The Bears ended their three game skid and keep their playoff hopes alive with a 28 to 13 victory over Arizona. The offense was very affective and was able to put points on board, something this offense has struggled with.
One player that didn’t struggle was Brandon Marshall who had another solid performance. Marshall had 6 receptions for 68 yards TD, and becomes the Bears single-season leader in franchise history in receiving yards. Also, the Bears running game were very affective as Forte and company combined for 30 carries and 144 yards TD. Overall, offense played well and most of all Cutler didn’t turn over the ball.
As for the Bears defense, players stepped up to the challenge and delivered big with two defensive scores. Zach Bowman came away with the first score with a fumble recovery for a TD. The second defensive score came from Charles Tillman, who took an interception in for a TD. The defense also did a good job of getting pressure on rookie Ryan Lindley, coming away with 4 sacks, 3 of those sacks by Julius Peppers.
This by no means was a pretty game, but the Bears came out with the victory and fought hard to keep their playoff hopes alive. It won’t be easy, as the Bears still need help to get into the playoffs. First, the Bears must beat the Lions next week on the road, and then the Packers must beat the Vikings in order for the Bears to reach the playoffs.
The Bears hit the road with their 9-6 record to take on a 4-11 Lions team who are playing for pride, and would love to spoil the Bears playoff chances. So the Bears need to keep the pressure up and will need a big performance, and a little luck, to sneak into the playoffs next week.
