Denver's defense did the dirty work Saturday on a rainy, muddy day at Soldier Field. The Broncos intercepted three passes and fell on two fumbles in soiling another performance by the Chicago Bears' ineffective offense.
"We had to play their kind of game because of the weather," Denver coach Wade Phillips said after a 13-3 victory improved the Broncos' playoff chances and improved their record to 9-5."It just shows that we can play any kind of game. We are not just a passing team. We can run the ball, throw the ball or do whatever it takes to win the game. . . . We are not worried about the division. We will find out what happens tomorrow and go on to the next game," added Phillips.
Chicago backup quarterback P.T. Willis, starting for Jim Harbaugh, who has a bruised right hand, never got a grip - not on the ball or the game - during a miserable afternoon at Soldier Field.
He completed only 14 of 29 passes with three interceptions and also fumbled to set up Denver's only touchdown, a go-ahead score late in the first half.
"P.T. is the second quarterback, so he's not as good as Harbaugh. He's a good athlete but we'd rather have seen him than Harbaugh," said Denver defensive end Shane Dronett, who made the first interception.
"We knew it was going to be a defensive battle coming into the game. The games that they have won, they've won defensively. We knew if our offense got on the board that we were just going to have to hold them," he added.
"It was tough for the Bears having to go with their second-team quarterback, and I know that hurt their chances some but I thought we played well," said Phillips. "We kept thinking Harbaugh might come in, so we had some things ready in case he came in."
Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said Harbaugh could have played and he talked about using him after the Bears fell behind 10-3 at the half and again late in the game should Chicago have needed a two-minute drive.
"The main thing was the turnovers, we got to make some plays down the field," said Wannstedt, announcing that Harbaugh would return as the starter next week against Detroit, a game the Bears (7-7) must win to stay alive.
"We're wounded badly in the playoff hunt," said Wannstedt. "But we're not out of it yet."
Willis, completing only 6-of-16 first-half passes, threw an interception to stop one drive early in the second quarter, and his fumble after a hit by Mike Croel let to Denver's touchdown with 1:24 left in the first half.
Croel recovered the ball at the Bears' 16. After a 15-yard run by Rod Bernstine, Robert Delpino carried in from the 1, giving the Broncos a 10-3 lead.
"I turned the ball over four times. I had the opportunity and I didn't take advantage of it," said a dejected Willis. "I'm sorry we lost, I didn't help us."