Ahmad Bradshaw saw fumble on Jumbotron

Facing the Bears' No. 1 rushing defense, which had given up and average of only 39 yards per game on the ground, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw tore into them with phenomenal determination, carrying 23 times for 129 yards on one touchdown in the Giants' 17-3 victory. Bradshaw recorded the Giants' first 100-yard rushing game since Week 5 last season against Oakland.

But there's no doubt the run he will remember longest was the one in the fourth quarter when he broke into the clear and was headed to the end zone only to have Chicago cornerback Zackary Bowman come from behind to punch the ball free and recover it at the 1-yard line after Bradshaw's 25-yard run. Considering how hard Bradshaw ran all night, it appeared he was determined to make up for his fumble a week earlier at Tennesee's 6-yard line.

To have another fumble happen at the most inopportune moment put a hurtful blemish on his big night. Asked if he took a peek at the video board high above the end zone when it happened, Bradshaw admitted he did -- but for the best of reasons.

"Yeah, I had a habit of looking back," Bradshaw said. "This game, I told myself I was going to look at the Jumbotron if I broke loose. I looked up, and as soon as I looked up, he was poking it out."

It was a bad break, but offensive tackle David Diehl said no one blamed Bradshaw, who fought for yards all night. "You say, 'Keep your confidence. We need you,'" Diehl said. "It was rough, but we knew our defense had their backs against the wall. As tough as Ahmad took it on himself, we knew we needed him again. He's an accountable guy, and he was upset with himself, but he bounced back."

The defense held and forced a short punt, and the Giants ultimately tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs moments later for their 17-3 win.