McNown-to-Robinson Combination a Winner

It started simply enough.

When Cade McNown threw to Marcus Robinson in training camp, the 6-foot-3 receiver always caught the ball. Perfect passes, bad throws, jump balls, underthrown tosses, it didn’t matter.

They got into a comfortable rhythm, a groove that paid off for the Chicago Bears on Sunday and gives them hope for the future.

Robinson caught three of McNown’s four touchdown passes, including a leaping, dancing effort along the sideline that resulted in a 42-yard play, as the Bears beat the Detroit Lions, 28-10.

McNown was 27 for 36 for 301 yards with two interceptions in his fourth start, and also rushed for 36 yards in nine carries. Robinson had 11 receptions for 170 yards.

“I feel like I played OK. I don’t feel like I did anything sensational out there,” McNown said. “I got the ball to some exceptional athletes, namely Marcus Robinson, and he made some big plays for the team.”

Of McNown’s eight touchdown passes, six are to Robinson.

The victory kept Chicago’s playoff hopes alive--at least for a day. The Bears (6-8) must win their remaining two games and need, among other things, Green Bay to lose its last three for any shot at the postseason. The Packers play at Minnesota tonight.

At 8-6, the Lions are still in the running for a playoff berth, but their NFC Central title hopes were seriously damaged.

With Gus Frerotte struggling at quarterback, Charlie Batch made his first appearance for the Lions since suffering a thumb injury Nov. 7. He came in with 10 minutes left in the game and scored the Lions’ only touchdown on a 12-yard run with 3:25 left. Batch was six for 10 for 95 yards; Frerotte was 17 for 30 for 158 yards with three interceptions.