Bears reward Garza with contract extension

If quarterback Jay Cutler looks more confident in the pocket lately it’s because he has more confidence in the guys protecting him.

The same five offensive linemen have started in each of the past three games, and they’ve allowed a total of just 3 sacks, including none Monday night against the No. 4 defense in the league in sack percentage.

Cutler was sacked 14 times in the season’s first three games.

“They’re getting better and better,” the quarterback said of his O-line. “Lance (Louis) is out there at right tackle, a new position, and each day he improves. And Chris Spencer has done an unbelievable job of stepping in from center to right guard for us.

“(Left guard) Chris Williams has been solid all year, and (center Roberto) Garza has been an anchor in there. We’ve got a good group.”

Louis started his college career as a tight end at San Diego State before switching to guard, where he has played since the Bears drafted him in the seventh round in 2009. He had never started a game at tackle until Oct. 16.

Spencer is playing with a plate and several screws in his fractured right hand.

Garza was a guard for 10 previous NFL seasons before filling the void left by Olin Kreutz’s departure. His performance was rewarded with a two-year contract extension through 2013 worth $6.55 million, including $2.6 million guaranteed, the team announced Tuesday.

The Bears got a bargain, considering the way the line has solidified under Garza’s leadership.

“It always starts up front,” said Cutler, who has 6 touchdown passes and just 2 interceptions in the last four games.

“Whenever I’ve got a good pocket and I can see what’s happening downfield, I know I’m probably going to have a good day. And as the game progressed that’s how it happened.”

Forte’s roller coaster:It was an up-and-down night for Matt Forte at Philadelphia.All by himself, he outrushed an Eagles team that came in No. 1 in the NFL in rushing yards and average gain per rush. Forte outrushed the Eagles 133-119, and he averaged 5.5 yards per carry to Philly#146;s 5.2.In so doing, Forte became the first player in NFL history to have 800 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving in each of his first four seasons.In eight games, Forte has 805 rushing yards on 148 carries for a 5.4-yard average, and he has caught 41 passes for 436 yards, both team bests.But he also lost 2 fumbles that the Eagles turned into 14 points.#147;I dropped the ball, it#146;s as easy as that,#148; said Forte, who had not fumbled since Oct. 24, 2010. #147;There#146;s no explanation. I fumbled. As a running back, I#146;ve got to hold on to it.#147;It#146;s hard to forget about. It#146;s not something I#146;m proud of, but it is something that happens as a running back in the NFL, and you#146;ve got to forget about it and move on to the next play. That#146;s what I did.#148;After the second fumble, Forte carried 10 more times for 49 yards.Same wavelength:Even though quarterback Jay Cutler and Earl Bennett hadn#146;t played in a game together since Sept. 18, when the wide receiver suffered a chest injury, they demonstrated the benefits of a relationship that goes back to their college days at Vanderbilt.They made an adjustment without speaking on what turned out to be Bennett#146;s 5-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.#147;It was going to be something inside,#148; Cutler said. #147;Something presented itself, and we couldn#146;t run it. I locked eyes with Earl, and he knew exactly what I was thinking.#147;I#146;ve been playing with Earl for a long time, and we#146;ve got kind of a connection where he knows what I#146;m thinking and I know what he#146;s thinking, so it worked out.#148;Bennett beat Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel to the back corner of the end zone for his first TD grab of the season.#147;He likes to bite and cheat (gambling for the interception), and we were able to take advantage of it,#148; Bennett said of Samuel. #147;He came up, and we got behind him.#148;Kickin#146; it:Robbie Gould#146;s 38-yard field goal late in the third quarter, his second of 3, moved him past Walter Payton (750) for second place on the Bears#146; all-time scoring list.Gould, who has 757 points and trails only Kevin Butler (1,116), connected on all 3 field-goal attempts Monday, including a 51-yarder. He is 17-for-18 this season, including 2-for-2 from 50 yards or longer.Minor move:The Bears signed guard Reggie Stephens to the practice squad Tuesday and terminated the practice-squad contract of safety Winston Venable.ŸFollow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.