Goal line stand lifts Bears over the Eagles

After blowing big leads against Carolina and Tampa Bay, Chicago hung on to win 24-20.

CHICAGO (AP) — No meltdowns for the Chicago Bears this time. Instead, they came up with a big stand.

Alex Brown stopped Correll Buckhalter at the goal line late in the game, and Chicago hung on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-20 Sunday night after head-scratching losses that raised questions about their killer instinct.

After blowing big leads against Carolina and Tampa Bay, the Bears hung on.

Kyle Orton threw three touchdown passes in the first half as the Bears led 21-14 at the intermission.

Donovan McNabb threw a touchdown pass and Buckhalter ran one in for Philadelphia, which was playing without running back Brian Westbrook because of a strained right ankle.

With the score tied at 14, Eagles kicker David Akers missed a 50-yard field goal attempt.

Orton and the Bears took advantage of the field position. Orton found Brandon Lloyd for a 24-yard gain before Lloyd left the game with a knee injury. Then on third-and-9 on the Eagles 20, Devin Hester beat corner Asante Samuel on a fly route down the sideline to give the Bears the lead.

Philadelphia had just gone three-and-out on the game’s opening possession when Orton found Rashied Davis in the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain on Chicago’s first play from scrimmage. One play later, tight end Greg Olsen beat Philadelphia linebacker Chris Gocong down the sideline for a 19-yard touchdown reception.

McNabb and the Eagles regrouped the following possession. Rookie DeSean Jackson had a 23-yard catch, then later ran for 21 yards on an end around. On third down from the 22-yard line, McNabb hit Jackson in the back of the end zone, just over the hands’ of Brian Urlacher.

Jackson muffed a punt early in the second quarter, setting up a 23-yard touchdown catch for Marty Booker from Orton.

McNabb and the Eagles answered with a 57-yard scoring driving. Reggie Brown caught a 31-yard pass and Buckhalter took a screen for 19 yards to the 1 to set up his rush into the end zone.