Although the Saints (7-7) still have a mathematical hope after their 27-24 overtime loss to the Bears, they have no realistic chance for a playoff spot.
Just being in the hunt for a playoff spot with three games to go was a victory for the Saints. Wind, the temperature and some hungry Bears worked against the Saints in Soldier Field on Thursday night.
"Nobody cares, but we have 16 players on the injured/reserve list," said Saints coach Sean Payton earlier this week. "That must be an NFL record."
The Bears' Danieal Manning returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown.
"Our kicking game hurt us,: said Payton. "We must have given up 120 yards in the kicking game."
"It's frustrating to get beat three straight times by the same team," said Reggie Bush, who suffered sprained knee in the first half and sat out the second.
Robbie Gould walked onto the field and kicked the Saints out of Solder Field with a 35-yard field goal; on Chicago's first possession of overtime. Gould also converted a 28-yarder on the final play of regulation. Before then, the Saints looked as if they were ready to end their frustration with the Bears and Soldier Field in December.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees did not help his MVP chances, being intercepted twice and ending the game with a passer rating of 67.2 in what may have been his least impressive performance of the season.
Chicago defenders touched 4 of his first 10 passes, including an interception. The quarterback said the blustery conditions might have affected the passing game early while he got accustomed to how receivers were getting in and out of their cuts and getting a feel for the wind.
To his credit, he improved considerably as the game went on. He completed 41 per cent of his passes for 93 yards in the first half and 73 per cent for 139 yards in the second half,
He engineered three scoring drives for 17 points in the final 18 minutes, 44 seconds of regulation, and would have been cheered as a hero if his defense had been able to stop the Bears.
"Drew hung in there and played well," said Saints receiver Lance Moore. "We made mistakes early, but we kept on fighting."
Former Tulane standout Matt Forte gave Beas fans a scare when he left for the sidelines after his first carry of the game. He suffered a big toe injury, but returned and scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run to give the Bears a 14-7 lead. He caught 5 passes for 29 yards,
The Saints got some good news before the game when a judge In Minnesota extended his injunction against the suspensions of Will Smith, Deuce McAllister fand Charles Grant for the NFL's anti-doping policy. Smih started at defensive end, McAllister was inactive and Grant is on the injured/reserve list.
Despite their highly paid defensive ends, the Saints need to improve that position next season.
Saints running back Pierre Thomas, who went to high school in Chicago and college at Illinois, had another impressive game at Soldier Field wih 87 yards rushing, 59 on pass receptions and two touchdowns.
:"I tried my best, but I'm disappointed about the loss," sid Thomas. "We looked at this game as a playoff game. It's tough when you get so close."
The Bears targeted cornerback Jason David with success when Devin Hester ran a post route in the second quarter. Hester couldn't catch Kyle Orton's pass, but he did induce David to interfere with him for a 39-yard penalty that set up Forte's 1-yard TD run.
In overtime, the Bears sent Hester deep and safety Roman Harper was guilty of pass interference and a 38-yard penalty which led to Gould's game winning 35-yard field goal.
"If you're going to let wide receivers get behind you, you are going to finish around .500,:" said Payton.
The Saints are going to be better in 2009 assuming they are going to get help at defensive end and safety.
At least with this game behind them and the winless Lions up next, their teeth can stop chattering.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS (drum roll, please): Packers -2 1/2 over Jaguars, Colts -17 over Lions (best bet), Redskins -7 over Bengals, Bucs +3 over Atlanta, Dolphins -6 1/2 over 49ers, Seahawks -2 1/2 over Rams, Bills +7 1/2 over Jets, Texans +3 over Titans, Ravens -2 1/2 over Steelers, Panthers -7 1/2 over Broncos, Chiefs +5 over Chargers, Cardinals +3 over Vikings, Patriots -7 over Raiders, Cowboys -3 over Giants, and Eagles -14 over Browns.
Although the Saints (7-7) still have a mathematical hope after their 27-24 overtime loss to the Bears, they have no realistic chance for a playoff spot.
