CHICAGO – After rushing for 304 yards in his first three NFL games, rookie running back Matt Forte had been held to 211 yards in four contests before busting loose again Sunday at Soldier Field.

The second-round pick from Tulane rushed for a career-high 126 yards on 22 carries, including 101 yards on 15 attempts in the second half to help the Bears turn a 23-13 deficit into a 27-23 win over the Detroit Lions.

Matt Forte rushed for 101 of his career-high 126 yards in the second half Sunday.

“It’s always fun when you get the ball and things are clicking on offense,” Forte said. “We did a great job up front moving them around and opening up holes.”

On the Bears’ two second-half touchdown drives, Forte rushed for 60 yards on just four carries. His 20-yard gain set up Rex Grossman’s 6-yard TD pass to Rashied Davis midway through the third quarter. Forte then had runs of 13, 8 and 19 yards on a 7-play, 54-yard drive that culminated in Grossman’s 1-yard TD sneak with 5:36 remaining in the game.

“He’s a great running back and we’ve got some great offensive linemen,” said Grossman, who entered the game late in the first half after Kyle Orton exited with an ankle injury. “On both scoring drives, he was the main reason why we got down there.”

Forte now has two 100-yard games with the first coming in the season opener when he gained 123 yards on 23 carries in a 29-13 road win over the Indianapolis Colts. On Sunday, he repeatedly praised his blockers when speaking to the media after the game.

“When I was running the ball the holes were just wide open,” Forte said. “It starts up front, and the offensive line did a great job and opened up holes.”

Welcome back: Cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nate Vasher both returned to the starting lineup Sunday after recovering from injuries. Tillman got beat by Calvin Johnson for a 17-yard TD but registered six tackles and broke up one pass. Vasher yielded a 14-yard TD to Shaun McDonald and recorded three tackles.

Corey Graham, who had led the Bears with 33 tackles while starting the previous three games in place of Vasher, served as the nickel back Sunday and made seven tackles. Danieal Manning, who usually fills that role, sat out against the Lions with a hamstring injury.

“It’s something new to me, but it’s definitely something that I like a little bit,” Graham said. “I’ve just got to get used to it a little more, and I think the more I work at it the better I’ll be.”

Making his first NFL start in place of the injured Hunter Hillenmeyer (thumb) at strongside linebacker, Nick Roach registered five tackles, including three solo stops.

Playing takeaway: Rookie safety Craig Steltz became the ninth different Bears player to record an interception this season when he leaped high to pick off a Dan Orlovsky pass intended for Calvin Johnson one-yard deep in the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

Steltz’s first career interception came with the Bears trailing 23-20.

“We needed to make a big play,” said the fourth-round pick from LSU. “They were driving and as a defense we had to hold them. I came out and made a play in the end zone to keep them from getting a touchdown.”

Steltz saw his most extended playing time on defense Sunday, entering the game late in the first half after veteran Mike Brown exited with a calf injury.

“You really don’t have time to get butterflies in your stomach,” Steltz said. “You just go out there and play. It’s something you practice all week. If somebody goes down in the back, you want to practice like a starter so the front seven doesn’t turn around and even  know there’s a change. That’s how you want it to happen.”

Briefly: The Bears registered two sacks, one by Tommie Harris and another that was credited to the team because Orlovsky fumbled the ball and fell to the ground before being touched. … Rookie first-round draft pick Chris Williams made his NFL debut, blocking for field goals and extra points but not playing on offense. … The Lions have now lost 15 of 16 games dating back to last season.