Bears take big lead early, hold off Cardinals

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th December, 19:39 2023

Dec 24, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) passes in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field. credits: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Fields passed for one touchdown and rushed for another, and the Chicago Bears held on for a 27-16 win over the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

Khalil Herbert rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown for Chicago (6-9), which won for the third time in its past four games. Marcedes Lewis had a receiving touchdown.

Kyler Murray completed 24 of 38 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns for Arizona (3-12). James Connor and Greg Dortch had one touchdown catch apiece.

Chicago opened the scoring midway through the first quarter. Fields dropped back and quickly scanned the field before tucking the ball and sprinting to his left for a 3-yard rushing touchdown.

It was the third rushing score this season for Fields. He has 13 rushing touchdowns in 38 career games.

The Bears made it 14-0 early in the second quarter. Herbert took a handoff, cut to his left and outraced the Cardinals defense to the front pylon for an 11-yard touchdown.

Fields struck again, this time with his arm, to increase the Bears' advantage to 21-0 with 7:12 remaining in the first half. He rolled to his right and fired a strike to Lewis for a 1-yard touchdown.

The play marked the 40th career receiving touchdown for the 39-year-old Lewis, who is in his 18th NFL season. He scored 33 touchdowns with the Jacksonville Jaguars and six with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Bears this season.

Arizona got on the scoreboard with 2:27 to go before halftime. Conner hauled in a high pass from Murray and sprinted in for a 16-yard touchdown.

The Cardinals cut the deficit to 21-10 on their first possession of the third quarter. Matt Prater connected on a 55-yard field goal.

Chicago answered with its first field goal with 1:04 remaining in the third quarter. Cairo Santos connected from 49 yards one day after he agreed to a four-year contract extension.

Arizona pulled within 24-16 with 6:37 left in the fourth quarter. Murray passed to an open Dortch a couple yards past the line of scrimmage, and Dortch made two defenders miss for a 38-yard score.

Santos added a 29-yard field goal with 1:02 left to seal the outcome.

—Field Level Media

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