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Oak Park Journal photo of the Chicago Bears
Dan Peters Sports Editor
Oak Park Journal
| BEARs Defeat the New York Giants
28-21 and Bring Another Victory Home. by Dan Peters The Chicago Bears stole the New York Giants' early season formula for success -- again and again and again on Sunday... The Upset was on The Bears defense forced five turnovers, including three consecutive plays in a 20-point burst late in the first half, in beating the Giants 28-21 on Sunday, making it two in a row for the "Monsters of The Midway" "We made plays when we really needed to," said defensive end Alex Brown, who had four of the Bears' seven sacks. "They scored two quick touchdowns, but we knew we had to stay in our gap and play ball. They couldn't drive the ball on us. We got a sack, we got a turnover and things kind of rolled from there." Rookie Craig Krenzel, starting for just the second time, threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to start the rally and Anthony Thomas "The A Train" scored on runs 4 and 41 yards as the Bears (3-5) won its second road game and handed the Giants (5-3) their second straight home loss... The Giants never saw what hit them. The Bears earlier this season stunned Green Bay at Lambeau Field...another impressive defensive outing. "They played the kind of game we have been playing, let the other guy lose the game," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. What made the defeat more frustrating for the New York..... The NFC East leader Philadelphia (7-1) lost earlier in the day. The Giants also have to worry about a pectoral injury to All-Pro defensive end Michael Strahan, who left in the third quarter and never returned. The Giants, which came into the game with an NFC-best plus-12 takeaway differential, self-destructed after taking an early 14-0 lead on touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards by Tiki Barber. Another 13-yard TD run by Barber seemed to give New York a 21-0 lead later in the quarter, but the play was called back by a holding penalty against Amani Toomer. Three plays later, Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah sacked Kurt Warner and forced a fumble that Nathan Vasher recovered. It was the second consecutive week that Vasher recoverd a key fumble for the Bears. The Giants' offense was grounded after that. "I don't really know what sparked us," said Azumah, who also had an interception. "They scored two quick touchdowns on us and we basically said `Enough!' The Giants had 14 penalties for 109 yards, didn't get on the board again until Warner threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey with 1:56 to play.By then the game was all but over.... The Giants got one final chance when Jack Brewer recovered the onside kick at their 40. However, Warner was sacked two more times, and the Bears ran out the clock....Game Over!! "It's extremely frustrating," Giants center Wayne Lucier said. "We were rolling pretty good and we let some of their pressure get to us. It was pressure every play. You turn the ball over like that, you're not going to win. It was a nightmare." The Giants allowed the Bears to score 20 points in the final 5:13 of the opening half. The last 17 points came after New York turned over the ball on three straight plays: a fumble by Ike Hilliard and two interceptions. With a first-and-20 at the Chicago 37, Krenzel needed only two plays to get Chicago on the board. He hit David Terrell for 28 yards and found Bernard Berrian for 35-yard score down the right sideline. Bears safety Mike Green forced and recovered a fumble by Hilliard at the Giants 29... they needed only two plays and two penalties to tie the game. Thomas walked into the end zone, untouched, on a 4-yard sweep with 2:35 left in the second quarter. On the Giants' first place from scrimmage, Rookie Vasher intercepted a pass off Toomer's hands and returned it 41 yards, setting up Paul Edinger's go-ahead 22-yard field goal. Green had a big hit on Toomer in setting up the interception. A questionable holding penalty against Kevin Green on the ensuing kickoff nullified a great return by Willie Ponder inside the Bears 15. New York started instead from its 30 and Azumah intercepted an ill-advised pass by Warner to Shockey at the Giants 46. A 33-yard pass to Bobby Wade set up a 21-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The Giants had a chance to take the lead early in the third quarter when linebacker Nick Greisen recovered a lateral at the Chicago 18. However, Brown sacked Warner and forced a fumble on second down and Ian Scott caught the ball in midair for the turnover. Notes from the Meadowlands: New York Giants starting center Shaun O'Hara missed his second straight game because of a leg infection. ... Toomer caught a pass for the 91st consecutive game. ... Barber has scored a touchdown in six straight games. ..Warner was 18-of-36 for 195 yards. Anthony Thomas finished with 110 yards on 28 carries, a 3.9 yard average. ... Krenzel was 8-of-21 for 144 yards and no interceptions...The teams combined for 489 yards in total offense. There were 17 punts, 10 for Brad Maynard of the Bears. Chicago has the distinction of having one of the youngest Pro Football Teams (The Bears) And Basketball Team (DA Bulls) |
