By Far and Away, Banks Is Better

CHICAGO —  Somehow, St. Louis Ram quarterback Tony Banks’ little “break” a few weeks ago don’t seem so important now.

Banks completed 24 of 31 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, and ran for another score on Sunday as the Rams defeated the Chicago Bears, 20-12.

Ricky Proehl, the Bears’ leading receiver last year, was Banks’ main target with eight receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown.

“I was as relaxed as I’ve been all season today,” said Banks, who was booed by St. Louis fans two weeks ago after staying behind after the team’s loss in Miami and skipping a meeting.

Meanwhile, Curtis Enis’ troubled rookie season abruptly ended when the Bear tailback tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Enis rushed for 76 yards and 18 carries in the game, his first NFL start.

Rehabilitation is expected to take 7-10 months for Enis, who had a bitter contract holdout and was criticized during the season for immaturity.

The Rams (3-6) ended a losing streak at three games and won for the first time at Chicago since Nov. 3, 1986. The Bears (3-6) had won three of their last four games.

Just as they have all year, though, the Bears made it interesting at the end. A safety made the score 20-12 with 1:59 left, and after a Ram punt, the Bears took over on their 27. After a pass-interference call and a five-yard penalty, Steve Stenstrom, making his first NFL start, threw a 48-yard pass to Bobby Engram to put the Bears at the Ram 20.

But after Edgar Bennett’s 11-yard run, Stenstrom had to waste a down by spiking the ball to stop the clock. His next three passes were incomplete.

Stenstrom, starting in place of injured Erik Kramer, was 15 for 25 for 154 yards and one touchdown with one interception.