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Trestman explains why he didn't use timeouts Sunday

Many are still wondering why the Bears didn't use any of their three timeouts to stop the clock during the Ravens' game-tying field-goal drive that ended with three seconds left in regulation.

The Ravens advanced from their 16 to the Bears' 5-yard line. Had they reached the end zone, the Ravens would have taken a 4-point lead and left the Bears with just a few ticks on the clock.

Bears coach Marc Trestman offered a thorough, 590-word explanation:

“I think it's a very fair question,” he said. “So, just a little bit of history: When you start a drive from the 16-yard line you have a 13 percent chance, probably in the last five years, to score a touchdown. So, the percentage of them scoring ... it's a leap of faith.”

Trestman said it didn't make sense to consider a timeout until after Ray Rice's 11-yard run from the Bears' 16-yard line, a play that started with 1:21 on the clock. He didn't, and the Ravens didn't snap the ball again until 36 seconds remained.

“If you call three timeouts right there in succession, you're still only getting the ball back at 18 seconds,” Trestman said. “If you let it run, they're in a two-minute mode (instead of red zone), and now they've got to call 2 timeouts.”

The Ravens did use their timeouts, but after 2 running plays netted 2 yards, their third-down pass was incomplete after a low shotgun snap, leaving seven seconds on the clock.

Jay's our quarterback:Quarterback Jay Cutler is still week to week with a high-ankle sprain and will not play Sunday against the Rams in St. Louis. But Cutler is in no danger of losing his job to backup Josh McCown, who has been exceptional.#8220;I would rule Jay out for Sunday,#8221; said coach Marc Trestman, adding that nothing has changed depth-chart wise. #8220;Jay is the quarterback of our football team, and Josh is our backup quarterback. And the three of us all know that. And that hasn't changed #8212; and it's not going to change.#8221;McCown is 2-0 as a starter and has played in a total of four games with a passer rating of 100.0. Cutler said on his Monday radio show that he hopes to return for the Vikings game at Minnesota on Dec. 1.Keeping it safe:The Bears have turned the ball over just two times in the past five games, the fewest giveaways they've had over that long of a stretch since at least 1950 #8212; the first year for which those statistics are available. In victories over the Ravens, Packers and Giants, the Bears did not turn the ball over at all. Jay Cutler threw 1 interception in each of the losses to the Redskins and Lions.

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