Bears' defense gets credit in pickoff classic (Chicago Sun-Times)
Bears' defense gets credit in pickoff classic
Urlacher, Vasher interceptions demoralize Jets
November 20, 2006
BY DENIS GORMAN
Special to the Sun-Times
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chad Pennington had only thrown one red-zone interception in his career. So when the Jets had the ball on the Bears' 5-yard line in a scoreless game early in the second quarter, it figured they'd come away with some kind of score.
But then Brian Urlacher stepped in front of a pass intended for Jets tight end Chris Baker in the end zone for a momentum-killing interception. Instead of points, the Jets were left to wonder, ''What if?''
Although Thomas Jones and Mark Bradley will receive plenty of platitudes, the Bears' defense was the main reason for the 10-0 victory Sunday at the Meadowlands. The Bears held the Jets to 264 yards of total offense, only 103 yards in the second half.
''Give the Bears credit,'' Jets coach Eric Mangini said. ''They're a really good football team. We talked all week about the importance of not giving the ball away. The margin for error against a really good team is small.''
To a man, the Jets lamented their inability to end drives but noted that the Bears were responsible for slowing their offense.
Baker was Pennington's primary receiver on the Urlacher interception, although it seemed as if wide receiver Laveranues Coles was open. While Baker was shaded by a safety, Urlacher jumped in front of the tight end and returned the ball to the Bears' 33-yard line.
''It was one of those things where the linebacker made a nice play,'' Mangini said. ''We had a play that we liked there ... and Urlacher made a nice play.''
Baker agreed with Mangini's assessment.
''I had gotten by the inside linebacker and safety,'' Baker said. ''Urlacher read the play and came over and made a good play. It was a great play by him. How often do I get triple-teamed?''
Urlacher's interception was devastating, but cornerback Nathan Vasher's pick was the death knell. The Jets were driving early in the third quarter after Robbie Gould's 20-yard field goal gave the Bears a 3-0 lead. After a false-start penalty on Baker, the Jets had second-and-15 on the Bears' 30-yard line. Pennington dropped back and tried to throw a screen to Baker. Feeling pressure from his blind side, however, Pennington tried to throw the ball away. Like Urlacher earlier, Vasher jumped in front of Baker and ended the Jets' last best chance to score points.
''Where he came from, I don't know,'' said Pennington, who was 19-for-35 for 162 yards and the two interceptions.
Two possessions later, Rex Grossman hit Bradley for a 57-yard touchdown.
''[Bradley] made a good move,'' Jets cornerback Drew Coleman said. ''It hurt, but we were still in the game.''
As Baker noted, the game came down to the Bears making the big plays at the right time.
''Well, that's the thing,'' Baker said. ''We were able to move the ball. They played great defense. [No.] 33 [Charles Tillman] hung in a zone, and [Vasher] made the play. They happened to be in the right defense; they happened to be in a zone.''
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/142807,CST-SPT-jets20.article
Urlacher, Vasher interceptions demoralize Jets
November 20, 2006
BY DENIS GORMAN
Special to the Sun-Times
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chad Pennington had only thrown one red-zone interception in his career. So when the Jets had the ball on the Bears' 5-yard line in a scoreless game early in the second quarter, it figured they'd come away with some kind of score.
But then Brian Urlacher stepped in front of a pass intended for Jets tight end Chris Baker in the end zone for a momentum-killing interception. Instead of points, the Jets were left to wonder, ''What if?''
Although Thomas Jones and Mark Bradley will receive plenty of platitudes, the Bears' defense was the main reason for the 10-0 victory Sunday at the Meadowlands. The Bears held the Jets to 264 yards of total offense, only 103 yards in the second half.
''Give the Bears credit,'' Jets coach Eric Mangini said. ''They're a really good football team. We talked all week about the importance of not giving the ball away. The margin for error against a really good team is small.''
To a man, the Jets lamented their inability to end drives but noted that the Bears were responsible for slowing their offense.
Baker was Pennington's primary receiver on the Urlacher interception, although it seemed as if wide receiver Laveranues Coles was open. While Baker was shaded by a safety, Urlacher jumped in front of the tight end and returned the ball to the Bears' 33-yard line.
''It was one of those things where the linebacker made a nice play,'' Mangini said. ''We had a play that we liked there ... and Urlacher made a nice play.''
Baker agreed with Mangini's assessment.
''I had gotten by the inside linebacker and safety,'' Baker said. ''Urlacher read the play and came over and made a good play. It was a great play by him. How often do I get triple-teamed?''
Urlacher's interception was devastating, but cornerback Nathan Vasher's pick was the death knell. The Jets were driving early in the third quarter after Robbie Gould's 20-yard field goal gave the Bears a 3-0 lead. After a false-start penalty on Baker, the Jets had second-and-15 on the Bears' 30-yard line. Pennington dropped back and tried to throw a screen to Baker. Feeling pressure from his blind side, however, Pennington tried to throw the ball away. Like Urlacher earlier, Vasher jumped in front of Baker and ended the Jets' last best chance to score points.
''Where he came from, I don't know,'' said Pennington, who was 19-for-35 for 162 yards and the two interceptions.
Two possessions later, Rex Grossman hit Bradley for a 57-yard touchdown.
''[Bradley] made a good move,'' Jets cornerback Drew Coleman said. ''It hurt, but we were still in the game.''
As Baker noted, the game came down to the Bears making the big plays at the right time.
''Well, that's the thing,'' Baker said. ''We were able to move the ball. They played great defense. [No.] 33 [Charles Tillman] hung in a zone, and [Vasher] made the play. They happened to be in the right defense; they happened to be in a zone.''
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/142807,CST-SPT-jets20.article
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:44 PM
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