Who Could Bear Viewing This Debacle?

This game was so bad it ranked as a lowlight even for the winners.

“What can I tell you?” quarterback Erik Kramer said after the Chicago Bears overcame five turnovers to defeat the St. Louis Rams, 13-10, on Sunday night. “We won the game, so that’s good--sort of.”

At least it was better than committing five turnovers, as the Rams did, and losing. Several Ram players said it was the worst game they had ever played in, and bemoaned the fact a national television audience was watching.

“I don’t know who’s going to want to check us out again,” said quarterback Tony Banks, who was responsible for all of the Rams’ turnovers. “We couldn’t have a nightmare playing any worse than that.”

Ready or not, the Rams (4-11) are back on national TV Saturday when they close the season at Carolina.

Jeff Jaeger made two chip-shot field goals in the final 5:08 for the Bears, who won on the road in December for the first time since 1987.

Banks’ second fumble--and 16th of the season--gave the Bears (4-11) the ball at the Ram 7, setting up Jaeger’s game-deciding 20-yard field goal with 2:52 to go.

As for some of the game’s bizarre plays:

* The Bears tried a fake punt on a fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter but the ball was snapped off the facemask of upback John Mangum and deflected to Ram defensive tackle Bill Johnson.

* Bear center Chris Villarrial caught an option pass in the third quarter. Since he knew he was an ineligible receiver, he simply put the ball down.

* Bear cornerback Walt Harris intercepted a Banks pass in the third quarter, then was stripped of the ball to give the Rams a first down at the 41, leading to Jeff Wilkins’ field goal.