Make it five in a row for the Bears as they controlled the ball,Jay Cutler passed for a pair of touchdown passes while scoring another in a 31-20 win over the San Diego Chargers who have lost five straight.It may have been a costly win however since Cutler broke his thumb while making a tackle after an interception by Antoine Cason in the fourth quarter. There was no report on how bad this injury is,or if Cutler will miss next week’s game at Oakland or not.
On a cool 43* over cast day at Soldier Field.the Bears took the opening kickoff,but went three and out. San Diego took over at it’s 43,and moved the ball on a 17 yard Phillip Rivers screen pass to Antonio Gates,and a 26 yard run by Ryan Matthews. After that, the Bears stiffened and forced a Nick Novak 28 yard field goal.This time on a third and 8, Cutler threw to Williams who caught it this time for 15 yards and the Bears first move of the chains. Then a 31 yarder to Knox at the SD 38.A quick pass to Forte for 17 to the Chargers 21 as the Bears threaten for the first time. The drive stalled at that point and Robbie Gould kicked a 42 yarder to tie the game 3-3.The Bears got great field position when Devin Hester returned a kick to the San Diego 3,only to have a holding call on Kahlil Bell take the ball back to the Chargers 41. A pass to Earl Bennett for 26 yards put the ball on the one,and two plays later Marion Barber punched it in for the Bears first lead 10-3 with 4:03 left in the half. The Chargers came right back. Rivers connected on a third down play to Gates for 8 yards to tie the game with 2:04 left in the half. Johnny Knox gave the Bears great field position by returning the kickoff 53 yds to the SD 44 at the two minute warning.Cutler hit Bennett for 32 yards to the Chargers 5.A 10 TD pass to Bennett was reviewed(forever),and they took away the score(similar to the Calvin Johnson call last year)yet an illegal hands to the face on SD gave the Bears 1st and goal at the five.On a third and goal, Cutler hit Kellen Davis with :20 left and the Bears took a 17-10 lead.The Chargers did get Novak a chance for a 55 yd field goal which was way short,but Lovie Smith had called a STUPID time out before the snap.Novak ALMOST made Smith pay for it as his second try hit the cross bar. The Bears took the 17-10 lead into the locker room.
The Chargers started the third quarter with the ball and went right down field 76 yards in 7 plays.A 47 yard pass from Rivers to Jackson put the ball on the Bears 32. The Bears can not guard Vincent Jackson.A pass interference followed putting the ball on the 11.On a third and 4 from the five, Rivers went to Jackson again to tie the game 17-17. Jackson continued to torch the Bears. Hester had another good return,but a holding call by Craig Steltz moved the ball back to the Bears 17.Three straight Cutler to Williams complted passes moved it to the SD 43.The came a 42 yarder to Knox which he grabbed at the 3 and rolled to the one yard line.On second down,a play we would see happened. Cutler actually tried a quarterback sneak and it worked! The play Cutler and Mike Martz have said they did not want to run! 24-17 Bears with 5:47 to go in the third quarter.
The first turnover happened when Peanut Tillman stripped the ball from Matthews and then fell on it at the Chargers 37.Two plays later,Cutler threw a high floater that Knox made a sensational grab on near the back of the end zone,just staying in bounds.31-17 Bears which was how the third quarter ended.
The fourth period began with Novak’s 48 yard field goal that came off a 51 yard drive.That ended the scoring.
NOTES—Cutler was 18-31 for 286 yards and a passer rating of 97.0 while Rivers was 21-31 for 280 yards,two TD’s and a rating of 90.8…..Jackson caught 7 passes for 165 yards and one TD while Williams led the Bears with five catches for 62 yards,Forte caught four out of the backfield for 26 yards and Knox grabbed three for 97 yards and a TD…..Next week the Bears game game two of their four game tour of the AFC West in Oakland against the Raiders.
LES