SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 28, 2010
Jay Cutler tied a career high with four touchdown passes as the Chicago Bears (8-3) took over first place in the NFC North on Sunday with a 31-26 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Philadelphia's Michael Vick threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bears used Vick's first interception of the season to swing the momentum and post their fourth consecutive victory.
Matt Forte had 117 yards rushing on 14 carries for Chicago, which took over the division lead outright when Green Bay (7-4) lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 20-17.
LeSean McCoy had 53 yards on 10 carries and added eight receptions for 67 yards for Philadelphia.
With Chicago leading 14-13, the Eagles (7-4) had a second-and-goal at the Bearsกฏ 4. On the first play following the two-minute warning in the opening half, defensive tackle Tommie Harris deflected Vick's pass into the hands of Chris Harris. A 38-yard return by Harris put the ball at the Chicago 37.
The interception ended a streak of 238 passes thrown by Vick without a pick. Vick finished the game 29 of 44 for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears promptly went 63 yards on six plays - all through the air - and extended their lead to 21-13 with 38 seconds before halftime on Cutler's 6-yard touchdown pass to Earl Bennett. The TD was the second of the opening half for Bennett and the third for Cutler.
Chicago took the second-half kickoff and went ahead 28-13 on Cutler's 9-yard TD pass to Greg Olsen, who outjumped defensive back Dimitri Patterson at the back of the end zone.
Robbie Gould connected on a 23-yard field goal on a drive that consumed 10:05 as Chicago led 31-13 with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
Field goals of 22 and 36 yards by David Akers, the second with 4:17 to play, pulled the Eagles within 31-19. Philadelphia added a late touchdown, but was not able to pull out a fourth consecutive victory.