Another one of these game the Bears were “supposed to win” got away as the Washington Redskins got four interceptions from DeAngelo Hall(most ever against the Bears),and six total turnovers,and edged the Bears 17-14. Not good as the Bears head into their Bye Week before heading to Toronto to face the Buffalo Bills in two weeks.On a day in which it rained early,the skies cleared by kickoff, and the Bears won the kickoff and chose to defer.Washington picked up a quick first down on a pass from Donavan McNabb to Henry Armstrong,but on a third and three a pass went behind Santa Moss and former Notre Damer Hunter Smith punted past Devin Hester into the end zone for a safety.Like the Redskins, the Bears started with a false start.They ended up having to kick after three and out and Brad Maynard’s 39 yard punt was returned by Brandon Banks to midfield.Three in completions later,Smith had to punt again and angled it out at the Bears 30 as the fans booed over the refusal to boot it anywhere near Hester.This was a flop as Matt Forte picked up two,Hester on the ‘wildcat’ lost one, and Jay Cutler was sacked for the first time by Albert Haynesworth for a ten yard loss. Smith’s punt was allowed to roll dead at the Bears 39.The Redskins got their 2nd first down on a McNabb to Fred David 17 yard pass.Two passes to Mike Sellers gave the Skins another first down at the Bears 22.A holding penalty on Jammal Brown moved it back ten yards however.On the next snap,McNabb was under pressure from D.J.Moore and in desperation,released the ball which was tipped into the air by Israel Idonije and grabbed by Moore who had a wide open path for a 53 yard return for the game’s first score with 6:03 left in the quarter.The Redskins answered,going 72 yards in 9 plays, starting at their 28 and got a first down when McNabb hit Moss with a 16 yarder to midfield.On second and ten,Chris Cooley caught an 8 yarder to the Bears 42,and then grabbed another for 6 to the Bears 35. Lance Briggs left re-injured his ankle and did not return.Ryan Torain bowled his way for ten to the Bears 25.On play later,McNabb play faked and threw a blew dart down the middle to Moss who grabbed it about three yards in the end zone to tie the game 7-7 with 1:08 left in the period.After an incompleted try to Johnny Knox from the 20, Cutler was sacked for a six yard loss,then his screen to Chester Taylor was stuffed at the 19 as the quarter ended.Washington began their drive at their own 49 and got them to the 28 before the Bears stiffened and Graham Gano easily kicked a 46 yard field goal giving the visitors their first lead 10-7 with 2:51 gone in the second quarter.After a holding penalty on Corey Graham,the Bears had to start at their ten. Cutler hit Knox on first down for 24 and a first down to the 35.A false start pushed it back to the 30.On a third down,Cutler was dumped for the third time,making them 0-4 on third down attempts.Maynard’s punt got only to midfield where it was downed by Garrett Wolfe,but the Redskins went three downs and Smith had to punt and angled it out at the Bears 22.On a third and less than one,Forte was clobbered for a four yard loss,extending the Bears streak to 0-27 on third down conversion tries with Cutler under center.One exchange on possession later the Bears made it 0-28.With the help of an off side on the Skins, the Bears picked up a first down at their 44.And another encroachment made it first and ten at the Washington 45.A seven park pass to Earl Bennett at the two minute warning made it second and three at the Redskins 38.Knox grabbed a 13 yarder to the 25,and then an 11 yard pass to the 14. Cutler found Forte at the 9 and the Bears used their second time out with :31 left.After just avoiding a sack,Cutler hit Knox in the corner of the end zone to give the Bears the lead back, 14-10 with :24 left in the half, and at half time.
The Bears used their late momentum and a 48 yard Cutler to Earl Bennett pass to get to the Washington 1.The Bears(4-3) challenged the call that Bennett was down by contact,but the call on the field was confirmed.For once,Cutler tried a quarterback sneak,fumbled and London Fletcher recovered for Washington.It looked like Cutler may have broken the plain of the goal line,but Lovie Smith chose not to challenge the call on the field,claiming later that he didn’t want to risk losing his last challenge.Big mistake as it turned out since this would be touchdown could have made a hude difference. McNabb then quickly hit Moss for 12 to the 13 to get out of the hole. Then McNabb lost the ball on second down,but recovered it himself at the five.A would be interception and TD by Moore was nullified when the Redskins were called for delay of game,so with no play it was half the distance to the goal and moved back to the 3.McNabb then hit Davis for 11, out to the 14.On third and nine, a pass to Moss was shy of a first down at the twenty, so Smith punted out at the Washington 47.On first down, Cutler under threw Hester and Hall made a diving interception,his first, at his 39.On a third down, McNabb overthrew everyone except Daniel Manning who picked it off at the 22.Taylor broke a 12 yard run on first down to the 34,then he got 12 more to the 46.Cutler followed that with a screen pass to Forte for 18 for the Bears third straight play for a first down-this to the Redskins 41.On a third and two, Cutler hit Hester to finally convert a ‘third down’ at the 26. Forte next broke an 11 yard run through the middle to the 16.Then came yet another brutal play when Cutler tried to hit Knox but Hall jumped in front up him,intercepted it and ran 92 yards untouched to give the Redskins the lead back 17-14 with 1:36 left in the third quarter.This proved to be the only points anyone scored in the second half,and won the game for Washington.Gano’s kickoff was returned by Manning to his 16.As the fourth period started,the Bears had a second and twelve at their 29 after Cutler was sacked for the fourth time.On a third down,Greg Olsen grabbed a pass than popped away,but he re-caught it at the 48 of Washington.Hester then pulled in a four yard pass,and Forte on a sweep right,got 11 to the Redskins 35.A short pass to Forte was caught,then fumbled and recovered by Washington’s Brian Orakpo at the 25.Two carries(9 & 22 yds) by Torain moved the ball to the Bears 44.Torain then added 23 more yards to the Bears 21.He then fumbled(forced by Pisa Tinoisamoa)and hit bounced right into the hands of Peanut Tillman at the 13 and he was tackled back at the 7.After an incompleted pass,Cutler threw one right to Hall(his third pick of the game)at the 13.Torain was then carrying the ball forward,coughed it up and batted it out of bounds at the 4, before the Bears could recover it.The result was a ten yard penalty back to the 14.On second down,McNabb was incomplete on a pass intended for Moss.He was then sacked by Idonije and Gano hit the left upright with his 37 yard field goal try,giving the Bears the ball back at their own 27.On a third and long,a pass was tipped high in the air and grabbed by of all people Chris Williams-his first NFL reception,but it was well shy of a first down and Maynard had to punt to the Washington 47 with 6:12 left in the game.They got one first down,but then had to punt and Smith put it out of bounds at the Bears 19 with 3:31 to go and two time outs left for the Bears. Cutler hit Knox for 12 and then 16 to get the ball out to the bears 47. Then Hall got his fourth pick of the day at the Skins 13.That pretty much ended it as Washington was able to run out the clock.
LES
