Bumpy ride for defense
Victories have a way of smoothing over potholes, but even Robbie Gould's game-winning field goal that gave the Bears a 37-34 overtime victory over Denver on Sunday couldn't pave over this reality:
Bob Babich's defense gave up 440 yards and 34 points.
It marks the fifth time this season the Bears have allowed 30 or more points.
"The only thing that I'm really liking right now is that we won," said Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, who intercepted a Jay Cutler pass in the third quarter and ignited a 14-point comeback by blocking a punt in the fourth quarter.
The defense bent and broke, just not every time it was on the field. The biggest issue Sunday, as it has been on so many Sundays this season, was the unit's inability to limit the big play.
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Denver (5-6) burned the Bears for 5 runs and 5 passes of better than 10 yards each, but the Broncos did most of their damage on longer pass plays.
Cutler connected with Andre Hall for what looked to be a nondescript pass in the flat as halftime neared, but Hall cut across the field and followed a downfield blocker for a 65-yard pickup that set up a Jason Elam field goal.
After Devin Hester returned a kickoff 88 yards to tie the game at 20-20 in the third quarter, the Broncos stole momentum right back with a 1-play touchdown drive. Cutler hit Brandon Marshall in stride beyond the reach of Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. for a 68-yard pass that re-established Denver's 7-point lead.
In the fourth quarter, Cutler found tight end Tony Scheffler in front of Adam Archuleta for a 41-yard gain. Scheffler would score on a juggling, 14-yard catch 4 plays later.
"We don't want one getting away from us because of the big plays," Manning Jr. said. "We've got to eliminate those if we want to keep winning. We pulled one out today. Good. But if we want to keep winning, we have to eliminate those things."
Hunter Hillenmeyer led the defense with 10 total tackles, 8 solo. Brian Urlacher registered 8 total tackles and Adewale Ogunleye posted 7 tackles, forced a fumbled and recovered another.
But the bright spots were obscured by so many negatives that the former Monsters of the Midway aren't quite sure who they are anymore.
"We need an identity on defense," said defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who was credited with 2 combined tackles. "We have just have to stand up. We have to find wherever we're weak at and get stronger."
In the end, the only thing that mattered was the victory, which put the Bears within 1 game of the wild-card lead.
"They had a lot of yards and they are a good offense," Bears coach Lovie Smith said of the Broncos. "But we can't let them have some of the passes. We are a good defense not to give up the big pass play, but we did. Again, I'm not going to complain a lot tonight."