Bears' D keys critical 23-10 win over Jags

Mission accomplished.

The Bears, behind a big effort from their defense, did all they could Sunday to keep their longshot playoff hopes alive, easily defeating the shivering visitors from Jacksonville 23-10 on a raw afternoon at Soldier Field.

The victory improved their record to 7-6 and kept them 1 game behind the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings, who topped Detroit to move to 8-5.

The Bears' defense, which has fluctuated between brilliant and brutal most of the season, turned in one of its better efforts Sunday. But there wasn't much gloating or backslapping in the winners' locker room knowing that it probably will take victories in each of the three remaining games to make it to the postseason.

"We know we don't have any room for error - there's none, so we have to play like this for the next three games," defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said. "We haven't been consistent. This is just one game."

The Bears need to finish with a better record than the Vikings, since the enemy to the North wins all tiebreakers should both teams finish with the same record.

They won't have to wait long to see if they can sustain their efforts. The New Orleans Saints and the NFL's No. 1 passing attack come in for a Thursday night visit.

"Next week ... no this week, we've got to stay consistent with New Orleans, which is a much better offense," Ogunleye said. "I don't want to say they have a better quarterback, but (Drew Brees) has been playing better than (the Jaguars' David) Garrard, so we have to show our consistency now.

"We've been doing this all year, up and down, up and down. This is a week that I hope we can stay at this level."

The defense Sunday allowed the Jaguars just 278 total yards on a frigid day with a game-time temperature of 19 degrees and a wind chill of 9. Only three times this season have the Bears allowed less total yardage than they did Sunday, and they added 3 sacks, more than they've had in six of the last seven games.

The defense had just 1 takeaway Sunday, but it was huge.

On the third play of the game, nickel back Danieal Manning's interception and return to the Jaguars' 5-yard line set up Kyle Orton's 3-yard TD pass to tight end Desmond Clark for a 7-0 lead.

"The interception by Danieal Manning was big," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "The defense, for the most part, did what they needed to do throughout. It was good to see us get some pressure on the quarterback. I thought we held down their run."

Orton's 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen with 18 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Bears a commanding 20-3 lead at halftime that was never threatened. The score was set up by Orton's 31-yard laser to Devin Hester (5 catches, 80 yards) on a deep crossing route.

The Jaguars picked up 119 rushing yards on 28 carries but had no runs longer than 14 yards. Garrard completed 19 of 38 passes for a net 159 yards and finished with a passer rating of 61.1. He completed just 4 first-half passes, all to running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

"I thought our defense did a great job of not only getting the turnover but getting the three-and-outs and getting us the ball right back," Orton said. "When you go down and score and get the three-and-out and get the ball right back, that's big."

Defensive tackle Israel Idonije, getting increased playing time because of the season-ending biceps injury to Dusty Dvoracek, had a career-best 11/2 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries.

Another defensive tackle, Anthony Adams, has been inactive most of the season but got an opportunity against the Jaguars and responded with 8 tackles, including 6 solos, tying him for the team high with Charles Tillman, Mike Brown and Brian Urlacher.

But there isn't much time to savor this victory, which is fine with the Bears.

"Let's go at it again," defensive end Alex Brown said. "If we can win on Thursday, then we can sit back and watch the (Vikings on Sunday).

"But we have to make sure we take care of our job. That's first and foremost - we have to win. If we lose, then it really doesn't matter what Minnesota does."

How they scored

Bears 7, Jaguars 0

The score: Desmond Clark, 2-yard pass from Kyle Orton; 12:36 remaining in first quarter.

Drive: 2 plays, 5 yards; 39 seconds time of possession.

Key play: Danieal Manning set up the Bears at the Jaguars' 5-yard line after he returned an interception 44 yards.

Fact: Manning's interception was the fifth of his career and the 19th of the season by the Bears.

Bears 7, Jaguars 3

The score: Josh Scobee, 42-yard field goal; 6:28 remaining in first quarter.

Drive: 12 plays, 51 yards; 6:09 time of possession.

Key play: On third-and-8 from the Bears' 24, Israel Idonije deflected a David Garrard pass, forcing a field-goal attempt.

Fact: At one point on Jacksonville's scoring drive, the Jaguars ran the ball seven straight times.

Bears 10, Jaguars 3

The score: Gould, 22-yard field goal; 19 seconds remaining in first quarter.

Drive: 13 plays, 82 yards; 6:09 time of possession.

Key play: After catching a pass for a first down, running back Matt Forte dashed 26 yards to midfield for another first down.

Fact: Marty Booker caught a pass for a first down on the drive, his first reception in six games.

Bears 13, Jaguars 3

The score: Gould. 36-yard field goal; 2:44 remaining in second quarter.

Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards; 2:09 time of possession.

Key play: Devin Hester's 21-yard punt return down the right sideline set up the Bears deep in Jacksonville territory.

Fact: Matt Forte caught his 50th pass of the season on the drive, becoming just the seventh rookie in NFL history to gain 1,000 yards and catch 50 passes.

Bears 20, Jaguars 3

The score: Greg Olsen, 22-yard pass from Orton; 18 seconds remaining in second quarter.

Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards; 59 seconds time of possession.

Key play: Hester and Orton hooked up for a 31-yard gain over the middle.

Fact: Orton ended the half with a QB rating of 116.2, while Garrard's had a 7.6 rating.

Bears 20, Jaguars 10

The score: Maurice Jones-Drew, 4-yard pass from Garrard; 12:09 remaining in fourth quarter.

Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards; 3:32 time of possession.

Key play: Little-used Jerry Porter hooked up with Garrard for a 28-yard catch across the middle.

Fact: It was Jones-Drew's first receiving TD this season.

Bears 23, Jaguars 10

The score: Gould, 35-yard field goal; 8:58 remaining in fourth quarter.

Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards; 3:11 time of possession.

Key play: Orton and Hester again hooked up for a long one, this time a 30-yarder to the Jags' 24.

Fact: Hester led Bears receivers with 5 receptions for 80 yards.

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