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Gould kicks Bears to 13th win of season

Dec 25, 2006 - 1:47 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Robbie Gould celebrated his first trip to the Pro Bowl in style.

Gould made all four of his field-goal attempts, including three in the fourth quarter, to lead the Chicago Bears to a 26-21 victory over the Detroit Lions in a battle of NFC North rivals.

Brian Griese replaced starting quarterback Rex Grossman in the fourth quarter and directed the go-ahead scoring drive.

Bears coach Lovie Smith said earlier in the week that he planned to use some backups in the second half of this game since his team had already clinched homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Bears (13-2) close the regular season next week at home against Green Bay.

"I guess they had planned they were going to get me out mid-third quarter," said Grossman, who completed 20-of-36 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown. "It turned out to be late fourth quarter. My mindset is I'm going to play the whole game and if they take me out, they take me out."

Griese appreciated the opportunity to play and was 6-of-9 for 51 yards.

"It was a bit of a surprise," Griese said. "To be honest, I was happy it was that way, it being a close game. If I go in with a two-touchdown lead, it's not as competitive so I really enjoyed that part."

Griese directed a 12-play, 72-yard drive that set up Gould's 39-yard field goal with 5:13 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Bears a 23-21 lead.

Rookie defensive end Mark Anderson sacked and forced a fumble by Jon Kitna and end Adewale Ogunleye recovered for the Bears at the Detroit 32. That set up Gould's fourth field goal - a 44-yarder with 2:50 remaining.

The Lions reached the Chicago 22 with seven seconds left, but Kitna's last pass went off the hands of Mike Williams in the end zone. Williams tried to make a leaping catch while being covered by rookie Devin Hester.

"I bought some time and I saw Mike by himself against one guy," Kitna said. "He's a tall guy, so I tried to put it up where only he could catch it, but we didn't connect."

"I owe it to the team and myself to make that play," Williams said. "That's just a play you make. I should have had it."

The loss was the seventh in a row for the Lions (2-13), who are tied with Oakland for the worst record in the NFL. On the basis of strength of schedule, Detroit will get the first pick in the 2007 draft if it finishes tied with Oakland.

The Lions showed some fight on Sunday, rallying from a 17-7 halftime deficit. Kitna hit Mike Furrey with a 20-yard touchdown pass and connected with Roy Williams on a two-yard scoring play in the third quarter to give the Lions a 21-17 advantage.

But Gould, who was one of seven Bears named to the Pro Bowl earlier this week, kicked field goals of 36, 39 and 44 yards in the fourth quarter.

Gould kicked a 36-yard field goal with 8:38 left in the first quarter.

Kitna threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dan Campbell with 2:32 left in the first quarter to give the Lions a 7-3 lead.

Grossman hit Bernard Berrian with a 13-yard touchdown pass 55 seconds into the second quarter and Adrian Peterson scored on a two-yard run with 26 seconds left in the half to give the Bears a 17-7 lead.