Forte’s efforts not enough for Bears

NEW ORLEANS — Personally it was a great homecoming for Matt Forte, who played his college football at Tulane and before that was an all-state player at nearby Slidell High School.

If not for him, the Bears might not have had any offense at all — or at least any points.

The Bears managed just 246 total yards, and Forte supplied 166 of them.

He rambled 42 yards the second time he touched the ball to set up the Bears’ first touchdown in Sunday’s 30-13 loss to the Saints.

Starting from the Bears’ 13, Forte, swept around right end, then cut back across the grain, eluding tacklers until he was brought down at the Saints’ 45.

One play later the four-year veteran took a short pass from Jay Cutler and picked up 18 yards. It was the first of his career-best 10 receptions, which accounted for 117 yards. He had 5 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in the season opener.

“It isn’t a surprise to me,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Anything you ask a great running back to do, he can. Talk about catching the ball out of the backfield.

“That was a big weapon for us today, whether it was on screen passes or check-downs, and running in the open field, too. You can say that he did about what he needs to do for us to win a football game.”

Unfortunately for the Bears, Forte was the only one who played that way. But he did give his teammates a shout-out on his long run.

“It was a great-blocked play,” Forte said. “(Right guard) Chris Spencer pulled and sealed the edge, so I got right through there and then had pretty good blocking downfield as well.”

That 42-yard run came on the Bears’ second possession and set up Cutler’s 8-yard TD pass to rookie Dane Sanzenbacher that gave the Bears their only lead.

After that, Forte got just 8 carries and finished with 49 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

“We kind of had to start passing more,” Forte said, noting that the Bears were playing from behind most of the day. “When you get behind you have to throw the ball, so it’s kind of a tough situation.”

The Bears’ second score was a 42-yard field goal by Robbie Gould as time expired in the first half.

That 56-yard scoring drive included 4 receptions by Forte for 49 yards. Their only other score, Gould’s 38-yard field goal on their first possession of the second half, came after a 16-yard reception by Forte.

Forte had 30-some friends and relatives among the 73,019 who created enough noise to disrupt the Bears’ offense, but he said it didn’t bother him.

“It wasn’t too difficult,” Forte said. “We’ve played in loud stadiums before. I just think it adds to the excitement of the game. It was fun to play in.”

At least it was for him.