A Surprise Package for the Bears

TEMPE, Ariz. —  When Chicago Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt said the Arizona Cardinals had a lot of weapons, he didn’t know the half of it.

Arizona unveiled two secret weapons on Sunday.

Linebacker Ronald McKinnon had three interceptions and returned a blocked punt 31 yards, and little-used Mario Bates scored two touchdowns as the Cardinals (3-3) defeated the Bears, 20-7.

McKinnon, the Cardinals’ leading tackler who also caused a fumble, had an interception in each of the the first three quarters, but his most spectacular play came in the fourth quarter.

After Chicago’s Ricky Bell blocked a punt by Scott Player, McKinnon grabbed it out of the air, shook off a tackler at the sideline, and cut back to midfield on the return to gain a first down.

“He’s out there throwing himself around, doing great things, and when players are doing that, it’s a domino thing. Everybody gets fired up,” defensive end Simeon Rice said.

The Arizona defensive line assisted in two of McKinnon’s interceptions by tipping Erik Kramer’s passes.

Bates, meanwhile, had seen nothing but special teams action in five previous games. He got his first carry as a Cardinal in the first quarter and scored touchdowns twice on two-yard runs in the second quarter.

Joe Nedney accounted for the other points with field goals of 49 and 40 yards.

The Bears (1-5) avoided their first shutout loss since 1989 when Kramer and Bobby Engram teamed up for a 79-yard touchdown with 2:30 remaining. But it was a rare letdown for the Arizona defense.

The Cardinals forced eight turnovers--four of them interceptions off Kramer, who had thrown only two in five previous games.