But they failed to keep the Broncos running game in check, allowing a season-worst 170-yards on the ground. Fox soon after parted ways, leaving for Chicago, where Gase, the former Broncos offensive coordinator, later joined him. Yes, the low-risk passing game – featuring an assortment of “layups” (bubbles, flash screens and quick routes) on early downs – installed by the Bears has helped, but Cutler deserves credit for buying into the conservative approach. “I think we-I don’t know-lost our minds for a second”. I thought “JB” [Joshua Bellamy] and “Q” [Marquess Wilson] stepped in there and had a heck of day for us.
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In Cutler, Fox inherited a talented gunslinger with a 61-58 record, including a 44-38 mark with the Bears, heading into 2015. Fantasy Tip: Healthy quarterback could lead to opportunities downfield, meaning this could be good week to have Broncos WRs Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
“I think we didn’t execute on certain plays”, Bears linebacker Shea McClellin said. “That’s Gase. Foxy, he just told me he loved me”. In the boot-action, Kubiak offense, Ronnie Hillman got going, finishing with 21 yards on 102 carries, averaging 4.9 yards a pop, helping maintain drives for Osweiler and Denver’s offense.
Or was it two interceptions? The holes in Chicago’s defense came in between the 20s, but they stood tall, holding the Broncos to a rate of 1-for-3 in the red zone, including a fourth-down stop near the goal line. A team can’t force a turnover without getting a hand on the ball.
If the Bears want to come away with a win this week, protecting Jay Cutler is a must.
He could face a fine for the hit on Cutler. Now, it’s all a little bit different. With the offense struggling to score points, a takeaway could have swung the game. John Fox and Adam Gase have been very pleased with his play this season and he will continue that this week against Denver with 300 yards and three touchdowns.
His freakish dismissal just a year removed from a Super Bowl last January following a playoff loss from the Colts was one of the surprise moves of the National Football League offseason.
But what might go unnoticed is the effective effort of the defense in the first half, which didn’t produce the turnovers or big moments of the second half.
The impact was tremendous, even if the possessions ended in two made field goals. “It’s a huge difference”.
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The Bears got lucky when Ronnie Hillman tripped over Osweiler’s foot on fourth-and-1 at the Bears’ 2, but it counts as a stop. Chicago took possession on the Denver 49-yard line, but the Broncos forced a three-and·out to stop their progress after gaining seven yards. Osweiler and the offense marched 82 yards to kick a field goal as time expired. While his defense has proved up to the task, the predictable play sheet works in the favor of the Bears.
