NFL-Collins lifts Redskins to victory over Bears

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Replacement quarterback Todd Collins passed for two touchdowns to steer the Washington Redskins to a 24-16 win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday.

Collins replaced injured starter Jason Campbell in the second quarter and helped Washington (6-7) snap a four-game losing streak.

He connected with Todd Yoder on a 21-yard scoring pass in the second quarter and threw 16 yards to Ladell Betts in the fourth. The TD tosses were his first in five years.

Collins combined with Yoder for the game's opening score with 17 seconds left in the first half. It came on the first play after Shawn Springs intercepted a Brian Griese pass and returned it 53 yards.

Collins, a little-used veteran, completed 15 of 20 passes for 224 yards and two scores.

"We knew Todd can play football," wide receiver Santana Moss told reporters. "He's been in this offense a lot longer than Jason, so he knows pretty much everything, we just had to go out there and make plays for him."

Mike Sellers claimed the Redskins' other touchdown on a one-yard run after Clinton Portis raced 54 yards with a Collins pass.

Campbell suffered a dislocated left kneecap when tackled in the second quarter of a scoreless game. He had completed 10 of 16 passes for 100 yards.

"The good news is they don't think it's ligaments," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs told reporters. "They think it's a kneecap-type issue."

Griese was in the game for Chicago (5-8) after starting quarterback Rex Grossman injured his left knee in the first quarter.

He had one touchdown pass, connecting with Bernard Berrian for 17 yards in the third quarter as Chicago pulled within 14-10 of Washington.

The two teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter before Collins hit Betts for the deciding touchdown.

Robbie Gould added his third field goal of the game for Chicago with 30 seconds left after a Bears drive stalled.

Griese finished with 295 yards passing on 27 of 45 attempts. He was intercepted twice. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Ed Osmond) (Editing by Ed Osmond)