Grading the Chicago Bears

Game ball

One of the NFL's good guys, Larry Fitzgerald is still darn good, even at age 32. The future Hall of Fame wide receiver took young Bears to school, catching 3 touchdown passes, including one on a flea-flicker. He had 8 receptions for 112 yards.

Quarterback

2 footballs

Jay Cutler was perfect until … well, you know. Jay moment. Momentum-swinging pick-6. Ballgame. Cutler was 8 of 8 for 120 yards and a TD until getting hurt on the interception and never returning to the game. A rusty Jimmy Clausen was Cubs-bullpen-bad in relief.

Running backs

3 footballs

Matt Forte had just 15 carries for 61 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per rush with a long of 27. Rookie Jeremy Langford got all 6 of his carries on the Bears' third series and capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with his first NFL touchdown.

Offensive line

1 football

That's Vlad as in bad. Right guard Vladimir Ducasse (holding, false start) wouldn't start on a good team. Jermon Bushrod (false start, holding) wasn't good either. Kyle Long didn't appear to make progress at right tackle, allowing another sack.

Receivers

2½ footballs

Nice moment for 26-year-old Josh Bellamy, whose first NFL catch was good for 48 yards and a touchdown. Eddie Royal (7 catches, 8 targets) was dependable, especially with injured Alshon Jeffery out.

Defensive line

2 footballs

Jarvis Jenkins nearly had a sack early on. The run defense was solid, but Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense still hasn't produced a sack.

Linebackers

2 ½ footballs

Pernell McPhee was oh-so-close at least times at sacking Carson Palmer. Shea McClellin was credited unofficially with a team-best 9 tackles (4 solos). Athletic play by Jared Allen to bat a pass and pick it off for the defense's first big play of the season.

Secondary

½ football

Alan Ball and Kyle Fuller were each flagged for pass interference, for a total of 80 yards. Fuller was benched in the fourth quarter. Rookie safety Adrian Amos swung and missed on David Johnson's 13-yard TD run in the third.

Special teams

2 footballs

Not a good start. Johnson sped 108 yards, untouched, on the game's opening kickoff. Three more field goals (40, 23 and 51 yards) from Robbie Gould.

Coaching

2 footballs

Marc Trestman and Mel Tucker would have taken plenty of heat for this home disaster, so John Fox and Fangio deserve criticism. Can't blame Cutler's injury for a disturbing 14 penalties for 170 yards.