Bears pick off long-distance win over Bucs
After playing an impressive first half and building a 21-5 lead 4:28 into the third quarter, the Bears allowed Tampa Bay back in the game Sunday.
And the Bucs almost rallied to steal it at London's Wembley Stadium.
It wasn't until D.J. Moore's interception with 37 seconds left, the Bears' fourth of the game, that the winners could exhale.
The Bears were outscored 13-3 after Marion Barber's 12-yard TD run with 10:32 left in the third quarter.
“We had a great first half, came out hot,” quarterback Jay Cutler told reporters after the game. “(In) the third quarter, things went downhill for us. We know we've got to get back and clean that stuff up and finish games (and) put the defense in tough spots. We've just got to get better.”
But the 4 interceptions helped preserve a 24-18 victory, leaving both teams at 4-3 records into their bye weeks. That's the same mark the Bears had a year ago at their break when they went on to win the NFC North with an 11-5 record.
It may not have meant much to the 76,981 in attendance — many of whom seemed most excited only when the ball was kicked or punted — but the victory pushed the Bears back into playoff relevance.
Coupled with Detroit's loss at home to Atlanta, the Bears are now just 1 game behind the Lions for second place in the NFC North behind Green Bay (7-0).
After failing for most of the season to force the turnovers they've come to be known for under Lovie Smith, the Bears' 4 take-aways established a season high.
Since Smith came aboard in 2004, the Bears have more take-aways (243) than any team in the NFL. But they had forced just 8 turnovers in their first six games and only 5 in the previous five games.
One thing the Bears have been able to count on all season is consistent production from Matt Forte, and that was the case again Sunday.
The NFL's leader in yards from scrimmage rushed 25 times for 145 yards and caught 2 passes for 38 yards.
The Bears outrushed the Bucs 177-30 as Tampa played without starting running back LeGarrette Blount.
The Bucs then lost backup Earnest Graham early in the first quarter, leaving them with third-stringer Kregg Lumpkin (8 carries for 15 yards) as their only option.
That ground superiority helped offset a mediocre performance by Cutler (17 of 32 for 226 yards). He was intercepted twice, although the first pick was a catchable ball that bounced off Barber's hands.
Since offensive coordinator Mike Martz committed to a balanced attack between run and pass, the Bears are 3-1, rushing at least 25 times in each game.
The Bears' pass rush, which accounted for 5 sacks a week earlier, was absent for much of the game, getting to Josh Freeman just once. But it did play a part in the 4 interceptions.
“We didn't get enough pressure during the second half, which allowed them to get back in the game,” Bears coach Lovie Smith told reporters in London.
“We did have control of it, but we let it slip away from us a little bit. But the guys put it back together at the end, kicking that (fourth-quarter) field goal. Then, putting it on the defense to hold them out of the end zone. D.J.'s interception was big.”
Moore's pick was his third of the season, tying him with Brian Urlacher, who had his third pick of the season in the third quarter.
They were the only two Bears with an interception this season until linebacker Lance Briggs and rookie safety Chris Conte each got a pick Sunday.
rlegere@dailyherald.com