(My Sportsbook) - The Chicago Bears have made a living out of winning ugly as of late, taking victories any way they can get them. On Sunday, Chicago invented another way to get to its goal, as it posted a thrilling 19-17 win in overtime over the Tennessee Titans at the Coliseum in Nashville.

Despite an inept effort from Craig Krenzel and the Chicago offense which mustered just 176 total yards, the Bears were able to come out on top thanks to offense and special teams. Of course the biggest play of the game came in overtime, as Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown got a hold of Billy Volek in the end zone and knocked the ball free and it landed in Fred Miller's hands for a safety.

"The least we wanted to do was keep them down there, make them punt out of there, get a first down or two and kick a field goal. So we did our best, and we got some points out of it and won the game," Brown said.

It marked only the second time in NFL history that a game ended in overtime on a safety. The first time it happened was Nov. 5, 1989, when Minnesota beat the Los Angeles Rams 23-21 when Mike Merriweather blocked Dale Hatcher's punt and the ball squirted out of the end zone.

"It was a big win for us," head coach Lovie Smith said. "A lot of guys stood out on the defensive side of the ball. We were getting great pressure throughout and it was just good to end it that way."

Chicago registered a multitude of big plays on defense and special teams in Sunday's game. Defensive end Michael Haynes registered the best play of his career in the second quarter, intercepting Volek and returning the ball 45 yards for his first career score.

"Defensively our goal is always to create turnovers and create havoc," Haynes said. "I guess that started it off. It seems like it always starts off with one big play on defense and we got that big play and then we were able to just run with it."

R.W. McQuarters struck in the third quarter for the Bears, returning a punt 75 yards for a score. McQuarters nearly had an 85-yard touchdown return on the next punt, but it was called back after an illegal block.

"R.W. is in a zone right now where he thinks he can break it at any time," Smith said. "The guys know that and they're just trying to block and give him a chance to do it."

However McQuarters and Haynes posted huge plays, offensive lineman Marc Colombo could have been the biggest. Colombo, who was playing in his first game since suffering a devastating knee injury in a Monday night loss at St. Louis on Nov. 18, 2002, blocked Craig Hentrich's possible game-winning 52-yard field goal at the end of regulation.

"Think about a guy who rehabs for two years and never misses a day and just every day over and over is trying to get back," said Smith. "I was excited as he was for him just to dress. You're supposed to have a happy ending when a guy goes through what he has gone through. It's good to make a big play like that at the end."

Chicago has now won three straight games to move within one game of Minnesota and Green Bay for first place in the weak NFC North. The Bears (4-5) are tied with Detroit for last place in the division.

INJURY REPORT -- Quarterback Rex Grossman (knee) and safety Mike Brown (torn right Achilles) are out for the season. Cornerback Charles Tillman (fractured right tibia) is gone for seven to 10 weeks. RB Thomas Jones (toe), S Bobby Gray (groin), CB Charles Tillman (knee) and LB Marcus Reese (foot) missed Sunday's game and are questionable for this week's game.

UP NEXT -- The Bears will need an excellent effort from their defense next week, as they tangle with the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field.