WP:Redskins Beat Bears to Snap Losing Streak

[TK]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33542-2004Oct14.html

Redskins Beat Bears to Snap Losing Streak

From Staff and Wrire Reports

Sunday, October 17, 2004; 4:10 PM

Clinton Portis runs for 171 yards on 36 carries but the Redskins need several big plays from their defense to hold off the Bears, 13-10, Sunday in Chicago.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Redskins.

The Redskins needed big plays from their defense, which kept the Bears bottled up for most of the game, late to finally seal the deal.

The Bears got the ball at their 45 with 3 minutes left but had to punt when Shawn Springs sacked Bears quarterback Jonathan Quinn on a third-down blitz.

The Redskins couldn't covert and had to punt the ball back with 1:28 left at their own 35. After one first down, Quinn was sacked by on two consecutive plays by Corrnelius Griffin. On fourth down, Quinn was interecepted by rookie safety Sean Taylor.

After a scoreless third quarter, Ola Kimrin, signed Saturday to replace the injured John Hall, hit a 26-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 73-yard drive for the Redskins.

The Bears matched. Their offense, which had been ineffective the whole game, came to life after Kirmrin's kick, primarily on the running of Thomas Jones. They stalled and Paul Edinger hit a 46-yarder with 5:13 left.

The Bears had pulled to within three points when nickel back Jerry Azumah picked off a tipped Mark Brunell pass and returned the ball 70 yards for a touchdown.

Azumah's touchdown, with 5:50 left in the first half, was the fifth off a turnover by a Washington opponent this season.

Before the turnover, the Redskins' offense, missing in action for the past five weeks, looked as though it was starting to stir. Portis, for example, went over 100 yards for the game late in the first half (142 yards on 28 carries through three quarters). Brunell had 84 yards passing in the first half.

Brunell hit a wide-open Rod Gardner with an 18-yard touchdown pass to cap an eight-play, 79-yard drive. The score, on the first play of the second quarter, gave the Redskins a 10-0 lead. Key plays in the drive were a 21-yard pass to Laveranues Coles, and a 19-yard run by Portis.

Portis was shaken up with an apparent stinger midway through the second quarter after a 19-yard run. At that point, he had gained 89 yards on 16 carries. He was back in the lineup after Azumah's touchdown.

Earlier, Kimrin staked the Redskins to a 3-0 lead with a 41-yard field goal.

The kick, with 5:46 left in the first quarter, was set up after a poor punt by Chicago's Brad Maynard. The Redskins got the ball at their 47 and drove 30 yards in eight plays to set up Kimrin's kick, his first in the NFL.

The Bears won the toss and took the ball first but could not generate a first down and punted. The Redskins made two first downs before bogging down and punting the ball back to Chicago. The Bears went three and out again and Maynard shanked a 37-yarder from Chicago's 16.

The Bears have gone three and out on their first three possessions. Chicago got its first first down with 13:42 left in the second quarter.

A 17-10 home loss to Baltimore last Sunday has Redskins coach Joe Gibbs on the verge of his longest losing streak since he began his first season in Washington with five consecutive defeats.

"The biggest focus for me right now is that, as a team, we have to hang tough," Gibbs said.

"I believe we're a good football team. I told our guys that, and I think we're going to find a way to work our way through this. The natural thing is, when this happens, we have to make sure we stay together."

The Redskins haven't scored more than 18 points in a game since Gibbs came out of retirement. They didn't have a drive longer than 26 yards against the Ravens. Quarterback Mark Brunell completed 13 of 29 passes for 83 yards and was sacked three times.

Washington's Chad Morton is tackled by Chicago's Jason McKie during a kick return in the second quarter.