The “BEARS IN BRIEF: Bennett has a career day - Chicago Sun-Times”

BEARS IN BRIEF: Bennett has a career day - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 06:58 AM PST

BEARS IN BRIEF: Bennett has a career day

BY NEIL HAYES nhayes@suntimes.com Dec 6, 2010 01:44AM

DETROIT -- Earl Bennett laughed when asked if he has a different mentality on third down.

''Catch it and get the first,'' he said. ''I'm just trying to make plays. Whatever is called, I'm going to run my route to the best of my ability and keep moving until they tackle me.''

It sounds simple, but it's working for Bennett, who had the first 100-yard receiving game of his career Sunday against the Lions. He caught seven passes for 104 yards, including a 12-yard gain on third-and-four during the Bears' go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Perhaps more important, four of those catches came on third down and resulted in a first down.

''The coaches are calling great plays and putting us in position to make them, and we just want to make them,'' Bennett said. ''Whether it's me, Devin [Hester] or Johnny [Knox], everybody is out there trying to make plays and trying to help the team out.''

Bennett had four catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Eagles. 'Non-football act'

After the game, referee Ed Hochuli said he flagged Ndamukong Suh for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter after the Lions defensive tackle hit Jay Cutler from behind because the contact was ''an unnecessary non-football act.''

The penalty, which came during the game-winning drive, gave the Bears a first-and-goal on the 7.

''I had a great angle to make a play and get the ball out, and that's what I went after,'' Suh said. Stats are for losers

Drew Stanton's quarterback rating of 102.4 was the highest against the Bears' all season, beating out Michael Vick's rating of 94.2 last week.

The third-string quarterback from Michigan State completed 16 of 24 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in his second career start.

''Those are good stats but at the end of the day you want to get the win,'' Bears defensive end Julius Peppers said.

''He played well today. Hats off to him. They had us off balance and ran some good plays against us. They controlled the first half. He played a great game but you want to get the win instead of great stats.''LB depth tested

The Bears' linebacking depth touted by Brian Urlacher was tested when Nick Roach injured a hip in the first quarter. Roach was replacing Pisa Tinoisamoa, who was inactive with a knee injury. Rod Wilson (no tackles) replaced Roach at strong-side linebacker.

''He hadn't played a lot of 'Sam' in his career but he did a good job,'' Urlacher said. ''We're going to need our [other linebackers], obviously.''

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