Gould, Bears add to New Orleans’ Chicago blues

CHICAGO – Robbie Gould and the Chicago Bears handed Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints another devastating loss at Soldier Field.

Gould kicked the tying field goal at the end of regulation and booted a 35-yarder in overtime to lift the Chicago Bears to a 27-24 victory on Thursday night, boosting their playoff hopes.

After leaving Chicago with season-ending losses the past two years, the Saints looked as if they were ready to end that trend. Instead, their slim playoff hopes took another blow.

Brees hit Marques Colston for an 11-yard touchdown pass with just more than 3 minutes left in regulation to give New Orleans its first lead at 24-21, but Gould’s 28-yard field goal as time expired sent the game into OT.

The Bears won the coin toss, and got another big break when the Saints’ Roman Harper bumped Devin Hester on a deep pass down the middle to set Chicago up at the 15. After Orton stumbled back and put the ball in the middle of the field, Gould ended it with a 35-yarder.

The Bears (8-6) are a half-game behind NFC North leader Minnesota, but the Vikings hold the tiebreaker. Chicago also is a half-game out of a wild-card spot.

New Orleans (7-7) still has a shot at the wild card but can forget about catching NFC South leader Carolina.

Brees, challenging Dan Marino’s single-season yards passing record, was 24 of 43 for 232 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.