As bad as Kyle Orton's fourth-quarter interception was, it wasn't the worst decision in a flurry that helped send the game into overtime. The Bears faking a punt in their own territory with a 21-17 lead, a play that failed, will go down as one of the most reckless calls of the season. But a bigger head-scratcher came when the defense bailed out coach Lovie Smith with a fourth-down stop to give the ball back to the offense with a lead. Two straight pass plays? With five minutes left and the Saints owning only one timeout?

\ Defensive collapse

For most of the game the Bears' defense played with the urgency required. But after having success against the run, it let down and allowed Pierre Thomas to score on a 42-yarder. Then after its rousing fourth-down stop, it let Drew Brees pick it apart on the go-ahead drive. The secondary just wasn't up to the task, and the pass rush simply gave Brees too much time. In the final analysis, the Bears blew another fourth-quarter lead -- something that has happened far too often this season for a veteran unit.

You da Manning

The Bears got a Pro Bowl-caliber performance out of their return game, as Devin Hester predicted, but it wasn't the return man everyone expected. Danieal Manning returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and set up the second score with a 52-yarder. He needed oxygen on the sideline after the two returns that took the breath away from fans at Soldier Field. The impact was Hester-like and gave the Bears the boost they needed to take an early lead that helped their defense play more aggressively and their offense take some shots downfield.

\ Still a race?

Even before the Bears squandered a fourth-quarter lead in a game they had to win to keep any realistic playoff chances alive, they were defeated. A federal judge in Minnesota extended the preliminary injunction against the Vikings defensive tackle tandem of Pat and Kevin Williams, and three other players. The decision will delay a hearing over their suspension and allow them to play the rest of the season. For three quarters, the Bears controlled the only aspect of the playoff race they could control before a familiar fourth quarter unfolded.