Eager to become a certified dangerous defense, the Bears looked like one again Friday night against the Buffalo Bills. They made impact plays early and often–and in the way they want to most: against the run.
Bears defenders made big plays on each of the first three Buffalo possessions, all on runs by Willis McGahee, who rushed for more than 100 yards in seven of his 11 starts last season. Linebacker Brian Urlacher took on fullback Daimon Shelton’s lead block in the backfield on a third-and-1, stuffed him and made the tackle of McGahee for a 3-yard loss to end the Bills’ first possession. . . .
Linebacker Lance Briggs beat the block of center Trey Teague to take down McGahee for a 2-yard loss at the start of the second possession. . . .
Cornerback Nathan Vasher read a sweep to the Buffalo left and cut into the backfield to down McGahee for a 7-yard loss.
The rotation at right guard was to give Roberto Garza and Terrence Metcalf two series each. Metcalf played the first two series. Garza stepped in and on the possession after Chad Hutchinson’s first interception, pulled and delivered a strong lead block between Ruben Brown and John Tait to help spring Thomas Jones for his 40-yard scamper.
Second quarter
Rookie Mark Bradley appears to have secured the kickoff-return job, at least until Jerry Azumah returns. Bradley, who returned a Buffalo kickoff 24 yards, also saw his first action with the first-team offense. Bradley’s second return was 15 yards. . . .
Bobby Wade took over punt returns after Bernard Berrian ran back punts for minus-4, 7 and 8 yards, the first one canceled by offsetting penalties. . . .
Brad Maynard, out with a right calf strain for much of training camp, made his first punts of the preseason memorable: 44 yards, then 54 yards to pin Buffalo at its 16-yard line, 49 and 48 yards. . . .
Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye was shaken up after he landed hard on his left hip following a long pursuit of Eric Moulds on an end-around. He was replaced by Israel Idonije but returned after two plays and sacked J.P. Losman for a 7-yard loss. . . .
Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was credited with a 20-yard sack after Losman lost the handle on a snap and was chased backward by Hillenmeyer and Ogunleye.
The Bills wanted to run; the Bears simply wouldn’t let them. McGahee carried 18 times for only 39 yards, a 2.2-yard average.
Third quarter
Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, in the Buffalo backfield much of the evening, was out of the game with a chest injury at the start of the quarter, replaced by Alfonso Boone. . . .
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Kyle Orton’s ball fake on his touchdown pass to Desmond Clark was the stuff of a polished quarterback. Orton sold the inside run of Jones and was outside the pursuit before Buffalo reacted. Credit offensive coordinator Ron Turner with a gutsy call in a key situation with a rookie quarterback. . . .
Ex-Bear Shane Matthews took over as the Buffalo quarterback late in the third quarter. . . .
Bradley added to his night’s work by blocking on the Bears’ punt return team. . . .
Garza moved to center with the second-string offense with Kurt Kittner replacing Orton on the last play of the quarter.
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