Matthews rushes for two touchdowns as Eagles beat Bears
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[September 20, 2016]
(The Sports Xchange) - The
Philadelphia Eagles scored touchdowns on three consecutive
second-half possessions, two of them short runs by Ryan Matthews and
two following Chicago turnovers to beat the Bears 29-14 on Monday.
Matthews scored on runs of three yards and one yard, sandwiched
around a two-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Trey Burton.
One of the touchdowns followed an interception and 28-yard return by
Nigel Bradham to Chicago's two-yard line and another followed a
fumble recovery by Ron Brooks.
The Bears lost turnovers on three of their first four second-half
possessions and also lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who left
the game with a hand injury following the Bradham interception.
Cutler completed 12 of 17 passes for 157 yards but was sacked three
times. One of the sacks resulted in a fumble which the Eagles
recovered, killing a promising drive that started the second half at
a time Philadelphia led by only two points.
A short time later, the Eagles mounted their only long touchdown
drive, a 68-yard march that ended with Matthews, seemingly stopped
on a run into the line, able to slither out, keep his balance and
stumble around the pile of bodies to the end zone. That made it
16-7.
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Bradham's interception came on the first play following the kickoff,
and the next play was Burton's touchdown. Three plays after the
following kickoff, a Jeremy Langford fumble was recovered by Brooks,
a 30-yard run by Matthews set up his second touchdown, and the rout
was pretty much complete at 29-7.
Eddie Royal returned a punt 65 yards for a consolation touchdown for
the Bears with 5:09 remaining.
The Eagles led 9-7 at the half on three field goals by Caleb
Sturgis, the last a 53-yarder with three seconds remaining.
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![](../images/092016pics/sports51.jpg)
Eagles running back Ryan Mathews (24) scores a touchdown as Chicago
Bears cornerback Tracy Porter (21) defends during the second half at
Soldier Field. Philadelphia won 29-14. Mandatory Credit: Dennis
Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
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The Bears tried to "freeze" Sturgis with a late timeout just as the
ball was being snapped, and Sturgis missed the "practice kick"
badly. The next one counted, and was drilled perfectly.
Sturgis' other field goals came from 25 and 29 yards.
Chicago's touchdown, a one-yard run by Jeremy Langford, was set up
on a 49-yard bomb from Cutler to Alshon Jeffery early in the second
quarter.
Philadelphia missed two good touchdown opportunities, the first when
Bryce Callahan made a nifty breakup of a ball thrown by Wentz to
tight end Brent Celek, who appeared momentarily open in the end
zone, the next when Jordan Matthews dropped a pass in the end zone
just before Sturgis' third field goal.
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