LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears would like to think their 22-19 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Monday reflected an acquired ability to close out wins after losing in successive weeks at the end of games.
While it is difficult to see it as a season turning point because it came against a struggling opponent beset with injuries, the verdict did give further indication about quarterback Jay Cutler’s effectiveness in coordinator Adam Gase’s offense.
In years past, a horrible start to a night game on the road provided an easy exit door for the Bears quarterback. On Monday, however, Cutler continued to battle as he has for five consecutive games, bouncing back from an interception for a touchdown, his own lost fumble on a sack and a couple missed Robbie Gould chip-shot field-goal tries.
“Jay rebounded,” coach John Fox said. “It obviously didn’t go in the first half quite like we wanted. We missed some opportunities in the kicking game, there with the pick-6, the sack and fumble. I think it just says a lot about the guy and how he responded in the second half.
“We’ve been seeing this as coaches for most of the season. I’m excited for the guy because he’s done a great job.”
Cutler’s 27-for-40 effort for 345 yards lifted his passer rating to 89.6, just above his career rating of 89.2. His 2 percent rate for interceptions is the lowest of his career. At the midpoint of the season, Cutler has thrown fewer interceptions than Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton.
On the other hand, Cutler’s touchdown rate (4 percent) is the worst of his career, but he is getting the ball out of his hand without getting sacked. He is being sacked at the lowest rate (3.9 percent) of any season since he became a Bear.
The most important statistic working in Cutler’s favor is the five straight games he led either winning, go-ahead or tying scoring drives in the fourth quarter. On Monday, he guided his 17th fourth-quarter comeback drive for a victory.
“Jay’s been finishing the game every single week,” tight end Martellus Bennett said. “He’s been playing very well, checking the sign language, reading the defense. He’s been a great leader for us.”
The Bears achieved their latest comeback win without running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Eddie Royal and two starting offensive linemen.
“It’s always a challenge,” Cutler said. “You want to try to have as many consistent guys in the offense year in and year out and game in and game out just to get some confidence.
“Guys learn through experience for the most part. To have to shift guys in and out and kind of start over with some of these guys — it’s challenging. Having guys like (running back Jeremy) Langford step in there and some of these other guys, (guard Matt) Slauson move over (to center), Chuck Leno (left tackle), who kind of get it and are a little bit older than their years are — their experience (makes up for it).”
Cutler’s big mistake Monday night was the pick-6 to San Diego cornerback Jason Verrett on a pass intended for wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
“I’ve got to watch the film, but I feel like (Jeffery) got pulled a little bit,” Cutler said. “I put the ball where I wanted it, but me and Alshon will take a look at that and make sure it’s not an issue again.”
Jeffery took responsibility, whether warranted or not.
“I probably blame myself,” Jeffery said. “Jay made a great throw. Jason made a great play on it. When I came to the sideline, I told them (after that) just give me a go route, I don’t care what the coverage is.”
Jeffery made up for it on a subsequent play, running right past the secondary for a 47-yard catch.
What mattered most, though, was the fourth-quarter comeback.
“We were being efficient, doing stuff out there,” Cutler said.
On a night when he became the Bears’ all-time touchdown-pass leader, Cutler’s biggest pass was the 25-yard score that tight end Zach Miller caught one-handed.
With Miller figuring prominently, Jeffery gaining more than 100 yards receiving three consecutive games and Bennett playing a bigger role again after three successive quiet games, the receiver corps is coming together at the right time.
“That whole group, I think, is getting better and better,” Cutler said. “The offensive line, we’re still mixing and matching and throwing guys in there. They’re battling their butts off and playing well, but the guys on the outside (receivers), they’re starting to come together a little bit. It’s fun to watch.”
–The winning score by Miller represented his first touchdown as a Bear and first since 2011 as a Jacksonville Jaguar. His career since 2011 has been a slate of bad injury news, including last year when he went on injured reserve in preseason with a foot injury after making a series of big catches.
“I couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Cutler said about Miller’s success. “He gives us everything he has every day at practice. We ask him to do a lot of the dirty work. He does it without complaining.”
Miller often lines up in the backfield as a blocking back even though he never was considered much of a blocker before this year.
“The guy has been a great leader in his position room and on the offense,” Fox said. “He’s been healthy, which helps. It was a tremendous catch in a time that we needed it.”
Miller called it his best catch ever.
“It’s one of those things where instinct has got to take over,” he said. “I had a couple back in Jacksonville that were all right, but that, here, on this stage, ‘Monday Night Football,’ I think it tops the list.”
–Langford, a rookie, didn’t get his first NFL start in place of Forte when the Bears opted to start second-year player Ka’Deem Carey, but Langford gave a pretty good imitation of the versatile Forte with 72 yards rushing and 60 receiving. If Miller had the night’s best catch, Langford was a close second with a lunging 31-yard grab to the Chargers’ 17-yard line.
–Rookie offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje was suspended without pay for the team’s next four games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances. Fabuluje’s suspension begins immediately.
–Wide receiver Eddie Royal (knee) did not play against San Diego due to an injury sustained the previous game against Minnesota.
–Linebacker Shea McClellin (knee) did not play against San Diego despite practicing on a limited basis all last week.
–Center Hroniss Grasu (neck) missed a second consecutive game. Matt Slauson started in his place at center.
–Defensive tackle Ziggy Hood was inactive.