Related links
"Down in the red zone, Dez did a great job," Orton said.
Jones, who rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns after taking a pain-killing shot to his sore right knee just before kickoff, broke off a 24-yard scoring jaunt early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-3.
By this time, the Bears had started stringing together dominant defensive series. Brian Urlacher had a sack and Alex Brown deflected a pass on one three-and-out Vikings possession.
Chris Harris posted his first career interception when Travis Taylor, covered closely by Urlacher, tipped a long Culpepper pass.
"Last week left a sour taste in our mouth," Harris said. "[Defensive coordinator Ron] Rivera told us to be one play better than we were last week. If 11 guys are one play better, that's 11 better plays. That was our goal this week, to come out and dominate. We did that."
Rivera had challenged Harris and Tillman to rebound from the Cleveland debacle throughout the week, during which Smith considered lineup changes. Rivera challenged his entire defense late Saturday.
"That's the one thing I do appreciate, when we put a challenge in front of them they respond," Rivera said. "We needed this very badly. Any time you can finish a game, it's something to build on for next week. We will try to take this momentum and use it."
The Bears, who face Baltimore next, are 2-0 in division games.
"We're resilient," Orton said. "We don't let a lot of things bother us. There's a lot going on and people making too much of what it is. We have a lot of football to go. I think we're just hitting our stride and really can get on a roll here."
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Jones, who rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns after taking a pain-killing shot to his sore right knee just before kickoff, broke off a 24-yard scoring jaunt early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-3.
By this time, the Bears had started stringing together dominant defensive series. Brian Urlacher had a sack and Alex Brown deflected a pass on one three-and-out Vikings possession.
Chris Harris posted his first career interception when Travis Taylor, covered closely by Urlacher, tipped a long Culpepper pass.
"Last week left a sour taste in our mouth," Harris said. "[Defensive coordinator Ron] Rivera told us to be one play better than we were last week. If 11 guys are one play better, that's 11 better plays. That was our goal this week, to come out and dominate. We did that."
Rivera had challenged Harris and Tillman to rebound from the Cleveland debacle throughout the week, during which Smith considered lineup changes. Rivera challenged his entire defense late Saturday.
"That's the one thing I do appreciate, when we put a challenge in front of them they respond," Rivera said. "We needed this very badly. Any time you can finish a game, it's something to build on for next week. We will try to take this momentum and use it."
The Bears, who face Baltimore next, are 2-0 in division games.
"We're resilient," Orton said. "We don't let a lot of things bother us. There's a lot going on and people making too much of what it is. We have a lot of football to go. I think we're just hitting our stride and really can get on a roll here."
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Currently: 36° F
