The turnover machine that has become the Chicago Bears defense continued to operate at peak efficiency Monday night, adding four more takeaways at Soldier Field in a 13-7 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The Bears (5-1) came into the game with 17 forced turnovers and added three fumble recoveries and an interception, including a recovery by LB Brian Urlacher inches from the goal line with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter that proved critical in a victory that put Chicago a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North.
Detroit (2-4) falls to last place in the North, one game behind third-place Green Bay.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler toughed out the game despite suffering bruised ribs on a sack by Detroit DT Ndamukong Suh late in the first half. Cutler left briefly but returned after having the injury examined. He was able to do just enough against the Lions defense early to provide a 13-0 lead that the defense protected.
The Bears defense shut down WR Calvin Johnson and held Lions QB Matthew Stafford to just 99 passing yards through three-plus quarters. CB D.J. Moore's interception with 2:46 remaining in the game made a comeback all but impossible. Detroit got a 12-yard TD pass from Stafford to WR Ryan Broyles with 30 seconds left in the game, but the Bears' Earl Bennett recovered an onside kick to seal the win.
| Julius Peppers and the Bears defense made it a tough night for Matthew Stafford and the Lions, who were shut out until the final minute of Monday night's game." (US Presswire) |
When the game turned: Bears DT Henry Melton knocked the ball out of the hands of RB Joique Bell as he tried to make a second-effort lunge forward with the ball to the goal line following an unsuccessful attempt to dive over from the 1-yard line with 5:26 left in the third quarter and Chicago leading 13-0. A score would have turned the game's momentum, but Melton swatted it out and Urlacher recovered it and advanced it four yards to kill a Lions threat and preserve the 13-point lead. The Bears also got a fumble recovery just before halftime when LB Lance Briggs stripped RB Mikel Leshoure of the ball and DE Julius Peppers recovered at the Bears 17 to end a threat. The Lions' other lost fumble came when return man Stefan Logan muffed a punt and Bears CB Zack Bowman, in his first game back with the team after signing this week, recovered at the Lions 27 to set up a 21-yard Robbie Gould field goal for a 13-0 lead.
Highlight moments: RB Matt Forte's season-long 39-yard run off left guard to the Lions 7 to set up a first-quarter TD. Detroit blitzed off the right side on the play and left the secondary wide open for Forte. ... Cutler's 24-yard scramble late in the first quarter that was followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against DT Corey Williams and set the Bears up at the Detroit 21 so Gould could kick a 39-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. Cutler took a big hit from CB Jonte Green rather than slide on the play. ... Suh's sack of Cutler in the second quarter with 5:12 remaining in the second quarter, a vicious hit that resulted in trainers coming onto the field. Cutler jogged off and returned a play later, then left again after the series to be examined. However, he returned after receiving a pain-killer and finished up the game.
Top-shelf performances:
- Cutler -- Completed 16 of 31 passes for 150 yards with a TD and no turnovers. He had a 76.0 QB rating, well off his career average vs. the Lions of 105, but his three rushes for 34 yards and the offense's ability to convert 6 of 17 third downs made a big difference, leading to 34:35 of posession time for the Bears.
- CB Charles Tillman -- Held WR Calvin Johnson to three catches for 34 yards, and he was targeted 11 times. Johnson didn't get a catch until making a 6-yarder in the third quarter. Tillman wrestled a possible TD catch away from him one play before the game-changing fumble recovery at the 1-yard line.
- WR Brandon Marshall -- Made six catches for 81 yards, including a long of 20 yards and a 7-yard TD pass that was an adjustment on the run when the Lions' defensive front got in his way.
- Peppers -- He usually has great games against Detroit. He had a sack, a fumble recovery, two hurries, and a tackle for loss.
What they said about Cutler's toughness:
- Bears coach Lovie Smith -- “He's a tough guy. That's what you should have as your Chicago Bears quarterback. And he does it time after time. That's effort by him. He was in some pain, but he fought through it."
- Bears WR Brandon Marshall -- "It definitely scared us when he went down. He's tough."
What they said about Cutler's injury:
- Cutler -- "Trying to get my right side through was a little bit tough. I missed some throws."
On the hit Suh made on Cutler:
- Suh -- "It was simply a football play. I couldn't control my momentum, especially at that high speed."
About the turnovers:
- Bears DB D.J. Moore -- "We practice it every day. We've got someone like Peanut (Charles Tillman), who does it time and time again. It gets contagious."
On the Lions' offensive struggles:
- Stafford -- "We just haven't been able to put points on the board early in the game. It has come back to haunt us."
Numbers you should know: Cutler has won 10 of his last 11 starts. ... The Bears are now 9-2 on Monday Night Football under coach Lovie Smith. ... The Bears defense went almost two full games without allowing a touchdown before allowing one with 30 seconds left.
Injury update: Detroit: WR Nate Burleson suffered a broken leg and is out for the season. ... S Amari Spievey suffered a concussion and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis. ... Chicago: Cutler's bruised ribs were the only Bears injury of note. He was able to finish the game.
Going forward: The Lions return home for the first time in almost a month and face the Seahawks on Sunday at 1 pm ET. A win will be crucial since the Lions now are well behind the Vikings and Bears and a game behind Green Bay in the NFC North. ... The Bears play another home game Sunday at noon against Carolina in what is certain to be an emotional contest since Panthers coach Ron Rivera is their former defensive coordinator who was fired by Smith after Super Bowl XLI in a controversial move.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.