Berrian's catch tougher than it looked

Bernard Berrian's 3-catch, 24-yard day was his second-least productive game of the season, but his 3-yard TD catch with 28 seconds left might go down as the biggest play of the year.

Berrian beat seven-time Pro Bowl corner Champ Bailey, but only after diving back toward Rex Grossman's pass, which was thrown over Berrian's back shoulder to avoid an interception.

Berrian had to change direction without losing his feet on the slippery Soldier Field turf that was slick because of a steady drizzle earlier in the game.

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"I think it was a lot tougher than it looked because the biggest thing (was) I didn't want to slip and fall," said Berrian, who barely stayed in bounds while falling to the ground. "We knew we could get them on it earlier -- we were studying film. He didn't bite on it the first time we tried to get him. He bit on it that (last) time a little bit.

"Rex couldn't actually throw it where he wanted to. So he just gave me a back-shoulder throw to make a play on it."

One play earlier, the Bears went to Berrian on a slant inside, but it was broken up by nickel corner Karl Paymah.

"I think I should have had it," Berrian said. "He made a great play and hit my elbow, knocked the ball out, jarred it loose a little bit. I was thinking, 'I hope they come back to me.' "

Berrian, who will be a much-sought-after unrestricted free agent after the season, has 54 catches, 23 more than the next Bear, and 733 receiving yards, 301 more than his next-best teammate. His TD catch was his third of the season, tied for the team lead with Muhsin Muhammad.

And it came just in time.

"I think it was just the drive and determination of not wanting our season to end, especially at home," Berrian said of the late awakening by a sluggish offense. "We're always going to out fighting and swinging. We're never going to quit, never going to give up, so I don't want that to get in anyone's head."