The Bears shocked many football pundits today, beating the Cowboys in Dallas 27-20. They won behind smart coaching and the strong play of Jay Cutler.
After the first few possessions, it looked like the Bears were going to be in for a long day. Cutler was sacked on what seemed like every play. Even when he got rid of the ball, he was being hit hard. Then Left Tackle Chris Williams left the game with hamstring injury.
Dez Bryant returned a punt return 62 yards for a Cowboys touchdown, and the game looked like it could get out of control quickly.
But near the end of the first half, something changed. Sure, the offensive line still couldn't stop DeMarcus Ware from nailing Cutler, but Mike Martz and the offense made changes to deal with the vociferous Dallas rush. Martz called a few quick plays to take advantage of holes in the defense.
Suddenly,y Cutler looked electric, completing a 19-yard pass to Devin Hester, then a 39-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. With the Cowboys D-line rushing Cutler on every play, quick two and three-step drops were more effective.
On the next drive, Cutler hit Johnny Knox for a 59-yard grab. Shortly after, Hester made an impossible grab on a 9-yard Touchdown pass, snatching the ball with one hand and making sure both feet were down in the end zone. Hester bounced back nicely from a disappointing first game (1 catch for 17 yards) and looked like a real receiving threat.
Cutler benefited from the new found weapon. He finished the day 21-for-29 for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He moved the ball around, throwing four passes each to Knox and Hester, five each to Forte and Earl Bennett, and one pass with to Olsen.
On the other side of the ball, D.J. Moore had a huge day. He made two interceptions that set up field goals, then helped Charles "Peanut" Tillman force a Cowboys fumble when he stood receiver Roy Williams up. Tillman was able to punch the ball out of Williams' hands, and Urlacher recovered.
Urlacher added seven tackles to that fumble recovery, while his linebacking partner Lance Briggs broke up a pass and made six tackles. Rookie safety Major Wright left the game early with an injury and was shelved for the game.
Like last week versus Detroit the Bears caught a couple of breaks in this game, too. Notably, when kicker David Buehler missed on a 44-yd field goal try. The also walked away with a win.
Now they're 2-0 heading into a rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.
