Stewart Back at the Controls

Kordell Stewart returned to the starter’s role he thought would be his when he joined the Chicago Bears. And, for one game at least, he made the most of his opportunity.

Getting his first start in seven weeks as a replacement for the injured Chris Chandler, Stewart sparked the Bear offense to its biggest day of the season. Stewart threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, and rookie Brock Forsey -- a fill-in for Anthony Thomas -- gained 134 yards with a touchdown in the Bears’ 28-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

“Chris is the starter. He hurt his shoulder. They gave him the job. It’s my responsibility as a backup to come in and just do what I was supposed to do,” said Stewart, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 284 yards. Will Stewart return to the starter’s role he lost after an Oct. 12 loss to New Orleans? “I’ll just let the powers that be do what they will,” he said.

Coach Dick Jauron was noncommittal.

Forsey, a rookie who was once a walk-on at Boise State, got his second NFL start because Thomas was inactive because of viral pneumonia.

“I’ve got confidence in myself,” said the 5-foot-11, 203-pound Forsey, a sixth-round draft choice. “There are always going to be people who say, ‘Look, he’s not the biggest guy, he’s not the fastest guy.’ I try and use that as motivation and prove people wrong. I’m trying to make a statement.”

Ranked last in the league in offense entering the game, Chicago (5-7) finished with a season-high 422 yards of total offense to 197 for Arizona. The 28 points were also a Chicago season high.

The road woes continued for the Cardinals (3-9) -- 0-6 away from home. They have been outscored, 203-68, in those games.