Were the Bears the worst 4-1 team in the NFL entering this game? You could make that argument after a mediocre Seattle Seahawks outfit beat the Bears 23-20, sacking Jay Cutler 6 times(once for a safety),breaking several Bears tackle attempts,and veteran WR Mike Williams catching 10 passes for 123 yards-mostly against Charles Tillman,but it turned out not to be that great.A great sight was Cutler back at quarterback for the Bears(4-2) after missing a game and a half with a concussion.After winning the toss and starting at their twenty,the Bears went right for the jugular as Cutler went deep to Devin Hester who was interfered with by Roy Lewis,giving the Bears the ball at the Seattle 22.On a screen pass,Cutler found Matt Forte with a screen pass for 13 yards to the 9.Forte then got 3 on the ground to the 6.He then powered to the goal line and over it for a touchdown just 4 plays and 2:18 into the game. The Seahawks had not scored a single first quarter point yet this season,but only needed 2:39 to get it back as they also began at their 20 after a touchback and on first down,Matt Hasselack,though shredded the Bears secondary on this series, avoided a pass rush and hit TE John Carson made a diving grab for 14 to his 34.On a third and six, Hasselbeck found Mike Williams for 16 yards to the Bears 46 and again for 24 to the 22.On the next play,Deon Butler caught a pass in the back on the end zone to tie the game 7-7. Mare’s kickoff to Daniel Manning appeared to blind him and after he dropped the ball,he grabbed it and quickly downed it for yet another touchback.The Bears response was to go three and out after gaining just two yards and Brad Maynard punted to Golden Tate,and the former Notre Damer ran backwards and lost seven yards back to the Seattle 35.Marshawn Lynch zig zagged past Tillman for a 12 yard first down run.On second and ten,Brandon Stokley caught a three yard pass.A false start made it third and twelve, and Hasselbeck was sacked by by Matt Toeana and Jon Ryan punted to Hester who fair caught it at his 17.The Bears went three and punted as well as Cutler was sacked on third down. After a holding on the Bears, Seattle started at the Bears 37. A holding on the Seahawks on second down made it 2nd and 20 at the 47.After a nine yard pass and an incompletion, Ryan punted 33 yards to the Bears five where it was downed.and again,the Bears did nothing except pick up a holding penalty that was declined. Maynard from seven yard deep in his end zone,let go a weak 31 yard punt that rolled out of bounds at the Bears 37.Williams again beat Tillman and caught a 12 yard third down pass for a first at the Bears 19.Butler grabbed a pass at the Bears 8 for a first and goal. On play later the first quarter ended.After an incompleted try to Williams, Hasselbeck handed to Justin Forsett to ran over the Bears defense for a touchdown and with all momentum on Seattle’s side,they took their first lead 14-7. The Bears started at their own 19 after an average at best kickoff return by Manning.On first down, Cutler over threw a wide open Greg Olsen.Then Devin Aromas caught a pass and with the run after the catch turned it into a 34 yard play to the Seattle 47, then Earl Bennett took one 36 yard to the 11.But the Bears have had their Red Zone issues all season and thus, two plays later, it was third and ten, and Cutler was sacked by Aaron Curry at his 16. Robbie Gould kicked a 34 yard field goal.Two possessions later, the Seahawks started at their own six and moved against the Bears defense that continued to miss Lance Briggs presence.The drive stalled at the Bears 38 and Ryan again punted,this time into a Hester fair catch at his own 8.On a second and ten,Cutler scrambled and hit Johnny Knox on the far sideline and he danced back into the middle of the field before he was stopped after a 67 yard play to the Seattle 25. Pete Carroll threw the red flag,claiming Knox stepped out at the 40,but the call on the field stood up. Cutler went right back to Knox who made a diving grab at the 12 at the two minute warning.On second down, Cutler hit Aromashudu to the six,then threw one into the ground so again the Red`Zone offense failed.Gould then booted a 24 yard field goal to get the Bears to within 14-13 with 1:10 left in the half and that’s how it went into intermission.
The Bears stopped the Seahawks on their first second half series,but after Ryan punted them inside the five,Cutler was sacked,just inside his endzone for a safety and the Seahawks took a 16-13 lead.Hasselbeck on a third down was hit and lost the ball,but it was called an incomplete pass,and Ryan punted out at the Bears 36.On first down,Hester came up with a ice leaping catch for 19 yards to the Seattle 45,but two downs(and another sack) later,Maynard punted to Tate,who recovered his own fumble at his own seven.The Bears held and Ryan kicked to Hester who returned it four yards to the Seahawks 48.Cutler scrambled to the 34, then on third and six, Cutler was sacked at his 41,taking the Bears out of field goal range. Maynard punted to the Seattle 8. Williams again beat Tillman for 21 yards to the 32,then beat him again for 18 to midfield.On a third and 4, Butler caught a 15 yard pass to the Bears 29.Forcett than ran right through the defensive line for 13 yards to the Bears 11 as the third quarter ended.Forcett broke two more tackled and ran for four yards to the seven.Williams then caught a pass at the one for a first and goal. Lynch then(sounds like a broken record)broke three more tackles and scored to cap the 92 yard drive and give the Seahawks a 23-13 lead. A long TD return by Manning was called back due to a holding penalty on Rod Wilson,forcing the Bears instead to start at their 8.They picked up one first down,but then had to punt again-out of bounds at the Seattle 29 with 11:54 remaining.The Seahawks went nowhere,but Ryan punted 54 yards,out of bounds at the Bears 8.They had to punt again(this is a recording),and Tate broke a few tackles to get 5 to the Seahawks 38.Again,Ryan punted and Hester got out of the way and let it roll, and roll, and roll DEAD on the 1 yard line after a 56 yard kick.The Bears drove deep enough for Gould to try what would have been a career long 54 yard field goal,but it was wide right.The Seahawks were again stopped,but this time Hester returned Ryan’s punt 89 yards for his second return TD of the season and with 1:54 left and no timeout remaining, the Bears closed to within 23-20. The Bears on side kick try was recovered by Seattle,and with the Bears out time outs, Hasselbeck took three knee downs to run out the clock.
NOTES—Cutler was only 17-39 for 290 yards, was sacked 6 times for losses of 44 yards and had a QB rating of 69.4…..Hasselbeck was 25-40 for 242 yds, 1 TD and a QB rating of 87.7…..The Bears only ran the ball 14 times for a net 61 yds….The Bears were an awful 0-12 in third down conversions….The Seahawks won the time of possession battle 34:23 to 25:37.
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