Morning Box Score: Bears Win Shootout Against Jets
By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 27, 2010 4:00PM
It was supposed to be a matchup of two of the better defenses in the National Football League. Instead, the Bears and New York Jets combined for 72 points yesterday. Thankfully for Bears fans, Jay Cutler came up big when the team needed him most.
Cutler threw for three touchdown passes and ran for another score, pacing a balanced attack as the Bears beat the Jets 38-34. Cutler's yardage numbers were modest (13-25, 215 yards), but he found Johnny Knox for two scores (including a beauty of a 40-yard strike where Knox displayed textbook extension) and Devin Hester for a third. All three of Cutler's scoring strikes were longer than 20 yards, the first time a Bears QB had three touchdown passes of longer than 40 yards since Erik Kramer fifteen years ago. Cutler's QB rating was a solid 104.2; the Bears are undefeated when Cutler's QB rating is over 100.
The Bears offense once again displayed the balance it's exhibited since coming off their break week a couple months back. Matt Forte rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries, while the offensive line opened holes for the running game and protected Cutler on pass plays all game.
Thee defense, however, was another story. For the third time in four games, the defense has allowed a team to run up points on them before righting the ship at the right moment. Jets QB Mark Sanchez passed for 269 yards and a touchdown, while the Jets put 24 points on the board in the second quarter. Sanchez had a lot of success with slant passes and the short passes in the flat that Tom Brady exploited so well a couple weeks back.
Most important for the Bears is the win keeps them on pace for a first round bye in the playoffs. Lovie Smith and his crew can wrap up the bye with a win next Sunday against the Packers in Green Bay.