Obscure Bear Gets Big Break

After being undrafted, James Allen has been waived, relegated to the practice squad and declared inactive.

Given the chance he has long sought, Allen had Chicago’s best single-game rushing effort of the 1990s Sunday, gaining 163 yards in his first NFL start to lead the Bears to a 24-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens to end a six-game losing streak.

“Wow. I always knew I could do it. I always had confidence in myself. I knew if I got a chance I’d produce,” said Allen, a second-year player from Oklahoma.

With Curtis Enis sidelined for the season because of knee surgery and veteran Edgar Bennett limping on a sore knee, Allen was given the ball 23 times. He broke off runs of 57 and 54 yards in a 135-yard first-half as the Bears bolted to a 24-0 lead.

The last time a Bear back rushed for more yards came in 1986 when Walter Payton gained 176 against the Eagles.

Not many were there to see Allen’s performance. After a local TV station bought the remaining tickets to ensure the 125th consecutive home sellout late in the week, fans still stayed away. There were 26,091 no-shows in the 66,944-seat stadium.

Allen’s 57-yard run, the longest by a Bear back all season, set up his own one-yard touchdown run as the Bears (4-11) took an early 10-0 lead.

Allen, who entered the game with 47 yards in 13 carries this season, later broke off a 54-yard run to set up Steve Stenstrom’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Conway.

Robert Chancey scored the Bears’ other touchdown on a four-yard run.

The Bears hounded Raven quarterback Jim Harbaugh, making his first appearance at Soldier Field since he was waived by Chicago in 1993.

Harbaugh finished 20 for 35 for 185 yards for the Ravens (5-10).