NFL: Bears top Ravens 23-20 in OT | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Chicago • Josh McCown spent a few quiet moments trying to figure out what would happen. He probably didn't envision this.

The Bears waited out a long rain delay and put in extra time to come away with a much-needed win.

Robbie Gould kicked a 38-yard field goal to lift the Bears to a 23-20 victory over Baltimore Sunday in a game delayed about two hours by a torrential downpour.

Justin Tucker tied it for the Ravens with a 21-yard field goal at the end of regulation.

The big delay came after Tucker kicked a 52-yarder with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. Fans were ordered to take cover as players headed to the locker rooms while heavy rains and winds whipped through Soldier Field. They emerged about two hours later with the sky clearing and the sun coming out, but the rain and wind returned in the third quarter, turning the stands into a sea of ponchos.

During the delay, Bears players stretched and went over the game plan. "Closed my eyes and just trying to think about the game, visualize the game a little bit," McCown said. "And kind of assess what happened the first two series. What did we do wrong? Why weren't we moving the ball? What are they going to do to us?"

Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't say what his team did during the down time, although his team is no stranger to delays. The Ravens experienced a power outage in the Super Bowl, after all, and the start of their season-opener at Denver was pushed back by lightning. Both were just 34 minutes, though.

"I think we've led the league in delays over the last few years," Harbaugh said.

Gould won it with a 38-yarder on third-and-8 at the 20 with 8:41 left in OT after McCown connected with a leaping Martellus Bennett on a 43-yard pass to put the ball on the 22.

They were leading 20-17 with 10:33 remaining in regulation after Matt Forte scored on a 14-yard screen from McCown, dodging three or four defenders along the way, but the Ravens made one big push down the stretch to send it to overtime.

McCown threw for 216 yards without an interception, subbing for Jay Cutler (high left ankle sprain). In four games and two starts, he has five touchdowns and no turnovers, and he came through under brutal conditions. —

Storylines

R A fierce thunderstorm in Chicago puts the game on hold for two hours.

• Robbie Gould kicks a game-winning 38-yard field goal in overtime.