Five INTs Doom Cutler, Bears

NFL News - November 13th, 2009 - Written by John

When the NFL scheduled the Chicago Bears for prime time slots in nearly half of their games, they envisioned a team transformed by the acquisition of Jay Cutler. An explosive offense that would attract even casual viewers. What they got, though, was bumbling, mistake-prone games and the most-intercepted quarterback in the league.

Cutler became the league's leading passer to the other team Thursday night in a 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His five picks were more than enough to pass Jake Delhomme, completing just 29 of 52 passes to his own receivers, dropping the team to 4-5 on the year and slowly draining it's playoff hopes.

"I wouldn't say (Cutler) was trying to force the issue," 49ers safety Mark Roman told reporters. "He was trying to make plays at a time when they needed a play to be made. We knew the ball was going to be in the air and we knew if we would be sound in our coverages we'd have opportunities."

Somehow, the Bears still had a chance to win the game late, surviving Cutler's first four picks that were a mix of puzzling and understandable. But the fifth turnover was a killer, coming when Chicago had the ball at San Francisco's 12 with 13 seconds left on the clock. The three-year veteran had just driven his team 60 yards in just over two minutes to set up a potential game-winner that would've made up for the bad night. But on second down, he stepped up in the pocket and fired at Greg Olsen at the back of the end zone. Michael Lewis stepped in front of the pass. Two others covering Olsen could have done it, too.

"It was tough. I have to apologize to the defense," he said. "I think the offense as a whole has to apologize. They played a great game and kept us in there even through all the turnovers."

He was right. It was a miserable end to a game in which Chicago's defense rebounded wonderfully after being run over by the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday. In that game, Kurt Warner tied a career-high with five touchdown passes, most of them coming in the first half.

It was the first win for Alex Smith since the second week of 2007. He had been benched for most of that season, all of 2008, and then most of the first half of this year. But he was given the reigns after a great game in relief against the Houston Texans several weeks ago, and kept the Niners competitive. He threw for 118 yards on 16-of-23 passing, and Vernon Davis, who came into the game leading all receivers/tight ends in touchdowns, was basically kept off the map with only three catches for 16 yards. Instead, it was the pounding ground game that kept the Niners ahead. Frank Gore scored the game's lone touchdown on a 14-yard rush in the second quarter.

Chicago running back Matt Forte was held to just 41 rushing yards, but led all receivers with 120 yards receiving.

Robbie Gould scored all six points for the Bears on a field goal in each of the halves. His second in the third quarter made it 7-6, but that lead was pushed to four when Joe Nedney knocked through a chip shot from 21-yards out.

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