Edinger kicked a career-best 54-yard field goal with two seconds left following a critical turnover by quarterback Stoney Case to lift the Chicago Bears to a 23-20 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Chicago's upset of the Lions enabled the defending Super Bowl champion Rams (10-6) to grab the lone remaining NFC wild card playoff berth. The Rams posted a 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints moments before Edinger's winning kick.

"We didn't win the big game," Lions defensive end Tracy Scroggins said. "This is definitely one of the most disappointing moments I've had here."

A sixth-round pick out of Michigan State, Edinger had not converted a field goal longer than 50 yards before today. He booted a 50-yarder in the second quarter and drilled the game-winner with plenty of room to spare, eliminating the Lions (9-7) from the playoff race.

"That was my range I was comfortable with," Edinger said. "There was a lot on my mind but you don't think about it. You just go out and make the kick."

Nickel back R.W. McQuarters also emerged as an unlikely hero, returning an interception 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Bears (5-11) a 20-17 lead with 6:31 left in the fourth quarter and forcing the fumble by Case which set up the winning kick.

"R.W. is a real playmaker," Bears coach Dick Jauron said. "He has great hands. You can see why he played on both sides in major college football."

A fumble by Bears running back James Allen at his own 10-yard line with 2:22 remaining gave the Lions a golden opportunity. Linebacker Allen Aldridge forced the turnover and recovered the fumble for Detroit.

But after two runs by James Stewart netted five yards, Case threw an incompletion and Detroit settled for a game-tying 26-yard field goal by Jason Hanson with 1:56 left.

Case replaced starter Charlie Batch, who aggravated a rib injury when he was sacked by Bears rookie linebacker Brian Urlacher with 1:32 left in the first half.

The Lions regained possession after three incompletions by Cade McNown, taking over at their 39 with 1:29 remaining.

Detroit moved into Bears' territory when Stewart gained seven yards on a running play and Case hit tight end David Sloan with a six-yard pass. However, two plays later, McQuarters forced a fumble when he hit Case on a blitz and linebacker Rosevelt Colvin recovered for the Bears at the Chicago 45 with 39 seconds left.

"I never saw him (McQuarters). He hit me from behind," Case said. "If I had another half second to throw, nobody would be asking these questions. I had two guys open down field."

"The fumble doesn't mean anything until we win the game," McQuarters said. "We never thought it was over. They had good field position (on that last drive) so it was important that we didn't let them in field goal range."

McNown hit Allen with a nine-yard pass on the first play. After an incompletion, McNown was nearly intercepted by Pro Bowl linebacker Stephen Boyd. Facing a 4th-and-1 at the Detroit 46, McNown connected with Allen again on a 10-yard pass to the Lions 36 with seven seconds remaining to set up Edinger's winning kick.

Shane Matthews started at quarterback for the Bears, but broke his right thumb when he banged his hand on the helmet of Lions defensive end James Hall after throwing a pass with 1:51 left in the half.

Matthews completed 14-of-18 passes for 123 yards. McNown played the rest of the way and was 5-of-11 for 60 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown to Marty Booker.

"I noticed that they play up close in play action in the red zone but when I came in, they moved back and we opened up some gaping holes," McNown said.

Case scored on a 13-yard run 3:46 into the fourth quarter to give Detroit a 17-13 lead, but committed two pivotal turnovers -- the interception and fumble -- in the final 6 1/2 minutes. He was 12-of-21 for 89 yards.

Batch, who has battled through injuries for most of the season, completed 7-of-15 passes for 81 yards.

The loss was especially heartbreaking for Lions coach Gary Moeller, who went 4-3 after replacing Bobby Ross, who resigned in early November.

"Obviously, it was a very disappointing day," Moeller said. "It was a turnover game and that's what we did. I didn't think that we were very good up front on either side of the ball. You could see we didn't do a good job of protecting the passer and we made poor decisions with the ball. When you turn the ball over, you're going to have trouble."

The running game was not a factor for either team. Stewart was held to 57 yards on 20 carries, finishing the season with 1,184 yards.

"It's disappointing because there are teams in the playoffs that we've beaten this year," Stewart said. "But it wasn't today that knocked us out of the playoffs. There were four games earlier in the season that we should have won. We stopped ourselves earlier in the year."

Allen had 72 yards on 22 carries, ending up with 1,120 yards.

"We got away with one today. Now everyone can go home and have a nice Christmas," Allen said.

The Lions jumped to a 10-0 lead in a 17-second span of the first quarter.

Hanson kicked a 41-yard field goal with 7:09 left in the first quarter to open the scoring.

On the ensuing kickoff, Glyn Milburn fumbled after he was hit by special teams demon Scott Kowalkowski and Jeremy Lincoln recovered for the Lions at the Chicago 19. An unnecessary roughness penalty against Chicago's Jimmy Herndon on the same play gave the Lions possession at the Bears 9.

Batch threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Sloan on the next play, increasing Detroit's lead to 10-0 with 6:52 left.

Edinger kicked field goals of 37 and 50 yards in the second quarter for Chicago. The first came after a 13-play, 60-yard drive which featured three catches by Booker for 30 yards. His 50-yarder with 4:37 left in the half followed an 18-yard pass from Matthews to Eddie Kennison.

The Bears took their first lead of the game on a 27-yard scoring pass from McNown to Booker with 1:47 left in the third quarter. The touchdown capped an eight-play, 90-yard drive with Allen rushing for 53 yards.

The Lions reclaimed the lead when Case directed a 10-play, 60-yard drive. He did more damage with his legs than his arm, breaking off a 17-yard run before scoring on a 13-yard draw up the middle early in the fourth quarter.

But Case made a critical mistake when he failed to pick up McQuarters on an intended pass over the middle to Germane Crowell. McQuarters cut in front of Crowell for the interception and raced down the right sideline for a 61-yard touchdown, giving the Bears a 20-17 lead.

"I knew I had some sideline to work with on the return," McQuarters said.

CHOKE!!! That is the only word that can describe if not the most embarrassing loss the Lions have endured in recent memory. As I write this, I still cannot believe that the pathetic last place Bears, who are one of the worst teams in the NFL, beat the honolulu blue and silver. As has been the story the entire year, the offense ONCE AGAIN shot the Lions in the foot. Charlie Batch started the game and looked crappy as usual...once he left the game with sore ribs, Stoney Case came in and believe it or not, played WORSE than Batch!!! Case single handingly gave the game away with an interception returned for a touchdown with less then seven minutes to go that gave the Bears the lead and the fumble when the Lions were less than 20 yards away to setting up a potential winning field goal. The defense had its ups and downs throughout the game...the biggest play was Altridge recovering a fumble on the Bears 10 late in the game...but the offense couldn't do squat and with the Bears facing 4th and 1, the defense collapsed giving up a 10 yard play setting up the Bears game winning field goal and closing the door on this rollar coaster season...like we always say in Detroit: Same Old Lions!!!

Grades: