FLASH RECAP:
Paul Edinger's 48-yard field goal as time expires gives previously winless Chicago a victory over uninspired Oakland before an announced crowd of 61,500 at Soldier Field on Oct. 5, 2003.
The Bears, who scored only 43 points (second fewest NFL) in their first three games, erase an 18-3 deficit in the second half. Stanley Pritchett's 8-yard touchdown run and Kordell Stewart's successful run on the two-point conversion try lifts the Bears (1-3) to a 21-18 lead with 6 minutes, 58 seconds left.
After Oakland (2-3) deadlocks the score at 21-all on Sebastian Janikowski's 49-yard field goal (which strikes the left upright before bounces through the goal posts with 3:30 left, Stewart drives Chicago 43 yards to set up Edindger's winning kick. The key play of the 11-play drive is Stewart's 29-yard pass to Dez White to the Oakland 31-yard line line on second and 20.
Zack Crockett scores on a 1-yard run and Janikowski kicks four field goals to help the Raiders build the aforementioned 18-3 lead advantage in the second quarter.
The Bears begin their comeback after Janikowski's 47-yard field goal attempt is blocked by DT Phillip Daniels four minutes into the third quarter. In the second half, Chicago's 30th ranked defense holds Oakland to 95 total yards and intercepts Rich Gannon twice.
Anthony Thomas rushes for 123 of Chicago's 200 rushing yards. Oakland's defense has surrendered a whopping 605 rushing yards the past three games.
"Just ain't happening," CB Charles Woodson tells reporters after the Raiders lose their thrid straight road game. "If I knew the answers, we'd correct it. We're real disappointed in ourselves."
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Kordell Stewart - Engineers four scoring drives (two TDs, two FGs) in the second half as Chicago overcomes a 15-point deficit. His 29-yard pass to wide receiver Dez White on second-and-20 from the Chicago 40 sets up Paul Edinger's game-winning 48-yard field goal.
Bears defense - The unit allows only one touchdown on seven Oakland possessions inside the Chicago 32-yard line. The Bears force two Rich Gannon interceptions and surrender only 95 total yards during the second half.
K Paul Edinger - Is 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including the game-winning 48-yarder.
RB Anthony Thomas - Has 123 rushing yards on 22 carries, his first back-to-back 100-yard performances since 2001.
CB R.W. McQuarters - His 43-yard interception return with 8:59 remaining sets up the Bears' go-ahead touchdown. He also sets up a Paul Edinger first-half field goal with a 54-yard punt return.
CB Charles Tillman - Making his first NFL start, the rookie from Louisiana-Lafayette helps hold Jerry Rice to three catches for 51 yards.
K Sebastian Janikowski - Hits five of six field goal attempts, but he misses his first career PAT (after making 147 consecutive attempts).
CB Charles Woodson - Has two interceptions and recovers a fumble.
RB Charlie Garner - Records season highs in rushing yards (92), attempts (15), yards per carry (6.1) and long gain (33). Garner rushes for only 15 yards in the second half after gaining 77 in the first half.
TE Doug Jolley - Contributes a game-high five catches for 35 yards, but he can't hold a second-down pass that is intercepted by Bears CB R.W. McQuarters and returned 43 yards to set up Chicago's second touchdown.
KEY STAT:
After rushing for 108 yards on 21 carries in the first half, the Raiders rush for only 15 yards on six attempts in the final two quarters.
GOAT:
Oakland run defense. The unit surrenders 200 rushing yards on 35 carries against a Bears offense that averaged only 105.3 rushing yards in the season's first three games.
BY THE NUMBERS:
-
0: Oakland passing yards in the third quarter.
1: Oakland touchdowns in four possessions inside the Chicago 20-yard line.
2: Rich Gannon interceptions during the second half. He threw only one interception in his first 159 passing attempts (4 1/2 games) this season.
5 Chicago victories in its past 20 regular-season games.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders G Mo Collins
"This is horrible. To lose to one of the worst teams in the league. This is not the standard we're used to."
"We knew what they we're going to do in different formations. We stopped them because we knew where they were going."
Bears CB Charles Tillman
"You get what you deserve in this business. This is probably what we deserve right now."
Raiders QB Rich Gannon
DID YOU KNOW?:
With their loss to the Bears, the Raiders are winless in three road games so far this season. Oakland only lost three road games in each of its previous three seasons (2000 through 2002).
Bears QB Kordell Stewart (10) dives for a first down
late in the fourth quarter against the Raiders.
