Cutler’s “Mr. 4th Quarter” moniker is used most often in jest, but he actually has the stats to back it up.
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It wasn’t a sure thing he’d get the chance, as the Bears started KaDeem Carey (Forte was out with a knee injury), ad had the memory of a recent mistake by Langford fresh in their minds.
Rookie running back Jeremy Langford rushed over for the two-point conversion, the Bears taking the lead for the first time in the game by what proved to be the final margin. But late failures, including a critical fourth quarter drive short-circuited by penalties and a later one spoiled by offensive line breakdowns, turned this into their fifth straight loss, four of which have been decided late in the game.
Two plays before the TD throw to Miller, Cutler was hit and still completed a 12-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery on third-and-6. We had seen basically this same scenario the last two games, and the Bears lost. That’s what the National Football League is about. It’s safe to say Cutler and Jeffery made up for it, 10 catches and 151 yards later.
Maybe that’s why he caught a number of people off guard when he reached up and got the one hand on the quickly approaching Cutler pass, knocking it down just enough to corral it for the winning. “For him to come up with a big catch like that it’s something special”.
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Steve Johnson, left, falls forward after a reception as Chicago Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan (37) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, November 9, 2015, in San Diego.
In the process, he became the Bears’ All-Time touchdown pass leader as his 138th and 139th put him ahead of Sid Luckman in the record books. Is it time to fire coach Mike McCoy?
Philip Rivers of the Chargers was 26 of 42 for 280 yards. It was the first time he didn’t throw for at least 300 yards in six games.
“When you lose five in a row it’s pretty sickening”, Rivers said. “I didn’t want to push to wide and lose leverage the safety”, said Miller of that play.
Kicker Josh Lambo’s second field goal, from 22 yards, increased the Chargers’ lead to 19-14 with eight minutes to play. Fluker had gone downfield and was flagged on the play for ineligible man downfield. Let’s get them that set of steak knives. “I didn’t really spike it that hard but they called it and that is part of it. I’ve got to be smarter than that”. But the Bears got the best of him and the Chargers’ decimated offense, especially in the second half. He also lost a fumble and was intercepted once.
Miller often lines up in the backfield as a blocking back even though he never was considered much of a blocker before this year.
Cornerback Jason Verrett suffered a groin injury, not too long after he’d returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown.
This may shock a lot of Bears fans: Jay Cutler now has the most touchdown passes of any Bears quarterback ever.
When Fox and general manager Ryan Pace took over before this season, Cutler was on alert to impress the new guys, or else the Bears would reboot with a first-round quarterback next year.
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QB Jay Cutler has played only two career games against the Rams. Chicago took the lead when tight end Zach Miller made an incredible one-handed touchdown grab.
