowl….The Bears last shutouts were both in 2006 at Green Bay 26-0 and at the NY Jets 10-0…..Miami was shutout for the first time in nine years.

LES

NEW YORK—Jordan Hamilton scored 25 points and Texas scored the first eight points of overtime in a 90-84 victory over No. 13 Illinois on Thursday night in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic.Freshman Tristan Thompson had 20 points for the Longhorns (3-0) and Gary Johnson finished with 16, including four in the opening run of overtime.Texas will play No. 5 Pittsburgh in Friday night’s championship game of the tournament that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer. The Panthers advanced with a 79-70 victory over Maryland at Madison Square Garden.Demetri McCamey had 22 points to lead Illinois (3-1), which shot 38.4 percent from the field (28 for 73), including going 10 for 29 from 3-point range. Texas was just 3 for 12 from beyond the arc but the Longhorns were 25 of 44 from the free throw line while the Illini were 18 of 28.Cory Joseph hit a jumper with 24.6 seconds to play to give Texas a 75-73 lead. It was the Longhorns’ first field goal since the 7:55 mark. They were able to stay close and even take a brief lead late by going 8 for 10 from the free throw line over the last eight minutes of regulation.Jereme Richmond scored on a drive with 11.2 seconds left to tie it at 75 and Joseph missed a jumper at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.The extra five minutes went all Texas’ way at the start as the Longhorns took advantage of a turnover and two missed shots by the Illini which got to 87-84 with 1:06 left on a 3-pointer by Bill Cole but the Longhorns made two of four free throws over the final 39 seconds to stay in front.Texas started the second half the same way it did the overtime. The Longhorns broke from a 45-all tie with a 9-0 run with Johnson scoring six of the points. Illinois missed its first eight shots of the second half. The Illini were able to get back in the game with a 7-0 run that was capped by a 3-pointer by D.J. Richardson with 12:22 to play.

EDMONTON—Jonathan Toews had a hat trick and the Blackhawks blanked the Edmonton Oilers 5-0 on Wednesday.Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell also scored for the Blackhawks (10-9-2), who won for the first time in three tries against Edmonton this season.Marty Turco earned the shutout, having to only stop 18 shots.The Oilers (4-10-3) have lost five games in a row and have only two wins in their last 15 outings, both against the Blackhawks. Edmonton has been outscored 30-8 in its last five games.The Hawks started the scoring with 5:30 to go in the first period. Brent Seabrook’s shot was stopped by former Hawk goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, but Toews was there to follow it up for a goal.He got his second on the power play with 46 seconds left in the opening period, as he banked a shot off the skate of Oiler defender Tom Gilbert to make it 2-0.The Hawks badly outshot Edmonton 20-4 in the first period.The Blackhawks kept coming to start the second as Patrick Kane picked up an errant pass from Jim Vandermeer and dished it to Toews, who wristed it home for the natural hat trick just over a minute in.While short-handed and with just over a minute left in the second Jake Dowell’s breakaway shot rang off the post only to see Kurtis Foster cough it up seconds later to Sharp who deked Khabulin for his 11th of the season.The Hawks finished the rout two minutes into the third as Bickell unleashed a cannon past Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk, who replace Khabibulin to start the third.The Hawks outshot Edmonton 47-18 in the contest.

Viktor Stalberg put an end to the Blackhawks’ bumpy ride at home, providing quite the opening act for the circus’ annual run at the United Center.Stalberg scored at 4:32 of overtime and the Blackhawks stopped the Anaheim Ducks’six-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory Sunday night.The 24-year-old forward redirected Duncan Keith’s shot past Jonas Hiller for his sixth goal and second in two nights. Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa each had a power-play goal and an assist to help the Blackhawks snap a three-game slide.Corey Perry had two goals for the Ducks, who were trying to match the franchise record for consecutive wins. Hiller finished with 40 saves, including 15 in the second period and nine more in the third.The Blackhawks got a much-needed boost in their final home date before the first of two six-game trips this season, this time clearing out for the circus to come to town. Backup goalie Corey Crawford made 24 stops for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who also snapped a four-game home losing streak.Perry tied it at 2 about 3 1/2 minutes into the third, making a nice move to get past defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson before letting loose with a perfectly placed shot into the upper left corner for his eighth of the season.It was Perry’s 16th career multigoal game and first since he scored twice at Edmonton on March 26.The Blackhawks had chances to win it in regulation. Hossa banged one off the left post midway through the third and Hiller made a couple of nice stops on short-handed chances by Hossa and Jonathan Toews in the final minute.Anaheim killed 22 of 24 penalties during its six-game surge, including 17 straight before the Blackhawks solved their special teams twice.The Blackhawks grabbed the lead during a dominant second period. After a penalty for too many men on the ice, Hossa’s one-timer was stopped by Hiller but the rebound went right back to the Blackhawks’ forward. He converted a backhander with 9:36 left in the period to make it 2-1. Hossa stopped a six-game pointless streak and ran his career numbers against the Ducks to 13 goals and five assists in 20 games.Bobby Ryan nearly tied it again during a line change late in the second, but his shot clanged off the post.The Hawks got off to a fast start, taking advantage when Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman was sent off for hooking in the first. Patrick Sharp’s shot caromed off the backboard to Kane, who shot it into the open left side of the net for his seventh goal.The Ducks quickly bounced back, tying it 57 seconds after Kane’s goal. Under pressure from Jason Blake, Keith lost the puck. Perry skated away with it before converting Anaheim’s first shot of the game 4:34 into the first.

NOTES—Anaheim C Todd Marchant was scratched because of an upper-body injury. The 37-year-old Marchant is day to day. … Ducks D Paul Mara played in his 700th NHL game. … Defensemen Jordan Henry and John Scott were healthy scratches for the Blackhawks. … D Sheldon Brookbank and RW Troy Bodie also were scratched for Anaheim. … The Ducks won seven straight games from Feb. 20 to March 7 in 1999. … Hossa had three goals in three games against Anaheim last season, but the Blackhawks went 1-3-0 in the season series…..The Hawks open their six game “Circus” trip in Edmonton Wednesday night.

The Bears started at their own 20 and picked up three first downs,helped by a 25 yard Cutler run, before being forced to punt and Brad Maynard put it just inside the end zone for a touch back.The Vikings quickly moved the ball into Bears territory,keyed by a 20 yard Adrian Peterson run and sharp Favre passing.The drive stalled at the 18 which meant Ryan Longwell kicked a 36 yard field goal which capped a 62 yard 11 play drive. Devin Hester returned the ensuing kickoff 32 yards top his 37 yard line.On the Bears next possession,they faced a third down,Cutler’s pass deflected off Johnny Knox right to Husain Abdulah who had an easy interception and Minnesota took over at their 43.Twice on the Vikings drive,they were bailed out by defensive holding penalties against the Bears that came on third down. The drive continued as the first quarter ended.And intentional grounding Favre moved the Vikes back and Longwell tried a 39 yard field goal into the wind that hit the left upright,keeping the score 3-0 and giving the ball to the Bears at their own 29.Cutler hit Knox on a third down for 29 to the Minnesota 33.Later,Cutler found Knox again for 11 to the Vikes 13.The Bears had a third down TD from Cutler to Greg Olsen called back due to a holding call on Olen Kruetz,but the same pair then hooked up for a 17 yard TD pass that this time held up with 6:57 left in the half to get the Bears on the board for a 7-3 lead.After an exchange of punts the Vikings got the ball at their own 47 and Percy Harvin burned Chris Harris and Tim Jennings on a 53 yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage to put Minnesota back in front 10-7.Harvin was at least 15 yards behind everyone.Obviously no migraines for Harvin on this play! Raheed Davis had a nice 32 yard kickoff return to the Minnesota 49.Cutler drove the Bears to the 19,and despite a border line chop block penalty,he hit Hester up the middle and he dove across the plain of the goal line and it was ruled a touchdown,and upheld by booth review with :44 left in the half.On the Vikes next possession, Favre fumbled while scrambling and the Bears recovered at the Minnesota 41.Taylor ran for 5,and Cutler hit Hester at the 25,but Gould was wide left with a 43 yard field goal try and the Bears settled for a 14-10 half time lead. 

The Vikings started in their 18 and Favre had a pass intercepted by D.J.Moore at the 10,but the Bears went backwards. Forte lost three on first and goal. Then a pass intended for Earl Bennett in the end zone was slightly overthrown.On third down,Cutler threw a pass while over the line of scrimmage which was incomplete anyway.Gould then kicked a 34 yard field goal to make it 17-10 Bears.After an exchange of punts,the Vikes started at their own 43.On first down,Favre had Harvin not quite as open,but Danieal Manning was face guarding at the Bears 15 for a 42 yard pass interference penalty.It was 3rd and ten from the 15,and Favre threw incomplete again in the end zone so Longwell kicked a 33 yard field goal with 8:14 to go in the third period.Hester took the kickoff from one yard in his end zone and returned it 668 yards to the Minnesota 34.On a third down, Cutler hit Devin Aromashdu for 9 for a first down to the 21.It became third and 8 at the twenty,and Cutler had Bennett,but the receiver was turned the wrong way. Gould then was successful with a 37 yard field goal try and it was 20-13 with 5:26 on the third quarter clock.Minnesota went three and out and Chris Kluwe again punted to Hester who zig zagged 42 yards to the Minnesota 37.Two Forte carries got the ball to the 23 for a first down.On an eight yard pass to Hester,he was helped off and an illegal block in the back was again called on Kruetz.Cutler however scrambled and hit leaping Knox for 21 yards at the 9 for a first and goal.Forte picked up one.After a bullet missed Olsen in the end zone.He then scrambled and threw into coverage and Abdullah got his second pick of the game and the Vikings took over as the third quarter ended with the Bears ahead 20-13.They also went three and had to kick,which Kluwe rolled dead at the Bears 45.Cutler again carved up the Vikes defense with a key 18 yard pass play to Davis and a 19 yard third down play action pass to a very wide open Kellen Davis up the middle for a touchdown that gave the Bears the game’s first two possession lead 27-13 with 8:37 to go.Favre had a pass picked off for the second time in the game,this time by Lance Briggs,this time the Vikes challenged the ruling,lost and ran out challenges for the rest of the contest.The Bears got to fourth down and Maynard punted the ball dead at the Minnesota 1 yard line.Favre tossed his third interception of the game,this to Harris with 2:27 left at the Bears 20.That as they say,was that. 

NOTES—This is a short week since the Bears are at Miami on Thursday night while Green Bay plays at Minnesota next Sunday…..Attendance was 62,206. 

LES