Bears’ defense tough, but it wasn’t enough
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Bears’ defense knew it would have to step up against the Raiders in Caleb Hanie’s first NFL start at quarterback, and so it did.
The Bears kept the Raiders out of the end zone until just 3:47 remained — but it wasn’t enough in a 25-20 loss to the Raiders.
The defense allowed just 3 points off the first 2 of Hanie’s 3 interceptions, and nickel back Corey Graham’s second-quarter interception set the Bears up for a TD that gave them a 7-6 lead — Graham’s third straight game with a pick.
The Raiders came in with the league’s No. 3 rushing attack, but they managed just 73 yards on 27 carries against the Bears, for a subpar 2.7 yards per carry. Still the Bears weren’t satisfied.
“We did OK against the run,” said linebacker Brian Urlacher. “But they made plays when they had to, and that’s what it came down to. We didn’t make enough plays and they did.”
The Bears allowed the Raiders to convert just 1 of their first 12 third-down plays. But then they permitted 2 straight conversions, the second of which was a 47-yard Carson Palmer-to-Louis Murphy hookup that set up the Raiders’ final TD with 4:47 remaining, which gave them a 25-13 lead.
The defense forced just 1 turnover after getting 9 the previous two games.
“It wasn’t enough,” Urlacher said. “We had a chance to get off the field with 5½ minutes to go, and then we gave up a touchdown. It was 18-13 and, if our offense scores that (late) touchdown, who knows what happens? We didn’t do it. We’d like to get more takeaways.”
The Bears had their chances.
Cornerback Tim Jennings, who had 3 pass breakups, got his hands on a couple Raiders passes but couldn’t hold on.
But the defense limited the Raiders to 341 total yards, 36 under their average.
“Defensively we did some good things,” coach Lovie Smith said. “Keeping them out of the end zone (for most of the game), and we had an opportunity for a couple of picks and we weren’t able to complete the play. We had an opportunity to stop them there late on the big third down that they converted. We’ll learn from this game. We’ve got a lot of football left to go, and I like the way our team fought there at the end — but we need to do a little bit more.”
One of the best tackles in the game came from 320-pound offensive right tackle Lance Louis, who ran down Raiders linebacker Kamerion Wimbley short of the end zone after a 73-yard interception return. Louis was penalized for a horse-collar tackle 12 yards short of the goal line.
He was penalized, but his tackle saved a touchdown, and the Raiders had to settle for the fourth of Sebastian Janikowski’s franchise-record 6 field goals.
“Lance made a great play on that, saving a touchdown,” quarterback Caleb Hanie said. “That’s overlooked, but he’s got some good speed for a big guy.”