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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bears down Giants, sit atop NFC


Chicago Bears running back Thomas Jones (20) leaps over Giants defenders for a touchdown. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Tom Canavan Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Just call the Chicago Bears the best team in the NFC – and the New York Giants red-faced for falling asleep on a record-tying 108-yard missed field goal return by Devin Hester.

Hester fooled the Giants by standing in the back of the end zone for several seconds, then ran down the right sideline on his knockout-blow return as the Bears rallied for a 38-20 victory over the injury-ravaged Giants in their NFC showdown Sunday night.

On Nov. 13, 2005 – almost exactly a year ago – the Bears’ Nathan Vasher caught Joe Nedney’s missed 52-yard field-goal attempt in the back of the end zone on the final play of the first half and ran it back for a 108-yard TD return. The play helped Chicago beat San Francisco 17-9, and now Hester shares the record for longest NFL play with his teammate.

Rex Grossman threw for three touchdowns and Thomas Jones scored on a short run as the Bears (8-1) rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit with 28 second-half points in ending a five-game winning streak by the Giants (6-3).

Grossman, who struggled for almost the entire first half, finished 18 of 30 for 246 yards. Muhsin Muhammad had seven catches for 123.

Eli Manning struggled against Brian Urlacher and the Bears’ vaunted defense. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. He finished 14 of 32 for 121 yards.