"If it wasn't for Tennessee's 4 turnovers this game would have gotten ugly in a hurry." Those were the sentiments echoed by Coach V of the Bears. This is typically the type of game you get when you match up 2 offensively challenged teams and 2 coaches who have played hundreds of games against each other. Despite all the sloppiness Chicago actually had a 16-13 halftime lead. Eddie George blasted 1 in from the 1 to give the Titans and Coach Keller their first lead of the day at 20-16. Late in the 4th the Titans drove deep into Chicago territory and were poised to put the game away when Erron Kinney was stripped of the ball on the Bear 12 and Tony Parrish fell on it on the 9. Chicago had life...ok, a pulse...but it was something for the fans at Soldier Field to cling to. Shane Matthews hit Marty Booker with a screen for 19 yards and the Bears were now securely away from their goal line. Anthony Thomas knifed for 7 yards off tackle vs a nickel D. He gained another 4 for a 1st. The clock was now starting to become the team from the Second City's enemy as it registered 4:51 left. Matthews looked deep for Booker who was doubled and wound up getting sacked by Joe Salave'A for 11 yards. 2 plays later Brad Maynard hit a booming punt that went for a touchback.A false start made it 1st and 15 from the 15 for TEN. An incomplete pass took no time off the
clock and made it 2nd down. Another Steve McNair pass fell short to make it 3rd and 15. Eddie George gained 2 yards on a draw and the Titans were forced to punt from their 17 with 2:50 remaining in regulation. R.W. McQuarters fielded the punt on his 49 and spun away from 2 would be tacklers only to get blind sided on the Titan 43 and out popped the ball. Luckily for the Bears Warrick Holdman recovered the ball and the Bears had a 1st and 43 with 2:42 to go and all 3 of their timeouts + the 2 minute warning. Anthony Thomas gained 4 yards on the ground and the Bears were forced to burn their 1st time out. A 5 yard defensive holding penalty gave them an automatic 1st down on the Titan 34. "AT" gained 10 yards on run that took them to the 2 minute warning. Matthews hit David Terrell for 9 yards on the Titan 15. AT ran for 5 yards and a 1st down vs a run D that was keying him. That setup 1st and goal. A play action pass to Booker gained 3 and it was 3rd and goal from the 7. The Bears went to the well one time too many and Tennessee's defense was waiting for AT at the line of scrimmage. Terry Killens was keying Thomas all the way. 4th and goal from the 7 with 1:14 left and the Bears had to go for it. Tennessee was in tight coverage knowing full well that Matthews had to go to the air. He hit Booker in stride, but Denard Walker made a game saving play by shoving the receiver out on the 1. Tennessee took over possession on downs. Even though the Bears could only stop the clock twice Tennessee still could not take a knee and get "out of Dodge".
From the 1 yard line Eddie George struggled to get back to the line of scrimmage. Same thing on the following play. After an incomplete play action pass to Derrick Mason the Titans purposely snapped the ball out of the end zone and took a safety to cut their lead to 20-18. A 33 yard return by Autry Denson gave the Bears the ball at mid field with 11 seconds left and a glimmer of hope. Matthews hit Booker on the 33 with the hopes that his receiver would go OB and his team would be able to attempt a 50 yard game winning FG. That plan was put to rest when Perry Phenix punched the ball out of Booker's hand. The ensuing scrum for the ball allowed time to expire and Tennessee to escape Chi-town with a win. Eddie George had a workman-like 32-111-td game. Marty Booker was also busy with 10 receptions for 114 yards. Chicago fell to 5-2 after starting the season 5-0. Tennessee moved to 4-3.
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