Cowboys Can’t Bear to Watch

Rookie tight end Alonzo Mayes came of age as he put the Chicago Bears in position to win, and then veteran Jeff Jaeger finished it off.

Jaeger kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, including the winning 29-yarder with 11 seconds left, as the Bears rallied for a 13-12 victory Sunday over the Dallas Cowboys.

The 12-year veteran hasn’t gotten many shots this year, and he admitted to being nervous as he walked on the field.

“That’s where the experience factor comes in,” said Jaeger, who had only one field goal in the previous three games. “If you start doubting yourself, you can let that creep into your mind. . . . you learn how to slow down a little bit.”

Chicago scored in the third quarter for the first time since Nov. 16, 1997, as the Bears (2-5) beat the Cowboys (4-3) for the second consecutive time at Soldier Field. Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt, the Cowboys’ former defensive coordinator, is 2-1 against his former team.

Trailing, 12-10, with 5:10 left, the Bears got the ball back at their own 20, and Erik Kramer immediately went to Mayes. The fourth-round draft choice from Oklahoma State, who fumbled two of his previous seven receptions this season, caught a 22-yard pass on the first play and another for 19 yards as the Bears moved to the Dallas 29.

“I am understanding what I am doing now,” Mayes said.

After a series of short runs by Edgar Bennett got the Bears to the 11, Jaeger kicked the winning field goal. Dallas got the ball back and quarterback Jason Garrett tried to find Deion Sanders, but Andre Collins intercepted the pass to end the game.

“Right now, we’re a team without a personality,” Sanders said.