There can be no question about the Houston Texans' toughness or status as legitimate Super Bowl contenders after Sunday night's 13-6 victory at Soldier Field over the Chicago Bears in a battle of potential championship teams. 

The Texans (8-1) shrugged off a muddy field and 30 mph winds and played their usual physical brand of football both on offense and defense to beat one of the more physical teams in the NFC. Their defense held the Bears (7-2) to eight total first downs, and, on the other side of the ball, RB Arian Foster plowed through mud, rain, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to gain 102 yards on 29 carries for the win. 

In a battle of two heavyweights, the Texans were left standing -- which is more than could be said for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler who was knocked out of the game with a concussion at halftime. It's uncertain whether he will be able to play a week from Monday in San Francisco against the 49ers.

The Texans had much to prove after losing 42-24 at home on a Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, and they proved a lot with a big win on the road in poor conditions. The Texans took the ball away four times in the first half, including two interceptions of Cutler, who completed only 7 of 14 for 40 yards with a passer-rating of 16.7. Bears RB Matt Forte was held to 39 yards on 16 rushes and the team to a total of 115 rushing yards, which were inflated by 42 scrambling yards from quarterbacks. Cutler paid heavily for running the ball when he was hit hard by Texans LB Tim Dobbins.

Foster's 2-yard diving TD catch in the second quarter accounted for the game's only touchdown, as the Bears were nearly as dominant defensively, holding the Texans to 215 yards and picking off QB Matt Schaub twice. 

The loss left the Bears only one game ahead of Green Bay in the NFC North. With the win, the Texans maintain a two-game edge on Indianapolis in the AFC South.

When the game turned: The Texans led 10-3 when Cutler scrambled, pumped on the run and threw an 8-yard pass to Devin Hester, who took it to the Texans' 8-yard line to set up what could have been a game-tying touchdown with 2:30 left in the first half. Cutler took a shot to the head from Dobbins on the play after he threw, leading to a roughing penalty. But officials ruled Cutler had stepped over the line of scrimmage before throwing. It was difficult to determine if Cutler's back foot had gone past the line on replay, and the call stood. The play may also have been a turning point because of the hit on Cutler. He threw an INT to CB Kareem Jackson two plays later and played just one more series before leaving the game. The Bears weren't certain when he suffered the concussion but said he had symptoms in the locker room at halftime and medical personnel told him he couldn't return to the game. Jason Campbell came on to complete 11 of 19 passes for 94 yards for the Bears, but 45 of the yards came on one throw to set up a short second-half field goal.

Highlight moments: Foster's diving TD catch at the pylon. While Foster isn't a bad receiver, before Sunday he had just one TD catch over the previous 13 contests and only 12 catches this season.  ... Justin Forsett's 25-yard run to set up Foster's TD catch. ... Bears CB Tim Jennings with his eighth INT of the season -- and the second of the game. He got up and returned the ball for a TD, but it was called back after he'd made contact. Jennings needs only two more INTs to tie the Bears' single-season record held by Mark Carrier. ... A fourth-and-one run of 11 yards by Bears RB Michael Bush to Houston's 32 in the second quarter that he fumbled when safety Glover Quin knocked it loose and LB Bradie James recovered.

Top-shelf performances:

  • Texans S Danieal Manning, the former Bear, got back at his old team with a fumble forced on TE Kellen Davis after a 6-yard gain on Chicago's first play from scrimmage. He then intercepted a Cutler pass to Davis in the final minute of the first quarter at the Houston 6 with the Bears already in field goal range to start the second-down play at the Texans 30.
  • Texans RB Foster, with 85 first-half rushing yards on 17 carries against a team that had been ranked No. 1 against the run before reserves gave up an 80-yard TD run by Chris Johnson last week. Foster repeatedly broke Chicago tackles, running through Urlacher and Chris Conte on one play in the first half. His diving TD catch on second-and-goal from the 2 was the biggest offensive play of the game.
  • Bears CB Tim Jennings, with two first-half INTs to keep Houston from pulling out to a more substantial lead. Chicago's defense made it close, and one 66-yard second-quarter drive that came almost all on the ground proved the difference in the rain-soaked game.

What they said about:

... Houston's defense:

Coach Gary Kubiak: "Two great defenses going at it on the field and ours was absolutely exceptional, especially in the third quarter. I think they had the ball at the 50 three times because we were pinned the whole quarter and our defense bailed us out every time. They're playing great. Wade (Phillips, defensive coordinator) is doing a hell of a job and we have so much confidence in him, and you've got to play to that strength."

... Houston's running game:

RB Arian Foster: "We kind of go as our offensive line goes. We say that all the time. They played good tonight. This is a huge win. They're one of the best teams in the NFL and we feel like we are, too."

... The injury to Cutler:

LB Brian Urlacher: "That's why we got Jason (Campbell). We're better off now than we were last year at this time. Hopefully, [Cutler] will be back soon."

Numbers you should know: The Texans won despite just 95 passing yards from Schaub, who was 14 of 26 with two interceptions -- the same number he threw in the team's loss to Green Bay. ... The Bears were held to a season-worst 2-of-13 conversion rate on third down. ... The Bears had five drives begin at their own 45 or better and went without a TD.

Going forward: The Bears play at San Francisco on Monday night, Nov. 19, and it's possible they might have to do it with Campbell starting. ... The Texans return home to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team they beat 27-7 in Week 2 of the regular season.

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.

Follow Texans blogger Sean Bielawski on Twitter @CBSTexans.