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CHICAGO - The Philadelphia Eagles might have saved their season Sunday night.

If they wind up winning the NFC East or at least making the playoffs, they can point to their 24-20 victory at Chicago as the turning point.

"This is the kind of win that winners have, that champions have," Eagles safety Quintin Mikell said after the game. "It was big to get a win like this. It was a must-win game, and you could tell that by the way we played. Everyone in that locker room felt that way. We just kept fighting."

In many respects, the Eagles (6-4) delivered their most impressive win of the season because of the way they earned it. Unlike some of their other victories - especially their 40-17 romp over the New York Giants - they had to overcome adversity on several levels.

The Eagles committed untimely penalties and costly turnovers. Mistakes on offense, defense and special teams gave the Bears hope that they would be able to treat their desperate fans to an upset.

Key players were struggling through injuries. Cornerback Sheldon Brown basically played on one leg due to a strained hamstring that turned into a slight tear. He left the game briefly in the second quarter but limped back onto the field once cornerback Asante Samuel suffered a neck stinger.

Brown, who has never missed a game since joining the Eagles in 2002, simply refused to leave the field. His stance silenced the critics who wondered about his commitment in the wake of his preseason contract dispute.

"Sheldon really set the tone for us in terms of his courage and toughness," Eagles coach Andy Reid said after the game. "He told me all week he was going to be ready to go. I can't tell you that I believed it."

Virtually every player contributed, from stars such as McNabb and wide receiver DeSean Jackson to bottom-of-the-roster backups such as defensive tackle Antonio Dixon.

Dixon, a rookie free agent from the University of Miami, is one of the burly defensive linemen that safety Quintin Mikell fondly calls the "big uglies." They do the dirty work, whether it's trying to stuff running backs on short-yardage situations or contributing on special teams.

Dixon, 6-foot-3 and 322 pounds, came up with an important play late in the fourth quarter. He barreled through Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly and blocked Robbie Gould's 48-yard field-goal attempt to set up the Eagles' game-winning drive.

"(Linebacker) Joe Mays and I both tried to go up the middle," Dixon said. "I got through and as soon as I did, I just put both my hands in the air. Being as big as I am, I wasn't about to try to jump. I just reached as high as I could and the ball hit my hand."

Dixon's block enabled rookie running back LeSean McCoy to atone for a costly turnover with a 10-yard touchdown run.

With Brian Westbrook sidelined indefinitely with another concussion, the Eagles were counting on McCoy to step up against the Bears. He got off to a promising start but lost a fumble in the fourth quarter that stalled the Eagles' momentum.

McCoy's disappointment did not linger, however. McNabb, Jackson and other offensive players all made it a point to offer encouragement in an attempt to bolster his sagging confidence.

Their faith paid off when he took a handoff from McNabb, burst through a hole on the left side of the offensive line and reached the end zone.

"They definitely gave me a boost when I needed it," McCoy said. "I'm just glad they trusted me enough to give me another opportunity."

McNabb was the difference between victory and defeat, however.

Despite his many accomplishments during his 11-year tenure with the Eagles, McNabb had come up short in clutch situations in recent seasons. The Eagles were 0-13-1 the last 14 times they trailed at some point in the fourth quarter dating back to 2007.

He came through against the Bears, completing 5-of-6 passes for 40 yards during the game-clinching, 62-yard drive.

"I thought today, as a team, we pulled together," McNabb said after the game. "This was a game we definitely needed to come out and win and we did it."

Extra points: According to quotes provided by team officials, Reid indicated that cornerback Samuel's neck injury is not serious and he will play on Sunday against Washington.

The Eagles already have lost cornerback Ellis Hobbs for the season because of a neck injury.

Quarterback Michael Vick had a typical, up-and-down game. He made an impact for the first time this season with a 34-yard run on the opening series that helped set up David Akers' 25-yard field goal. He later completed a pass to tight end Brent Celek for no gain and was part of a penalty the Eagles incurred for having 12 men in the huddle.

Contact David Weinberg:

609-272-7186

DWeinberg@pressofac.com

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