Comeback Cutler? Bears Win Late Again
Filed under: Chicago Bears, Seahawks, NFC North, NFC West, NFL Quarterbacks
Since arriving in Chicago, Jay Cutler’s been fighting the stigma that he’s more of a stat-monger than a winner. The only way to change the feelings of the general public is to go out and win tough games. Anyone can look good during a blowout of an inferior opponent.
For the second consecutive week, Cutler has won close games in come-from-behind fashion. Last week, he led the Bears on a 72-yard, game-tying touchdown drive and then a 41-yard game-winning field goal drive against the Steelers. Sunday afternoon, Cutler brought the Bears back from an early 13-0 deficit to lead 17-13. The Bears lost the lead, but that was of no consequence, as Cutler again led them on a game-winning drive.
With 5:03 left in the game, the Bears had the ball on their own 29 yard-line and trailed the Seahawks by two points, 19-17.
It only took the Bears six plays to move the ball 71 yards for a touchdown. Cutler found Matt Forte and Earl Bennett for short gains, respectively. The Bears also mixed in a few running plays. Then, Cutler hit Devin Hester on a quick slant and the “Windy City Flyer” did the rest of the work. Cutler’s pass was actually a bit high, but Hester pulled it in, evaded two potential tacklers before simply outrunning everyone else on the field. Following the 36-yard touchdown strike, the Bears went for two, and Cutler found a wide-open Bennett in the corner of the end-zone.
Seattle moved the ball a bit before being stopped on downs with 26 seconds left on the clock, a play that obviously clinched the Bears’ victory.
Worst Uniforms in Sports
The Seahawks were a sight for sore eyes with their neon green look in Sunday’s 25-19 loss to the Bears. But Seattle isn’t the only major sports team to have made a questionable jersey choice. Click through to see some of the worst offenders in sports history.
Tom Hauck, Getty Images
Montreal Canadiens (2001): These outfits would not seem out of place if all the players had just finished piling out of the same Zamboni. However, the Canadiens are serious about their hockey. Fashion? Apparently, not so much.
Andre Ringuette, Getty Images
Red Sox (2007): Maybe flexing championship muscle after a well-chronicled drought gave the Boys from Beantown the courage to finally take a fashion risk.
Elise Amendola, AP
Cincinnati Bengals (2005): You know how some uniforms are so hideous that they kind of grow on you? The Bengals continue to push the envelope in an attempt to reach that level of acceptance.
Andy Lyons, Getty Images
Pittsburgh Pirates (1979): With a tip of the pillbox cap to days gone by, the Pirates rocked these uniforms in combinations that included black and gold, all gold or all black.
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Toronto Raptors (1997): The perfect attire for eating cereal on Saturday morning does not necessarily translate into a uniform that a professional ballplayer would take pride in wearing.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
N.Y. Islanders (1997): The wave of colors is enough to leave the heartiest of seafarers a bit unsettled.
Ian Tomlinson, Getty Images
Tampa Bay Rays (1998): The new team on the block tries a little neon effect to announce its arrival.
Al Bello, Getty Images
Houston Rockets (2001): Pinstripes work on the baseball diamond, but look out of place on the hardwood.
Rocky Widner, NBAE / Getty Images
Washington Bullets (1975): There’s patriotic and then there’s this.
Focus on Sport, Getty Images
Things weren’t all peachy for Chicago, though. The Bears still failed to get Forte on track in the running game, gaining just 66 yards on 21 carries. Cutler turned the ball over twice — one pick, one lost fumble. The defense had a dreadful display of tackling on Julius Jones‘ first quarter touchdown and the team as a whole really appeared out of sync during the entire first quarter.
Much of the offensive woes are a direct result of poor offensive line play. Forte did well once he got into space (he had 40 yards receiving on six catches and made a few nice runs to the outside), but was bottled up nearly every time the Bears attempted to run up the middle.
Additionally, both of Cutler’s turnovers were due to his being hit while in the passing pocket, not because of forcing throws where they shouldn’t be — like he did several times in Week 1 at Green Bay. He does need to keep a better grip on the ball, as he fumbled three times when hit from the blind-side. Fortunately for the Bears, only one was recovered by Seattle.
Overall, though, he was sharp, hitting on 21 of 27 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. The ball was spread around well to his receivers, as Bennett had four catches, Hester five, Johnny Knox one (for a touchdown) and Greg Olsen caught five — including a touchdown.
For Seattle, that was a tough game to lose. They were playing without starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, but they were just a play or two from winning the game without him. Other than a terrible interception to Lance Briggs in the third quarter, Seneca Wallace fared admirably in Hasselbeck’s absence. Jones ran well, racking up 136 yards from scrimmage. The defense did a nice job of pressuring Cutler and preventing the run — which killed them last week when Frank Gore ran for over 200 yards. Of note, the Seahawks got an impressive showing from rookie Aaron Curry, as he accrued a sack and was the player who forced Cutler’s lost fumble.
Finally, this is the second straight week the Bears’ opponent has seen their kicker miss two field goals. Olindo Mare made four field goals, but missed two. And his team lost by six. Ouch.
The Bears will head home to face the Lions — who now know how to win a game — next week before their bye.
The Seahawks will travel to Indianapolis for a 10:00 Pacific time game next week, which should prove a really tough test.
Comeback Cutler? Bears Win Late Again originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
