KMAX: Sports

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bears' first victory of the year was more than just a relief. It eliminated the increasing predictions that they'd end their season without a win.

``It builds our confidence that we can win now, instead of having everybody saying 0-16,'' kicker Paul Edinger said. ``We never believed that in the first place, but it feels good for all of us.''

Edinger's 48-yard field goal on the last play of the game Sunday capped an improbable rally as the Bears beat the Oakland Raiders 24-21.

A defense that gave up nearly 400 yards per game in the three-loss start limited the struggling Raiders to 301 and forced Oakland to continually kick field goals.

Sebastian Janikowski made five of them, but he also had one blocked and missed an extra point for the first time in his career.

``When there was a turnover or a sudden change, we got to the sidelines and said, `Hey, keep them out of the end zone and make them kick field goals,''' said Chicago's R.W. McQuarters, whose 43-yard interception return in the final quarter helped the Bears get the lead after trailing 18-3 at the half.

Four times in the first half the Raiders were inside Chicago's 25 and had to settle for a field goal.

``We got turnovers we wanted, but just couldn't punch it in,'' said Oakland's Charles Woodson, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

``That's another reason this is such a tough loss. They held us to field goals and kept themselves in the game.''

Kordell Stewart led the Bears on a final drive from the Bears 27 to the Oakland 30, keeping it going by leaping for a first down on a fourth-and-1 from the 49.

Stewart said he was booed earlier, with some of the fans behind Chicago's bench getting personal.

``I know sometimes it's all of wanting to see us succeed, but sometimes things can get carried away,'' he said. ``You have to be able to ignore that.''

On the final drive, Stewart's scramble to the 31 was called back by a penalty, but he regrouped and after a pump fake, hit Dez White on a 29-yarder to the Oakland 31.

Two plays later, Edinger kicked his third field goal, improving to 8-for-8 this season.

The Bears (1-3), penalized 11 times for 97 yards, got back in it when Marty Booker caught a 14-yard TD pass from Stewart on the first play of the final quarter to make it 18-13.

The Raiders (2-3) were on their way to what could have been a clinching score when Gannon completed passes of 21 yards to Jerry Rice and 18 to Tim Brown. But when a pass deflected off Doug Jolley's hands, McQuarters intercepted it and returned it 43 yards to the Raiders 45.

``It's probably what we deserved for not playing well across the board,'' Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon said. ``We ended up on our heels in the fourth quarter. We couldn't put them away.''

After McQuarters' interception, the Bears moved in on Stanley Pritchett's 8-yard TD run and Stewart's 2-point conversion carry to take a 21-18 lead.

Janikowski tied it with 3:30 left when his 49-yard field goal hit the left upright and went through.

After Oakland charged down the field on its first possession and scored on Zack Crockett's 1-yard run, Janikowski's extra-point attempt was wide for his first miss in four seasons. He'd converted 147 straight, including nine in a row this season.< ^Notes:@ Gannon was 16-of-34 for 183 yards. Rice had three catches for 51 yards and was defended many times by rookie Charles Tillman, making his first start for the Bears. ... Chicago linebacker Warrick Holdman sprained his left ankle late in the first half and didn't return. Booker hurt his side late in the game. ... McQuarters also had a 54-yard punt return.