Redskins Fall From Race

Champ Bailey goes all-out to break up a pass for the Bears' Marty Booker, but Redskins were eliminated from playoff contention, raising question of job security of Marty Schottenheimer, left. (John McDonnell - The Washington Post)

Chicago moved back in front in the opening moments of the second quarter when Johnson's run capped a 54-yard touchdown march. Right tackle James Williams blocked linebacker LaVar Arrington at the line of scrimmage. Johnson maneuvered around safety Sam Shade, and even cornerback Darrell Green didn't have time to chase him down.

The Redskins got even at 10 on place kicker Brett Conway's 34-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. They had a chance for more points late in the half, but Banks spiked the ball to stop the clock on a third-and-four play from the Chicago 34 with 17 seconds to go. Schottenheimer did not have Conway attempt a 52-yard field goal into the wind, and Banks threw incomplete to tight end Zeron Flemister on fourth down.

"In my view, we were not in field goal range," Schottenheimer said, and added of the third-down spike by Banks, "I would have preferred that not have happened."

Banks said he erroneously thought he heard a voice in the radio receiver in his helmet, which connects him to Redskins quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer, tell him to spike the ball.

"It was probably someone on the sideline next to Brian," Banks said. "I was trying to do as I thought I was told to do. I've been in the league, and it was not something I wanted to do. Around here, you do what you're told or else. So it's on me."

Banks had completions of 22 yards to wide receiver Michael Westbrook, 33 yards to Flemister and 14 yards to wideout Rod Gardner as the Redskins moved to the Chicago 8 late in the third quarter. But Davis got stopped for no gain on first and goal. Banks followed with two incompletions, and the Redskins had to settle for Conway's 26-yard field goal and a 13-10 edge.

The Bears used a quarterback sneak by Miller to convert a fourth-and-inches gamble on the second play of the fourth quarter. The drive stalled at the Redskins' 27. Edinger lined up for a 46-yard kick into the wind. But the Bears put Urlacher in motion before the snap, and the Redskins failed to cover him.

Maynard took the snap, rolled to his right and lobbed an on-target throw to the wide-open middle linebacker, who got into the end zone before the Redskins' David Terrell could stop him.

"We put it in here and it worked," Urlacher said. "On Friday [in practice], I dropped one, maybe two. In the game, I don't drop them, and that's all that matters."

Said Shade: "The guy came across in motion. I knew something was up. But nobody covered him. That hurts. . . . That's something we as a group have to see, but nobody saw it."

The Redskins had three more possessions. Banks threw three incompletions on the first, and was sacked twice on the second. Edinger's 37-yard field goal upped Chicago's lead to 20-13 with just more than three minutes to play. The Redskins got the ball at their 36 and moved down the field. Banks connected with Gardner for 17 yards and Flemister for 11 for a first down at the Chicago 25. A third-and-three pass interference penalty on Chicago safety Mike Green against Flemister gave the Redskins a first down at the 12, and a Banks completion to Gardner gained nine yards to the 3.

"I definitely thought we were going to get in," Samuels said.

But Davis was stopped for no gain on second down and, after a timeout, Banks missed connections with tight end Walter Rasby and Gardner. The Bears ran three plays and had Maynard step out of the end zone for a safety, then recovered Eric Metcalf's fumble on the ensuing free kick. Miller had to kneel down only once to run out the clock.

"It stings because you didn't get beat physically," Redskins rookie cornerback Fred Smoot said. "We didn't think the best team won, and they had to trick us to beat us. [But] it was the right call at the right time."