LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Many fans had already hit the exits at Soldier Field, heading home after watching a disappointing performance by the Chicago Bears.
What they missed was one of the team’s greatest comebacks – for the second week in a row.
All it took was this: a touchdown pass with 28 seconds to go, the recovery of an onside kick, then a desperation tipped TD pass from Shane Matthews to James Allen on the final play of regulation to erase a two-touchdown deficit against the Cleveland Browns.
And top it off, in overtime for the second straight week, a pass popped into the air and second-year safety Mike Brown was there to carry it 16 yards for a game-winning touchdown.
“We had guys going crazy,” Matthews said Monday, a day after the stunning 27-21 victory over the Browns.
“Today we’re still on an emotional high. Everybody says the ball is bouncing our way this year – and it is. We are getting our breaks, but for the most part the first 3 1/2 quarters yesterday, nothing went our way.”
Bears coach Dick Jauron said he’d witnessed games where two-touchdown leads evaporated in about 40 seconds, but Sunday’s turnaround was even quicker.
“I don’t think that they ever felt they were out of the game. It’s an amazing thing,” Jauron said.
A week earlier, the Bears rallied from 19 back, scoring two TDs in the final four minutes to tie the 49ers, and then winning on Brown’s 33-yard interception return in overtime.
But against the Browns, the chances were even slimmer.
“We needed two scores and we had two timeouts and I knew we were good at the onside kick,” Jauron said. “We work on it enough. We made the play and you’re at midfield, so it wasn’t that shocking.
“Was it surprising? I guess, but you’ve got to believe you can win it.”
Allen, relegated to backup duty with the emergence of Anthony Thomas at tailback, was in the game because he’s considered a better receiver. As several Brown defenders leaped to knock the ball down, Bears receiver David Terrell got a hand on the ball and it went to Allen, who caught it as he fell on teammate Marty Booker.
“I cushioned the blow if you want to say that,” Booker said. “I didn’t even see James. I was trying to get it myself, and he made a great play right on top of me.”
Now comes an even bigger challenge, facing the Green Bay Packers. And for once, the two league pioneers are fighting for the top spot in the NFC Central at the same time.
Chicago, 6-1 thanks to a six-game winning streak, can’t afford a slow start like it had against the 49ers and Browns. Next time, there might not be a comeback. But then again, who knows?
