Magnificent Seven For Bears
Matt Bryant missed what would have been a game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter to give the Chicago Bears victory over the Tampa Bay.
It was the seventh straight win for the first-place Bears (8-3), who held on to their two-game lead over the Vikings in the NFC North. The Bears last won seven straight in 1986.
The Bears needed a little luck in victory and got it when Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Bryant missed a field goal with 2:47 remaining, after Simms threw an incomplete pass on a 3rd-and-2 play at the Chicago eleven yard line.
The Buccaneers were within three points when fullback Mike Alstott dove into the end zone from two yards out with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. It was the first touchdown allowed by the NFL's top-ranked defence in thirty-eight possessions.
It fact it was the defence that was responsible for the Bears' solitary touchdown of the day. On Tampa Bay's first possession of the game, defensive end Alex Brown stripped the ball away from Simms and defensive tackle Tommie Harris recovered the fumble - one yard out from the end-zone.
On the next play, Kyle Orton faked a hand-off and hit John Gilmore in the end zone.
Rookie Robbie Gould kicked field goals of 25 and 36 yards for Chicago. The loss dropped Tampa out of a first place tie in the NFC South with the Panthers, who won against the Bills.
