CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears' downstate debut didn't go quite as planned.

The Denver Broncos held Chicago to just 44 total yards in a 27-3 victory Saturday night - the Bears' first home game in Champaign, Ill., while Soldier Field is being renovated.

Broncos quarterback Brian Griese was 7-of-9 passing for 48 yards, and backup Steve Beuerlein finished 9-of-12 for 78 yards and a touchdown.

The starters on each team were limited to two or three series, and neither first string was able to move the ball much on offense.

The Bears' backups were even worse.

Chicago had minus-9 yards of offense in the first half and just one first down. The Bears finished with six first downs, two more than their number of turnovers.

Running back Anthony Thomas, who rushed for a Chicago rookie record of 1,183 yards last season, lost two yards on four carries. Backup Leon Johnson didn't fare much better, gaining three yards on five carries.

The Broncos sacked the Bears five times for a loss of 46 yards - two of which resulted in fumbles that were recovered by Denver deep in Chicago territory.

Denver converted both of those into Jason Elam field goals, and added a first-half touchdown when Beuerlein found tight end Dwayne Carswell for a 5-yard score.

During that drive, rookie Clinton Portis ran five times for 21 yards. The second-round draft pick out of Miami finished with 57 yards rushing.

Tony Carter scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down early in the second half, and reserve quarterback Jarious Jackson added a late 3-yard touchdown run for the Broncos.

Chicago's only score was set up by star linebacker Brian Urlacher.

With the ball at the Denver 15, Urlacher stopped Olandis Gary on a run up the middle for no gain, then sacked Griese on the next play and forced the quarterback to fumble.

Urlacher recovered the ball, drawing one of the few cheers during a flat first half for the Chicago starters.

The Bears settled for a 36-yard field goal by Paul Edinger despite losing four yards on four plays.

Chicago quarterback Henry Burris went 6-of-19 for 49 yards and was intercepted twice. He looked lost at times running the Bears offense, throwing to receivers who weren't even looking for the ball and overthrowing those who were.

Broncos running back Terrell Davis, who has been plagued by injuries the last three years, didn't play.

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