Grades: 4 TDs propel a near-perfect afternoon

November 4, 2012, 5:03 pm

	JOHN "MOON" MULLIN Archive
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The offense scored four touchdowns and amassed 358 total yards, a workmanlike effort punctuated by three scoring throws to Brandon Marshall. The Bears did have three possessions stall inside the Tennessee 25 for Robbie Gould field goals.

With an average starting position of their own 47 because of the turnovers, the offense might have scored more. But the key to success is not turning the ball over and the Bears did that just once on a lost fumble.

QUARTERBACK    A

Jay Cutler overcame some early inconsistencies and inaccuracy to settle in for a game with 19-of-26 passing through his three-plus quarters for 229 yards and three touchdowns, all to Brandon Marshall, and a passer rating of 138.1. He had three incompletions in the first quarter, two in the second and one in the third a fourth as the defense loosened in apparent expectation that the Bears would run with their huge lead.

The biggest key was no interceptions, although the Titans missed a couple of excellent pick opportunities. Cutler also managed to maintain calm under surprising pressure from a Tennessee front that clearly did not quit despite the huge deficit.

RUNNING BACK    A

Backs accounted for 32 rushes, three caught passes and 213 total yards from scrimmage. Matt Forte was utilized in both run and pass games, finishing with 103 rushing yards and 45 net yards on two pass receptions. He turned a screen pass into a 47-yard gain in addition to 48 yards on seven carries in the first half, and his eight-yard TD run for a first-quarter TD with his offensive line push.

Michael Bush was stymied on 10 carries for 16 yards but added 17 yards on his one catch. Armando Allen got some work in the fourth quarter and managed to break a 10-yard run among his 10 carries for 32 yards.

RECEIVERS   A-

Brandon Marshall continues to raise his bar, with nine catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns. It was his fourth 100-yard game of the year and fourth with at least nine receptions and, more important, he has scored in five of the Bears’ eight games. Marshall helped seal the Titans’ fate in the first half with four catches, one for 13 yards and a TD.

Other receivers played only minor roles. Earl Bennett caught four passes but for just 22 total yards and Devin Hester had 19 for his two. No tight end caught a pass.

OFFENSIVE LINE   A-

The overall was very solid with 160 rushing yards and 4.9 per carries other than Jason Campbell’s three kneel-downs at the end. Blockers repeatedly sealed off and created seams on the edges, with guards Lance Louis and Chilo Rachal effective pulling to clean up plays for Forte in particular.

J’Marcus Webb caused a safety with hand-to-the-face in the end zone and added a holding penalty in the first half. But Webb and Gabe Carimi recovered after bad plays to deal with good edge rushers in Derek Morgan (zero sacks, two QB hits) and Kamerion Wimbley (one sack, one QB hit).

COACHING     B

Play calling that had empty backfields and Cutler getting sacked late in a first half with Bears leading 31-2 was befuddling. The Bears led by 22 with 22 minutes to play and Cutler was still dropping and getting pressure. The balance of run-pass was present in the first half with 12 called runs and 16 pass plays against a defense that clearly was stacking to deal with a Bears game plan to run.

Tags: Michael Bush, Offensive Line, brandon marshall, Matt Forte, Lovie Smith, Jay Cutler, Mike Tice