CHICAGO | While most of the talk before and during the game was the inevitable Donovan McNabb homecoming dialogue, another former Mt. Carmel student was part of the Bears' pre-game hype.
Chris Chelios, the former Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings star, was near the Bears' tunnel as the players charged onto the field flanked by fireworks boxes and smoke machines.
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs stormed out of the tunnel with an orange flag with the logo for the marketing campaign "The 4th Phase" -- a take on the idea that each complete football team consists of an offense, defense, special teams and great fans.
Briggs handed the flag to Chelios, who was recognized by the public address announcer and received a loud ovation as he waved the flag from left to right to whip fans into a frenzy moments before kickoff.
Chelios, who attended Mt. Carmel but graduated from a high school in California, is playing for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL this season.
At age 47, Chelios leads all American-born players with 1,644 career NHL games, and he has 185 goals, 763 assists and 2,891 penalty minutes.
AVANT GARDE: With 2:48 to play in the first quarter McNabb, who grew up in Dolton and graduated from Mt. Carmel, hooked up with fellow Chicago high school product Jason Avant for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Avant attended Carver and set school records in catches, yards and touchdowns despite playing just two years on offense.
In his 11th year in the league, McNabb has never been particularly choosy with receivers, aside from the time that Terrell Owens wore green in Philly.
The toss to Avant was McNabb's 13th TD pass of the season, and Avant was the sixth man to haul one in from McNabb. Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin entered the game tied for the team lead with four receiving TDs apiece.
WESTBROOK OUT AGAIN: After suffering a second concussion in a three-week span, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, as expected, missed Sunday night's game.
The No. 1 back is expected to miss one or two more games.
His first concussion of the season came in a Monday Night Football game against the Washington Redskins. He was cleared to resume playing but suffered a second concussion on Nov. 15 at San Diego.
Westbrook has a history of injuries and had ankle surgery before this season.
He now has missed four games this season and only has 381 total yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns.
BEARS NOTEBOOK
