Cutler uses mobility to frustrate Vikings

The Bears are discovering the benefits of keeping their quarterback upright, whether the line is doing it or Jay Cutler is doing it himself with his feet.

Cutler threw for 3 touchdowns on 22-of-35 passing for 237 yards and overcame a critical mistake to help the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-13 Sunday and climb back into a tie with the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North lead.

“I think everyone is just getting comfortable with the offense and what we're trying to do,” Cutler said.

And Cutler obviously looked more comfortable in the pocket or outside of it as he distributed the ball to nine different receivers at all points on the field.

The Bears converted 11 of 19 third downs for 58 percent one game after converting 7 of 12 for the same percentage.

“We max-protected a few times on third down and that's kind of when we had been struggling a little bit, and the (linemen) did a great job,” Cutler said.

The Bears also gave some of the credit for their effectiveness on third down to a moving pocket employed by offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

“We had to move the pocket a little bit, but that's pretty standard with a cover-2 (defensive) team like that,” Cutler said. “You've got to find some zones; you've got to find some openings.

“Whenever you move the pocket, you shuttle (the defense) a little bit.”

And while the defense was moving, Cutler was finding receivers. He tied a season high for touchdown passes by hitting tight end Greg Olsen on a third-and-14, a 17-yarder over the middle behind the coverage of linebacker E.J. Henderson.

Then he completed a short pass that Devin Hester turned into a 19-yard TD just before halftime. Finally, he found Kellen Davis on a third-and-1, play-action, 19-yard strike to seal the win in the fourth quarter.

“They're dropping seven guys in coverage and those holes are tight,” Olsen said. “When Jay can buy time and the offensive line can protect him and guys (receivers) can get into secondary moves and (Cutler) scrambles a little bit and find holes on the run and ad libs, it puts a lot of pressure on a defense even though you have seven guys to guard that long.”

Cutler liked the moving pocket, or moving himself to find receivers. It's something he did to some extent in the Nov. 7 win over the Buffalo Bills, as well. There was a great deal of improv involved.

“Whenever they're protecting as well as they did up front and are just giving me lanes to move and stuff, I'm fine with that,” Cutler said.

Of course, it also gave Cutler time to make another red-zone mistake. After buying time with his feet late in the third quarter, he tried to thread the needle to Johnny Knox but was was picked off by safety Husain Abdullah for the second time in the game. A field goal would have meant a two-score lead.

“I think the only negative was really that interception down in the red zone,” Cutler said. “I've just got to be more aware down there and just take the field goal.

“I wish I would have thrown it away or just run it in.”

Cutler used his feet early for a 25-yard scramble and was able to take advantage of the Vikings dropping middle linebacker E.J. Henderson deep in coverage.

If the offensive line continues to allow just 1 sack as it did Sunday and Cutler keeps buying time, the offense sees nothing but good things ahead.

“The guys we have with that speed running around, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense when your quarterback can stay alive,” Knox said.