Odds and end zones: Bears-Vikings aftermath
December 10, 2012, 9:48 am
Cleaning out the notebook on Monday morning….
The history of teams with 100-catch receivers achieving little else is dangerously close to adding another case study. Brandon Marshall set a franchise record with his 101st reception in the loss to Minnesota and the hollow ring to the accomplishment was deafening.
The last time a Jay Cutler team was 8-5 and needing a win for a chance at postseason, the Denver Broncos went 0-3, two of three on the road, and Cutler had no passer rating higher than 74.9. He posted a 57.0 on Sunday.
Losing formulaWhen the Bears throttled the Minnesota Vikings in Soldier Field two weeks ago, they ran the ball 39 times, 36 of those by running backs. They called 32 pass plays.
In the rematch, the offense ran the ball 18 times, 15 of those by Matt Forte (13), Michael Bush and Armando Allen (one each). Jay Cutler threw 44 passes and was sacked twice before leaving with an unspecified neck injury. Jason Campbell threw nine passes in relief.
A hard fact is that Cutler has never won a game as a Chicago Bear when he has thrown 40 passes (0-6). When he’s thrown 44 passes in a game, he is 1-7 for his career.
Curiously perhaps, the Bears converted seven of 17 third downs (41 percent), the second straight game in which they have converted 40 percent, their season’s average, and lost.
“We were able to take away the run game,” explained defensive end Jared Allen, without specifying who the “we” referred to, whether the Vikings or Bears coaches. “They were forced into third-and-long situations. When we played them last, they were in third-and-short the whole game. They were able to dink and dunk us the whole way.
“We knew they were going to max protect the whole game and show us different looks and shifts. Our whole thing was just not to let Cutler run free. When he ran, we needed to force him into bad throws and we were able to do that.”
High praiseMinnesota left tackle Matt Kalil acquitted himself well again against Julius Peppers, with help from the Bears offense.
The Jay Cutler interceptions that directly led to 14 Vikings points meant that the Bears never led in the game and meant that must-pass situations were held to a minimum. Add in the assault on the defense provided by the running of Adrian Peterson (31 carries, 154 yards, two touchdowns) and the result was a pass rush that was credited with only one sack and one quarterback hit, by defensive end Corey Wootton.
“Usually when you’re playing from behind, you have to pass the ball more,” said Kalil, Minnesota’s 2012 No. 1 pick and No. 4 overall. “[Peppers] is probably the second-best athlete I’ve ever played against. That guy is probably one of the greatest players I’ve ever played. Sticking with that lead and building on it makes it a lot easier.”
Tags: Adrian Peterson,
Jay Cutler,
Julius Peppers,
brandon marshall,
Minnesota Vikings,
Matt Forte,
Jason Campbell,
Chicago Bears,
Matt Kalil
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