The rookie running back, the workhorse for the Bears throughout the season, was in unfamiliar territory as he sat on a table getting his right big toe examined.

Forte suffered the injury on his first carry of Thursday night's game against the Saints, an injury that briefly sent him to the locker room. X-rays were negative, and Forte returned with 10 minutes 38 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Bears needed him.

Forte bounced back with a 1-yard touchdown run, helping the Bears build a 21-7 first-half lead. This was a game the Bears couldn't afford to lose, their playoff lives depending on it. But the Saints scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to grab a 24-21 lead.

The Bears weren't finished, however. Kyle Orton drove the Bears to the 10 with 2 seconds left and Robbie Gould converted from 28 yards for a 24-24 tie.

After winning the toss in OT, the Bears threw deep for Devin Hester on the fifth play of their drive. He drew a 38-yard pass interference penalty that set the Bears up at the 15. Orton took a knee at the 18 and the Saints iced Gould with a timeout. It made no difference as Gould drilled a 35-yard field goal for the 27-24 win to help the Bears stay close to the Vikings in the NFC North.

Lovie Smith is well aware of the big picture, but his focus was on beating the Saints. His defense appeared ready for the challenge, although it lost some of its steam in the second half after being on the field for extended periods of time.

Adewale Ogunleye's third-quarter interception of Drew Brees with the Saints facing first-and-goal from the 9-yard line was the highlight. The Bears were ahead 21-7 at the time, and another score might have put the game away.

But on the ensuing possession, an Orton pass kicked off the hands of Rashied Davis and into the arms of Saints cornerback Josh Bullocks. Davis entered the game with a team-high six drops.

The Saints didn't squander the opportunity, driving 45 yards in two plays. University of Illinois product Pierre Thomas took a second-down handoff, followed his blocks, and outran the defense to the end zone for a 42-yard score. The Saints cleared Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs clear of the picture.

Garrett Hartley's 30-yard field goal moved the Saints to within 21-17 with less than 10 minutes left in regulation.

Credit special teams for the fast start, as Danieal Manning returning the opening kickoff 83 yards for a score. As he approached midfield, Manning waved one arm in the air knowing no one stood in his path.

Offensively, the Bears were strong but not always in sync. After Glenn Pakulak's 38-yard punt pinned the Bears at their own 1, Orton fumbled an exchange with center Olin Kreutz on first down, and the Saints recovered. It appeared Kreutz snapped the ball early.

The Saints capitalized in two plays, with Brees finding Thomas on a quick screen on second down.

If anything, the miscue involving Kreutz seemed to inspire Orton. The quarterback didn't flinch on a seven-play, 42-yard drive near the end of the first half, ending the drive with a 6-yard touchdown dash on which he outran two Saints and threw his body into the end zone.

The Bears needed a hug after a fourth-quarter fake punt failed to work. On fourth-and-4 from their own 47, the Bears had Brad Maynard throw a pass to Adrian Peterson, but Peterson couldn't come down with the ball. A replay challenge by the Bears failed, as the officials ruled Peterson didn't have control.

The call was curious, considering the Bears held a four-point lead at the time. Fortunately for the Bears, Nick Roach stepped up and stopped Thomas on a fourth-down run wide to the right after the Saints took possession following the fake punt.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

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