NFL: Chicago 42, St. Louis 27

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Chicago crushed St. Louis, 42-27, Monday night as rookie Devin Hester returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Hester now has six return touchdowns for the season, a new NFL record.

Rex Grossman completed 13-of-23 passes for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Bears (11-2), who have won their fifth straight game and clinched a first-round playoff bye after losses Sunday by Dallas and Seattle.

Also for the Bears, Thomas Jones added 76 rushing yards and a score; Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad each caught a TD pass.

For the Rams, Marc Bulger completed 34-of-55 passes for 356 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

Steven Jackson rushed for 81 yards and a TD on 18 carries and Torry Holt caught six balls for 75 yards and two touchdowns for St. Louis.

The Rams (5-8) have now lost for the seventh time in eight games and virtually fell out of the playoff race.