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Chicago Bears closing in on NFL record for defensive touchdowns in a season

The Bears picked up two more defensive scores on Sunday to officially tie the 1961 Chargers for No. 2 all-time in a single season.

By Dave Ryan
USA TODAY Sports

Following a 10-yard interception return by Charles Tillman in the third quarter on Sunday, the Chicago Bears are now just one defensive score away from tying the all-time NFL mark according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

The Bears entered their Week 16 game against the lowly Arizona Cardinals with seven defensive scores to their credit, and quickly broke the scoring with a gift-wrapped fumble recovery touchdown by Zack Bowman in the first quarter. Head coach Lovie Smith's defense struck yet again early in the second half on Tillman's game-sealing return, a play that marked his team-leading third defensive score of the season.

Aside from Tillman's three touchdowns, as many as five other Chicago players have managed to find the end zone on the defensive side of the ball this season, including Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Major Wright and Tim Jennings. Still with an ideal chance to either tie or break a record of 10 touchdowns set by the Seattle Seahawks in 1998, the Bears will face a turnover-prone Detroit Lions team in Week 17 on the road.