[bears9]

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If not for Charles Tillman, who knows what would have happened in the first quarter of the Bears-Packers game Sunday.
The left cornerback returned after missing a game with a sprained right ankle and made an immediate impact. Without Tillman, the Bears might have been blown out in the first quarter.
Tillman stripped Packers rookie wide receiver James Jones twice, forcing turnovers that kept the Bears in the game after Green Bay had grabbed a 7-0 lead. The first one came at the Bears' 8-yard line when Tillman was bringing Jones down and popped the ball out with his left hand. The Packers challenged that Jones never had possession of the ball, but the ruling was upheld, and Ricky Manning Jr.'s recovery likely prevented at least a field goal.
The Packers were on the move on the next possession when Jones hauled in a pass on a quick slant. But Tillman closed quickly, this time punching the ball out with his right hand. Adam Archuleta recovered at the Bears' 38, thwarting another drive to give the offense -- which went three-and-punt on its first three possessions -- an opportunity to recover.
The strips gave Tillman three forced fumbles on the season and nine for his career. Bears coach Lovie Smith has called Tillman one of the best at stripping the ball he has seen. Tillman had a career-high four in 2005.

Tillman keeps it close early