Rozner: Bizarre Bears beat bad Vikings

Even in victory, the Bears were as dysfunctional Sunday as the broken Soldier Field game clock.

Sure, the Bears (4-6) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 21-13 win over Minnesota (4-6), but the game featured more of the same nonsense that has sent the Bears' season soaring off the rails.

Brandon Marshall, who caught 7 balls for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns, had a huge game but did not make an appearance postgame, at least not for the first hour after game, by which time nearly every teammate and reporter had vacated the premises.

His bizarre behavior and social-media distractions of the week that was may have gotten the best of him, however temporary in the world of Marshall.

Martellus Bennett said, “Catch me on Wednesday,” as he left a throng of media waiting at his locker and walked out of the room while getting a pat on the back from Kyle Long.

It was Bennett who had to be restrained on the bench while getting into it with coordinator Aaron Kromer and the offensive line, according to a source, after Bennett failed to shorten his route on an all-out blitz.

Bennett kept running, Jay Cutler threw it to where he thought Bennett would be, and it went for an easy pick and a 52-yard return late in the third quarter of a 4-point game. He apparently heard about it when he reached the sideline.

“I was just trying to put it at Marty's feet,” Cutler said, leaping onto his sword for his tight end. “It got away from me a little bit. I've got to do a better job there.”

Cutler had his moments, as well.

After a long drive to start the second half, Marc Trestman chose to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, instead of taking the field goal and increasing the Bears' lead to 7 points.

The play was also questionable, a 30-yard, quarterback sweep that ended with Cutler taking a huge hit as he was denied the end zone.

“We had what we wanted and just didn't execute the play,” Trestman said. “It wasn't something we picked out of a hat on fourth down. There was no reason it couldn't have worked.”

As 30-yard sweeps to gain a single yard go, one can think of a few Bears who are faster, stronger and more qualified than the $18 million quarterback, like running back Matt Forte (117 rushing yards), just to pick one.

“I thought Jay made a heck of an effort,” Trestman said. “He did everything he could. He really offered himself up to get in. He drove his shoulder to try to get to the pylon.

“That resonates with our football team as well.”

The hit also resonated through Cutler's head, neck, rib cage and back. The QB got up slowly, found his way home and then stomped around the sideline for a minute as he tried to regain his senses.

Cutler stopped and had some strong words with a coach as they looked at pictures — complete with arms waving — and then stomped off to be alone again before walking over to the offensive line and giving a fist-bump to each of his protectors.

“When we snapped it, I felt good about it,” Cutler said. “We were 2-on-1 out there with (Jermon Bushrod), so they made a good play there.”

The Vikings didn't make many good plays and they're not very good, but had it not been for a vapid game clock, Minnesota and rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater might have tied the game in the final minute and sent it to overtime.

Instead, the final box score looked nice for the Bears' defense, though Minnesota came in ranked 27th in offense, 29th in passing and Bridgewater was 31st, and the time of possession was 38:38 to 21:22 in favor of the home team.

Of course, the Bears' offense was also playing the ninth-ranked defense and Cutler did just enough to win, even though the Bears' final TD followed a dropped interception in the end zone.

Still, even with all the odd clock management, weird decisions and strange explanations, it was the first home win since Dec. 9, 2013, against Dallas, and the Bears were happy to take it.

“It a relief, but we have to get right back to work,” Long said. “We dug a hole and you only climb out of it with hard work, one step at a time.”

The Bears who bothered to speak were on message after the game, ticking off the mantra one after another, like so many seconds off a clock.

Invisible as it might be.

• Hear Barry Rozner on WSCR 670-AM.