Bears Play Giveaway, Oilers Take a Victory : Pro football: Houston capitalizes on two of three Chicago turnovers in 24-7 victory.

The Houston Oilers found the Chicago Bears in another giving mood on Monday night.

The Oilers, capitalizing on two of three Chicago turnovers, beat the Bears, 24-7.

Houston safety Bubba McDowell scored on a 26-yard interception and a six-yard touchdown catch by Webster Slaughter was set up by Ray Childress’ fumble recovery.

The Oilers (8-5) remained in the running for an AFC wild-card playoff berth and the Bears (4-9), continuing to wilt under their own miscues, lost their sixth consecutive game.

Chicago’s record losing streak was eight games in 1978 and they’ve lost six games in a row five times, most recently in 1989.

“I don’t know what else to say,” Bear Coach Mike Ditka said. “They didn’t do anything in the first half. It was 3-0 and then we threw them a turnover. That’s something we’ve learned to do very well.”

McDowell turned a sleepy defensive struggle into a 10-0 halftime Oiler lead with his theft. In the third quarter, Childress recovered a fumble by Brad Muster.

Houston did no more than copy what other teams have done to Chicago this season. The Bears have lost 26 turnovers and the opposition has produced 17 touchdowns and two fields goals from the errors.

Houston’s defense also had five quarterback sacks.

The Oilers thought they had an interception in the second quarter when cornerback Jerry Gray ran down an overthrown pass by Peter Tom Willis but he was flagged for interfering with Anthony Morgan, nullifying the theft.

Despite a 17-0 lead, the Oilers fans booed Coach Jack Pardee’s decision to have Al Del Greco attempt a 48-yard field goal with fourth down and one to go at the Chicago 30. Holder Greg Montgomery bobbled the snap for a 15-yard loss.

That led Chicago’s only touchdown, a 17-yard pass from Willis to Neal Anderson on the first play of the fourth quarter. A 20-yard pass- interference penalty against cornerback Chris Dishman on a third and 19 kept the drive alive.

“I don’t think I played very bad,” Willis said. “We tried to establish the running game and we did that. We had good plays, they just didn’t work.”

The Oilers’ final touchdown came on a one-yard run by Lorenzo White with 9:40 left to play. White gained 116 yards in 20 carries to go over the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

The Bears haven’t had a 100-yard rushing performance in 19 games.