Chicago Bears free safety Adrian Amos (38) tackles Oakland Raiders…
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COMING, GOING: Whether Cutler returns or Jimmy Clausen starts his second straight game, the Bears’ lineup will have a different look.
CHICAGO _ A supposedly hobbled quarterback wasn’t enough of an advantage for the Raiders. Cutler ended up with a single interception and completed 28 passes for a total of 281 passing yards for the game.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is expected to return to the field against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, assuming he doesn’t suffer a setback during warmups. Kicker Zach Hocker clanged a 30-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright with 12 seconds left, setting up overtime.
Oakland heads into the Chicago game with the 13th-ranked run defense, giving up 275 yards on the ground in the first three games.
Jay Cutler celebrates a touchdown.
But the Bears converted an early fourth-down on that final possession and moved down into field goal position to earn their first win of the season.
“Your instinct says “go” but your body says ‘OK, you can’t do that or it’s not smart, ‘” Cutler said.
OK, Del Rio probably was a little fidgety inside, especially when local reporters were late getting to his postgame presser because of a few labyrinthine Soldier Field tunnel logistics. “My hat’s off to his toughness just battling through that game”.
Sunday’s game appeared to be headed in a similar direction after Woodson’s interception led to a go-ahead field goal for the Raiders with just 2:05 remaining. Martellus Bennett pretty much had his way with the Raiders’ defense, catching 11 passes on 13 targets for 83 yards and a score – a score in which he was literally standing all alone in the back of the endzone.
“At practice, we do fourth-down plays, and I beg for the ball every single time”, Bennett said. “And I’m really happy for our fans, because we haven’t exactly lit it up here in our first two home games“.
The Bears shook off two embarrassing losses, including their first shutout since 2002 last week at Seattle, to give Fox his first victory since he was hired in the offseason. And it capped a busy week that saw Chicago trade Jared Allen to Carolina.
Cutler delivered the ball where it had to be despite his left tackle, Jermon Bushrod, missing the game and his center, Will Montgomery, leaving early with an ankle injury.
“That’s coach’s job to make that decision”, Hoyer (Michigan State) said about who will start atr quarterback.
One option could be starting Hroniss Grasu at center and leaving Slauson at left guard. He was initially ruled out of bounds, but the call got overturned by replay review, putting Oakland ahead 7-6. Chicago could also look outside for help.
In addition to Murray, Marcel Reese is a threat running and catching the football and an excellent blocker to boot as one of the best fullbacks in the game. He threw for a career-high 351 yards in the win over the Ravens. He had a hand in two turnovers, fumbling a pitch and juggling a pass into Pernell McPhee’s arms for an interception.
The Raiders come in with back-to-back wins over Baltimore and Cleveland after a season-opening loss to Cincinnati.
“Michael Jordan never said he didn’t want the ball at the end of the game”, Gould said via Chicagobears.com. “Well, if nothing good happens to you, it’s hard to have confidence”.
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“We did what we thought we could at the end there to give ourselves a lift”.
