Bears say Rams playing hard, but not dirty
The Rams, and especially cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, have been vilified for Joyner's hit last week that knocked Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater out of the game with a concussion.
Joyner was fined $23,152 for the hit on Bridgewater that drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, and it started anew allegations that the Rams, as a team, often play beyond the whistle.
Bears coach John Fox isn't piling on. "These guys are playing a game against the best people in the world at what they do," Fox said. "It's fast, it's physical. You're going to have mishaps - they just happen. I don't think it's anything you can necessary coach or not coach. It is an aggressive game. Some of those hits happen. Typically the (offending) players pay for it in one way or the other."
Bears offensive tackle Kyle Long, who was fined after he tangled with Rams defensive end William Hayes two years ago, wouldn't condemn the Rams either.
"Every team in the NFL, every player in the NFL is coached to play through the whistle and then some," said Long, whose brother Chris plays defensive end for the Rams. "It's a point of emphasis for some people. If people want to say they're a chippy bunch or whatever, that's coming from outside.
"They play hard, they're very talented and they're a physical group. That's what I can say about them. You see it one film, and it's week-in and week-out, no matter who's on the field."
Confidence game:
After Jay Cutler's pass intended for Alshon Jeffery Monday night was intercepted by Jason Verrett and returned 68 yards for a touchdown, the wide receiver came to the sideline and requested that the next play go right back to him against Verrett - deep.
Offensive coordinator Adam Gase gave it the OK, but wasn't 100 percent confident.
"I think I had a long conversation in my head, thinking, 'I'm probably crazy for calling this,' " Gase said. "I kept hearing (head coach John) Fox in my head, that if it was out of bounds, I knew I was going to hear from him."
No worries. Jeffery burned Verrett for 47 yards, setting up the Bears' first touchdown.
"Jay was calm about it, saying, 'You call it, we'll make it happen,' " Gase said. "So I felt good about it, those two felt good, we dialed it up and they made a great play."
No time now:
Jay Cutler's 1-yard touchdown pass to tight Martellus Bennett Monday night was his 138th with the Bears, making him the franchise leader and breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Sid Luckman.
Luckman's record had stood since Sept. 17, 1950, but for now, Cutler isn't dwelling on it.
"That's an after-the-year, kind of look back on it (accomplishment)," Cutler said. "It's such a grind week-in and week-out and being a short week (after the Monday night game), there hasn't been a lot of time for that."
Cutler later added a 25-yard TD pass to tight end Zach Miller to win the game. Miller is the 21st Bears player to catch a TD pass from Cutler. Brandon Marshall leads with 26 TD catches from Cutler, followed by Alshon Jeffery with 17.
The fourth-quarter, game-winning TD drive that Cutler led was his 17th as a Bear and the 24th of his career.
Keeping it close:
The Bears have played five straight games in which the margin of victory was 3 points or less, winning three. The last time that happened was in the strike year of 1987 under Mike Ditka, when they also went 3-2, en route to an 11-4 finish. The first game in that streak, a 19-17 loss to the Saints, was the third and final game played with replacement players.
Unhealthy wide receivers: Alshon Jeffery wasn't the only wide receiver to miss Thursday's practice, the first of the season inside the Walter Payton Center to avoid wet and windy conditions. Eddie Royal (knee) was out, along with linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee) and defensive end Mitch Unrein (illness). Running back Matt Forte (knee) was limited, as were center Hroniss Grasu (neck), cornerback Tracy Porter (hip), safety Antrel Rolle (ankle) and offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (shoulder). Kicker Robbie Gould (illness) was a full participant.