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Bears hoping for late kick in homestretch

Dec 2, 2008 - 6:28 PM JACKSONVILLE (4-8) AT CHICAGO (6-6), 1 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Bears look to capitalize on a stretch of home games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Bears open a three-game homestand on Sunday against the disappointing Jacksonville Jaguars.

Chicago blew an opportunity to take the lead in the NFC North, dropping a 34-14 decision to the Minnesota Vikings last weekend.

The loss dropped the Bears (6-6) one game behind the Vikings (7-5) and in a precarious situation for the postseason, since only the division winner likely will make it to the playoffs.

Chicago needs to take advantage of its current three-game stretch at Soldier Field - all against teams without a winning record.

Against the Vikings, the Bears were looking to build upon a 7-3 lead but were stopped on four cracks at the 1-yard line before allowing a 99-yard touchdown pass that put Minnesota ahead to stay.

"It's amazing what a shift in momentum can do," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We were in pretty good shape, had a big takeaway there, and a big run to get down to first and goal. We

have to get the ball in from there with four tries."

Bears quarterback Kyle Orton struggled throughout against the Vikings, finishing 11-for-29 for 153 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw three interceptions in the second half to snap a team-record streak of 206 straight passes without a pick.

"Tough to win games when you throw three picks," Orton said. "Passing game needs to step it up. I need to step it up."

Rookie Matt Forte continued to be a bright spot for Chicago, rushing for 96 yards to surpass 1,000 for the season.

Jacksonville's lost season took another dip with a 30-17 loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night - the team's third straight defeat.

The Jaguars, who came within a win of the AFC title game a year ago, have dropped five of their last six contests, with the only victory coming over the winless Detroit Lions.

"There's a lot of disappointment on this team," Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard said. "We had high hopes and high expectations. We just didn't execute to the point to win football games."