LAKE FOREST, Ill. – A day later, Halas Hall was still buzzing about the Bears’ remarkable goal-line stand that preserved Sunday night’s 24-20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.

Kevin Payne keeps Correll Buckhalter out of the end zone during the Bears' late goal-line stand against the Eagles.

At his Monday press conference, Lovie Smith praised both the defense for registering three sacks of Donovan McNabb and strong safety Kevin Payne for recording his second interception of the season and tying Brian Urlacher for the team lead with 10 tackles.

But Smith conceded that “you’ll probably remember the defensive effort by that goal-line stand. Four plays down there were all big plays.”

Protecting a 24-20 fourth-quarter lead, the Bears kept the Eagles out of the end zone on three straight running plays from the 1. After Correll Buckhalter’s 3-yard run to the 1 on first down, Payne teamed with Mike Brown to drop Tony Hunt for no gain, and Buckhalter was stuffed by Adewale Ogunleye on third down and Alex Brown on fourth down.

“In the third and fourth quarter against Tampa and Carolina, we didn’t finish, and that was the focus [Sunday night],” said defensive lineman Israel Idonije. “If we make big plays in the third and fourth quarter, we’ll be all right, and sure enough, we won.”

Asked what was being discussed in the Bears huddle during the goal-line stand, Idonije said: “It was just, ‘do your job. Your back’s against the wall. You’re right there inside the 1. Just everybody do your job and don’t give at all.’

“It was just that kind of attack mentality and focus, and when [McNabb] snapped the ball, you could just feel the tension on the line from our defense, and everybody just went all-out.”

Health beat: There was nothing new to report Monday about the injuries that knocked cornerback Charles Tillman (shoulder) and receiver Brandon Lloyd (knee) out of Sunday night’s game.

“We’re evaluating them, hoping they’ll be ready to go this week and all of that,” Smith said. “Nathan Vasher also had a wrist/thumb injury. Hopefully he’ll be ready to go also.”

Ditto for defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who sat out the Eagles game with a knee injury. It’s not known whether the three-time Pro Bowler will be ready to play Sunday against the Lions.

“Tommie Harris is getting better,” Smith said. “[We] made the decision before the game not to play Tommie. He wasn’t quite there. Hopefully with a few more days rest he’ll be ready to go this week.”

Smith revealed that Harris was disappointed when he learned Sunday that he would not suit up against the Eagles.

“All players want to play not only every game, every snap they would like to play,” said the Bears coach. “But Tommie understood that in the big picture this is what’s best for him. And again, hopefully by him missing that game, he’ll be ready to go soon.”

Special effort: Bears specialists Robbie Gould and Brad Maynard excelled in Sunday night’s win.

Gould connected on his only field goal attempt, a 41-yarder, early in the fourth quarter that gave the Bears a 24-20 lead, forcing the Eagles to score a touchdown to win the game. Gould also recorded his fourth touchback of the season, one more than he had all of last year.

“My magic number this year is eight,” he said. “Have I worked on [kickoffs]? Yeah, I did a lot of work this offseason becoming stronger and working on my technique. I understand that it all starts with me and I have to do my job and I understand the rest of the guys will do theirs.”

Maynard averaged 44.3 yards on eight punts, placing a season-high four inside-the-20. He pinned the Eagles at their own 4 with a 67-yarder early in the third quarter and hit a 58-yarder with about :20 remaining in the game.

Quick start: Tight end Greg Olsen showed his athleticism with a diving 19-yard TD catch in the back of the end zone from Kyle Orton on the Bears’ third play from scrimmage Sunday night.

“He threw a great ball and put it in a perfect spot,” said Olsen, who beat linebacker Chris Gocong. “It was either going to be incomplete or it was going to be a touchdown. Luckily I was able to get it and keep my feet in bounds.”