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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Heads were buried in hands, blank stares
were everywhere and handshakes and hugs were exchanged in silence.
|  | | Bears placekicker Paul Edinger, a rookie, booted a 54-yard FG to prevent the Lions from going to the playoffs. It was Edinger's longest FG this season. |
The Detroit Lions knew they had blown it.
Chicago knocked the Lions out of the NFL playoff race when
rookie Paul Edinger kicked a 54-yard field goal with two seconds
left Sunday, giving the Bears a 23-20 upset over the Lions.
"It doesn't make any sense," Detroit's Johnnie Morton said.
"We were favored by 10 points over a team that already had their
stuff packed because they had nothing to play for."
With Detroit's loss, the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis
Rams made the playoffs by beating the New Orleans Saints 26-21.
All Detroit (9-7) had to do was beat the Bears (5-11) to
qualify, but it couldn't take advantage of numerous breaks.
"This just ruins the holidays," Detroit coach Gary Moeller
said. "Fans are going to be down on us, and why shouldn't they be?
We had to win this game."
Detroit led 10-0 midway through the first quarter and 17-13
early in the final quarter, but Chicago kept fighting back even
though it had nothing but pride to play for.
"It was a great way to end a long year, a very long year,"
Chicago coach Dick Jauron said. "This team has a lot of character,
and I've said their character will show up in the future."
The Lions had numerous opportunities to beat Chicago and advance
to the playoffs for the third time in four years, but they couldn't
take advantage of the breaks.
"That's what separates the teams that make the playoffs from
the ones that don't," Detroit's Stephen Boyd said.
Detroit's best chance came when Allen Aldridge forced Bears
running back James Allen to fumble at the Chicago 10 with 2:22
left.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Bears: Did Cade McNown gain any fans with his comeback heroics?
Donahoe: This was some redemption for Cade McNown, who's had a very tough year. The teams and the fans are obviously down on him. To be able to come in and help his team get a victory certainly helps his future as a quarterback in Chicago.
Question on the Lions: How much did Charlie Batch's injury affect the Lions?
Donahoe: Detroit has struggled offensively all year, whether it was Batch or Stoney Case in at quarterback. Batch's injury probably didn't have much effect on the Lions at all.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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But the Bears forced the Lions to settle for Jason Hanson's
26-yard field goal, which tied the game at 20 with 1:56 left.
Chicago went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but the
Bears got it back when R.W. McQuarters hit backup quarterback
Stoney Case, causing a fumble that was recovered by Rosevelt
Colvin.
Cade McNown, subbing for the injured Shane Matthews, moved 19
yards in five plays and 37 seconds. On a fourth-and-1 on the play
before the kick, McNown threw a 10-yard pass to Allen.
That play put Edinger in place for the game-winning kick.
The rookie from Michigan State also beat Florida in the Citrus
Bowl on Jan. 1 as time expired.
"I don't know if it's a coincidence," Edinger said. "I just
hope I can end every year like this."
McQuarters returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown to
give the Bears a 20-17 lead with 6:31 left.
"I was reading his eyes," McQuarters said. "I read the
quarterback and got a good jump on the ball."
McQuarters intercepted another pass on the next possession, but
the Bears were called for holding, negating the play.
Both starting quarterbacks were knocked out of the game late in
the first half.
Detroit's Charlie Batch aggravated a rib injury and was replaced
by Case.
Batch admitted that his ribs have been broken since the win over
New England on Thanksgiving. He missed the first game of the season
with an injured right knee, which never seemed to heal.
"I haven't been completely healthy once this season," Batch
said. "I just always felt we had a better chance of winning with
me on the field."
Matthews broke his right thumb, giving McNown, benched earlier
this week, a chance to play.
Neither backup passed the ball effectively. McNown was 5-of-11
for 60 yards, and Case was 12-of-21 for 89 yards with the
interception and fumble.
McNown threw a 27-yard pass to Marty Booker to give Chicago a
13-10 lead with 1:47 left in the third quarter. Case gave Detroit a
17-13 lead on a 13-yard draw.
"I'm disappointed in myself," Case said. "I didn't get the
job done and we lost. I take a lot of responsibility for that."
Game notes
Edinger's 50- and 54-yard field goals were the two longest
of his first season. Before Sunday, his longest kick was from 49
yards. ... John Jett had one of the best punting games of his
career. He punted six times, and all six resulted in the Bears
getting the ball inside their own 15.
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ALSO SEE
Chicago Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Detroit Lions reaction from their loss to the Bears and elimination from the playoffs.
avi: 2810 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Coach Gary Moeller expressed his disappointment after the Lions' loss to Chicago.
wav: 240 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Wide receiver Johnnie Morton finds the Lions loss tough to swallow.
wav: 174 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Charlie Batch Official Site
Desmond Howard Official Site
Cade McNown Official Site
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