NFL Recap (Chicago-Detroit)
Posted: Mon November 16, 1998 at 12:48 a.m EST
DETROIT 26, CHICAGO 3
PONTIAC, Michigan (Ticker) -- Barry Sanders made up for
one of his worst games with 114 rushing yards, helping set up Tommy Vardell
for three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions routed the Chicago Bears, 26-3.
Sanders was limited to 28 yards on 14 carries in a 31-27 loss to
Chicago on October 4th, recording the eighth-lowest yardage total of his
career. But the Bears could not stop the trademark quick cuts by Sanders,
who carried 24 times to record his fifth straight 100-yard game and the
75th of his career -- two shy of Walter Payton's all-time record.
Sanders did not practice this week due to sore ribs and said he had
not healed completely, despite appearing perfectly healthy during the game.
"I was conscious of it," he said. "I could feel it when I breathed.
But it was the worst when I'd make a cut or took a hit."
"I think he was hampered a little bit. I know that he was in some
pain," added Lions coach Bobby Ross. "It would be foolish to say it didn't
bother him. He sucked it up and played hard for us. I'm very appreciative
of that."
A 14-yard run by Sanders led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Batch to Vardell
that snapped a scoreless tie with 4:22 left in the first quarter.
Vardell punched it into the end zone from three yards out with 9:30
left before halftime to make it 14-3. His previous three touchdowns this
season were all one-yard runs.
Nicknamed "Touchdown Tommy" after setting a school record with 37
career TDs at Stanford, Vardell was back to his old self in the third
quarter. He scored on a one-yard plunge with 4:17 remaining as Detroit
cashed in following Sanders' 15-yard scamper.
"We've been practicing well," Vardell said. "The entire game plan has
worked during the week, but this is the first time that we've carried it
through Sunday."
Batch completed 16-of-21 passes for 253 yards and Johnnie Morton had five
receptions for 109 yards as the Lions bounced back from last week's
embarassing 10-9 loss in Philadelphia. Detroit snapped a three-game losing
streak.
"I'm just trying to get our timing down and get a feel for each
other," Batch said. "It feels good to see a lot of people with smiles on
their face for a change. Now we just have to play like this week in and
week out."
Chicago's Edgar
Bennett gained 73 yards on 18 carries in place of rookie Curtis Enis, who suffered
a season-ending knee injury last week.
Both teams are 3-7 and share the basement in the NFC Central.
Steve Stenstrom
stepped in for injured Bears starter Erik Kramer for the second
straight game and was 13-of-25 for 159 yards. Stenstrom led an 11-play,
67-yard drive that produced Chicago's only points, a 31-yard field goal by
Jeff Jaeger early in the
second quarter.
"We didn't make any critical mistakes. I'm just sort of shaking my
head, trying to figure out what happened," Stenstrom said. "Moving the ball
well and only getting three points and having no turnovers, it's very
disappointing."
Batch rebounded from miserable efforts against Arizona and
Philadelphia and has notched his top two passing yardage totals against the
Bears. The rookie threw for a career-best 268 yards in the 31-27 loss at
Chicago.
Batch put Detroit ahead to stay when he scrambled and found a
wide-open Vardell in the right flat before the fullback pounded it into the
end zone. Third-down completions of 13 yards and eight yards to Brian Stablein set up
Vardell's second touchdown.
"Charlie had a great game. I really didn't see all of it because I
was too busy blocking, but it seemed like the timing of the routes was
great tonight," Vardell said. "It's just an indication of things to come
with him. He's showing the things that he can do."
"It was a matter of trying to take what they gave us," Batch
explained. "I had good protection and our receivers made some big-time
catches. They opened with eight in the box, so we had to try some
play-action passes to get the running game going."
Batch led one more scoring drive just before intermission, marching
the Lions 60 yards in just under five minutes. His 24-yard pass to Morton
pushed Detroit past midfield and an 18-yard completion to tight end David Sloan set up Jason Hanson for a 24-yard
field goal, giving the Lions a 17-3 lead.
After Vardell scored for the third time, Chicago had its best chance
to get into the end zone. Stenstrom moved the Bears to the 4, but he had
passes batted away at the line on third and fourth down.
"We had some opportunities to make some big plays in all areas, but we
didn't," said Bears coach Dave Wannstedt. "The disappointing thing is we
felt in the second half we could turn it around."
Robert Porcher led
the Lions' defensive effort, collecting 2 1/2 of their five sacks.
Sanders gained 29 yards on the ground to set up Hanson's 25-yard field
goal that capped the scoring with 2:19 to play.
Sanders has 1,126 yards on the ground this season, 93 behind league
leader Terrell Davis of
Denver. The Broncos play Monday night at Kansas City. Sanders moved within
96 yards of 15,000 in his career but remained one touchdown shy of 100.
Detroit owned a 391-252 advantage in total yardage and held the ball
for just over 35 minutes.
"We were able to mix the run and pass," Ross added. "We were able to
get a lot of people involved. When we're able to do that, I think we can
keep people off balance."
The only bad news for Detroit involved Herman Moore. Already
having a subpar season, the four-time Pro Bowler left in the first quarter
after aggravating a groin injury and did not return.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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