Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro makes first career field goal try

Eddy Pineiro made his first career NFL field goal try Thursday night, drilling a 38-yard kick with 4:09 left to take a 3-0 lead against the rival Packers.

Fans at a packed Soldier Field, who had buzzed with excitement while he lined up, cheered with excitement — and relief — when he made the kick.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing — he booted the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, giving the Packers the ball at their own 40-yard line. The Packers went three-and-out, though.

Pineiro survived the Bears’ kicker derby, which swelled to nine people deep during rookie minicamp. The Bears traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Raiders the next day to land Pineiro.

The Cody Parkey double-doink loomed over Soldier Field before the game. In a hype video, former quarterback Jim McMahon was shown saying, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” The videoboard showed the Eagles celebrating last year’s playoff win at Soldier Field.

Pineiro practiced at Soldier Field on Sunday to prepare for the game.