Bears overcome sloppiness to beat Chargers 22-19
SAN DIEGO — The offensive fireworks that were expected Monday night from the Bears and Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium were mostly duds through three quarters as each offense managed just 1 touchdown.
The pace picked up significantly after that.
Trailing by 5 points with just under eight minutes left, the Bears started at their own 20-yard line and scored on a 25-yard pass from Jay Cutler to Zach Miller for a 22-19 lead with 3:19 left. Then the defense held off the Chargers' last stand for the win.
The Chargers held a 16-7 advantage at halftime, thanks to a defensive touchdown and a late 81-yard field goal drive directed by quarterback Philip Rivers that benefited from a roughing-the-passer penalty against Bears defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins.
Trailing by 9 points to start the second half, the Bears moved rapidly into the red zone on their first possession. But Jay Cutler missed twice on passes to Alshon Jeffery, and Robbie Gould inexplicably missed a 34-yard field goal attempt, his second misfire of the night. Gould connected on his first 17 attempts, but the chip shot was his third straight miss, starting with a 51-yarder in Week Eight vs. the Vikings.
The Bears began their next possession at their seven-yard line, and the offense finally looked to be in sync. Cutler completed passes to five different receivers on a 93-yard TD drive, including 4 to Jeffery for 41 yards. Rookie running back Jeremy Langford, who got the most extensive work of his NFL career subbing for injured Matt Forte (knee), powered over from 1 yard out to cut the Bears' deficit to 16-14 with 14:02 remaining.
Cutler converted three third-down plays on passes to three different receivers — 10 yards to Marc Mariani, 6 yards to Jeffery and 23 yards to Langford.
The Bears had moved the ball well most of the night but a Cutler fumble and Gould's missed field goals gave them zero points on 3 trips of their trips into the red zone.
The Chargers responded with Josh Lambo's 22-yard field goal to increase their lead to 19-14.
After the 2 Cutler turnovers in the first half, his sixth and seventh of the season, the Bears' offense got rolling.
Just seconds after allowing an interception return for a touchdown on a pass intended for Jeffery, Cutler went right back to the Pro Bowl wide receiver for a 47-yard pickup. Jeffery burned cornerback Jason Verrett, who had just victimized Cutler for the pick-6, but he exited the field after Jeffery's catch with a groin injury.
Jeffery catches of 12 and 14 yards set up Cutler's 1-yard TD toss to Martellus Bennett, which brought the Bears within 13-7 midway through the second quarter.
Bennett had been outspoken the previous week in his quest to have more passes directed his way.
The Bears had fallen behind 13-0 when Cutler's second-quarter pass intended for Jeffery was picked off by Verrett and returned 68 yards for a touchdown.
Cutler and the offense had been given an excellent scoring opportunity when cornerback Tracy Porter stripped the ball from Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman after a 16-yard reception. Christian Jones recovered for the Bears at the Chargers' 41-yard line. But on the second play, Cutler was picked off for the fifth time this season.
The Bears' second possession reached the red zone but ended when Cutler was sacked by Melvin Ingram, who forced a fumble that was recovered by Eric Weddle.
On their first possession, the Chargers wasted little time moving 63 yards quickly and without benefit of a huddle to a 7-0 lead. The touchdown came on Rivers' 14-yard pass to a wide-open Danny Woodhead in the end zone just 8:10 in.
Ka'Deem Carey — not the rookie Langford — was the surprise starter at running back in place of Forte. He helped the Bears move into field goal range on the game-opening possession with 3 carries for 17 yards. But Robbie Gould was wide left from 47 yards.
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