Chicago Bears pass on Gould-en opportunity

The Chicago Bears' failed attempt to reach the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line instead of attempting a 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter came back to haunt them in Sunday's 2-point loss to the Denver Broncos.

Trailing 17-9 with 10:10 left in the game, coach John Fox went for it, but Jay Cutler's lob into a crowd in the end zone fell incomplete.

"We hadn't made many trips down to the end zone," said Fox, whose team reached the Broncos' 19 twice earlier but settled for Robbie Gould field goals. "We hadn't scored touchdowns. It had been kind of a field-goal game. At that point in the game, we felt that was going to be our last opportunity. So we were aggressive and came up short on fourth-and-4."

The Bears actually had two more scoring opportunities after that. They reached the Broncos' 33, but Von Miller sacked Cutler and forced a fumble that Denver recovered. On their final possession the Bears reached the end zone for the first time but fell short on the 2-point conversion attempt.

Good and bad:

On the third-down play before the failed fourth-and-4, also from 4 yards out, quarterback Jay Cutler thought he had a touchdown to a diving Marquess Wilson, but the receiver couldn't hang on.

"We got a good look there," Cutler said. "Q (Wilson) had a guy hanging on him. I'm sure he's going to look at that and want to make that catch there. Man-to-man and he beat him coming across and those are plays we have to make."

Wilson had a game-high and career-best 102 yards on 4 catches, including a long of 40 and two 29-yard receptions. He could have had an even bigger day, but he was slightly underthrown on a crossing route midway through the third quarter that wound up as Cutler's only interception.

"We had a good shot," Cutler said. "We had Q going down the middle. I probably need to put it a little higher. The linebacker (Danny Trevathan) undercut it. He made a good play, but I can give him a better ball."

Good and bad II:

The defense had a season-high 5 sacks, 1 more than in the previous three games combined.

The sacks came from five different players: Rookie nose tackle Eddie Goldman now has 2½ for the year, while safeties Adrian Amos and Chris Prosinski each got their first, as did lineman Bruce Gaston. Willie Young's sack was his second.

But the defense allowed 389 total yards. The only time the Bears have allowed more this season was when it permitted 546 yards on Oct. 18 at Detroit.

Asked if the defense had a good game, coach John Fox said: "Well, I don't really feel great anytime we lose. I don't think it was a super-porous defense that caused us to lose the game, if that's what you're asking."

Going on short rest:

The Bears must bounce back quickly for a Thanksgiving night game in Green Bay against the 7-3 Packers, who moved back into a first-place tie in the NFC North with a 30-13 trouncing of the Vikings at Minnesota.

"Guys have to come in (Monday) and flip the switch and move on," quarterback Jay Cutler said. "That's just part of it. We got out of it relatively healthy (Sunday), and hopefully we have some guys coming back that give us some energy for this week."

The Bears hope to have running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery back for the Pack.

All choked up:

The Bears' John Fox spent the previous four years coaching the Broncos to four AFC West titles, but he wasn't in the mood for taking a sentimental journey.

"There are more guys to say 'hi' to after the game," Fox said.

The band's back:

After missing three games with a neck injury, rookie center Hroniss Grasu returned to the starting lineup, allowing fill-in center Matt Slauson to move back to left guard and sending Vlad Ducasse to the bench.

Patrick Omameh remained at right guard for the fourth straight game.

Veteran special-teams standout Chris Prosinski filled in at safety for Antrel Rolle (ankle/shoulder). It was the 10th career start for the five-year veteran, and his first since 2013 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prosinski signed with the Bears on Sept. 29 after he was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Down and out:

Midway through the third quarter, Bears running back Ka'Deem Carey was helped off the field after taking a shot to the side of his head from safety T.J. Ward. Carey, who rushed for 32 yards on 9 carries (3.6-yard average) suffered a concussion and did not return.

Four starters were inactive Sunday: running back Matt Forte, wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal and safety Antrel Rolle.

The Bears' other inactives were cornerback Jacoby Glenn, offensive lineman Nick Becton and defensive lineman Ziggy Hood.

The Broncos had three starters inactive: quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.