SB Nation Chicago - Bears vs. Cowboys: Chicago destroys Dallas on Monday nighthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-10-03T08:30:10-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31691452012-10-03T08:30:10-05:002012-10-03T08:30:10-05:00Cutler insists there's no spat with Tice
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Chicago Bears quarterback downplayed a perceived rift between him and the team's offensive coordinator.</p> <p><a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> quarterback <span>Jay Cutler</span> was caught by ESPN's cameras seemingly ignoring offensive coordinator Mike Tice after the Bears failed to convert a third down during their game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. During the exchange, Tice sat down next to Cutler on the team's bench, likely to discuss the failed play, but Cutler immediately got up and walked away. Cutler said on the radio on Monday that it's much ado about nothing:</p>
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<p>"It wasn't anything about Mike," Cutler said during "The Jay Cutler Show" on ESPN 1000. "We got into a third-and-1 situation. We'd talked about getting in third-and-short all week, and we didn't convert. A crucial point in the game where we didn't convert."</p>
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<p>(<a href="http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/8454013/chicago-bears-jay-cutler-needed-break-talking-mike-tice">via</a> ESPN Chicago)</p>
<p>Cutler also said that he and Tice soon worked out the minor dispute, and there is no problem between him and the coordinator. This came on the heels of a controversy stemming from <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/2012/9/17/3347724/jay-cutlers-treatment-of-jmarcus-webb-draws-criticism-from-teammate-d">Cutler berating offensive tackle</a> <span>J'Marcus Webb</span> on the sideline during Chicago's loss to the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a>.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/3/3446854/chicago-bears-jay-cutler-mike-ticeJordan Sargent2012-10-02T18:51:10-05:002012-10-02T18:51:10-05:00Blogger reaction to Monday's Bears-Cowboys game
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<p>The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> beat the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a>, 34-18, on Monday night, thanks in large part to an opportunistic defense that picked off <span>Tony Romo</span> five times and scored two touchdowns. Bloggers for both teams had plenty to say about the game.</p>
<p>In a <a href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2012/10/2/3441910/bears-at-cowboys-notes-scribbles-and-things-jotted-down" target="_blank">Notes and Jottings column at Windy City Gridiron</a>, Steven Schweikert says that <span>Jay Cutler</span> mostly "hit his windows, gave his receivers plays, and didn't take too many unnecessary risks." Schweikert also says that the defensive line was good, despite only sacking Romo once, as the Bears front brought "more pressure than the Marianas Trench."</p>
<p>Also at Windy City Gridiron, Lester A. Wiltfong, Jr. <a href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2012/10/2/3443454/the-jay-cutler-to-kellen-davis-rapport-is-growing" target="_blank">explores the possibility of a growing rapport</a> between Jay Cutler and <span>Kellen Davis</span>. Davis had three catches for 62 yards Monday night.</p>
<p>Over at Blogging the Boys, <a href="http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2012/10/2/3443478/dallas-cowboys-chicago-bears-game-review-by-the-numbers" target="_blank">in a By the Numbers post</a>, blogger rabblerousr notes that the Cowboys' starting offensive line has played all of three snaps together this year. The Cowboys, after four games, are last in the league in points scored, and are averaging a paltry 53 yards on the ground per game.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/2/3446344/cowboys-bears-2012Josh Brokaw2012-10-02T15:54:48-05:002012-10-02T15:54:48-05:00Bears open as 4-point favorites over Jaguars
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The 3-1 Chicago Bears will look to keep possession of first place in the NFC North this Sunday against Jacksonville.</p> <p>Fresh off an impressive showing on Monday Night Football, the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> will enter the fifth week of the regular season as 4-point favorites heading into Sunday's game with the <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>.</p>
<p>The Bears picked up two key defensive touchdowns to pace Monday's 34-18 victory over the<a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link"> Dallas Cowboys</a>, and are now tied with the surprise <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a> for first place in the NFC North while the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Lions</a> and <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> continue to struggle. Though <span>Jay Cutler</span> managed to find his No. 1 target Brandon Marshall seven times for 138 yards and one touchdown in the win, Chicago's rushing attack remains inconsistent after four games.</p>
<p>Starter Matt Forte returned to action from an ankle injury after missing Week 3, but was ineffective with just 52 yards on 13 carries. <span>Michael Bush</span>, who leads the team with three rushing touchdowns, also struggled to get going with a meager 29 yards on 10 carries.</p>
<p>Though Jacksonville is in the developmental stage as a franchise and continues to break in young quarterback <span>Blaine Gabbert</span>, Chicago is just 2-3-1 over its last six games on the road against the spread. Monday's big win may have made the Bears an attractive play to many gamblers in Week 5, even though it's important to note that Chicago is only 5-5 over its last 10 games in the month of October.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Bears">#Bears</a> open as 4-pt favorite over <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Jaguars">#Jaguars</a> at LVH for Sunday's game in Jax per @<a href="https://twitter.com/joefortenbaugh">joefortenbaugh</a></p>
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) <a data-datetime="2012-10-02T04:53:09+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/BradBiggs/status/252994607007277056">October 2, 2012</a>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/2012/10/2/3445474/chicago-bears-jacksonville-jaguarsDave Ryan2012-10-02T15:40:54-05:002012-10-02T15:40:54-05:00Bears tackle Chris Williams was inactive Monday
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<p>Former first-round pick Chris Williams was inactive for Monday night's 34-13 Chicago win over the Dallas Cowboys. </p> <p>Chicago left tackle Chris Williams was inactive on Monday night as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> beat Dallas 34-13. It was the first time this season that the healthy Williams was on the inactive list for a game.</p>
<p>Williams <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1002-bears-bits-chicago--20121002,0,4127384.story">said he was "informed of the reason" by the coaching staff</a>, which he did not divulge to reporters. Williams also said the decision "came as a surprise to me, but it was Coach's decision."</p>
<p><span>J'Marcus Webb</span> claimed the starting left tackle position during training camp, and has started there in the team's first four games. Williams had seen action in the team's heavy packages, and was not injured Monday night. <span>Jonathan Scott</span>, a six-year veteran who most recently played for Pittsburgh, was active for the first time as a Bear since signing with the team on Sept. 10.</p>
<p>Williams, a Bears first-round pick out of Vanderbilt in the 2008 draft, is owed $1 million in base salary this year. His contract with Chicago expires after the 2012 season.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/2/3445402/chicago-bears-chris-williamsJosh Brokaw2012-10-02T15:22:10-05:002012-10-02T15:22:10-05:00Tony Romo "tried to do too much" in Bears loss
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<p>Tony Romo said Monday night he "tried to do too much" in a 34-13 loss to the Bears. </p> <p><a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a> quarterback <span>Tony Romo</span> threw five interceptions in Monday night's 34-13 loss to Chicago. Romo told reporters Monday night after the game that in coming games, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4698715/tony-romo-makes-another-pledge" target="_blank">"I'm just going to have to do my job," via ESPN Dallas:</a></p>
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<p>"You have to get over it. It’s going to suck for a few days now. Obviously it’s going to sit there in your stomach and just eat at you. ... In different situations out there, I just tried to do too much and help out different areas. That’s going to catch up to you in the National Football League. I’m going to have to re-assess a couple of things that are happening and make sure they don’t happen again."</p>
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<p>Other than the five picks, Romo's line from Monday night isn't terrible, even rather efficient. He went 31 of 43 for 307 yards and a touchdown, and was sacked once. Yet five interceptions, including two pick-sixes, is the sort of performance that will eat away at any quarterback for a few days.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/2/3445288/tony-romo-dallas-cowboys-chicago-bearsJosh Brokaw2012-10-02T13:03:45-05:002012-10-02T13:03:45-05:00Bears nearing top five after beating Cowboys
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<p>The Chicago Bears are nearing the top five in most of the weekly power rankings following their primetime win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night,</p> <p>The Chicago Bears remain one of the hardest teams in the NFL to gauge. They have one of the most mistake-prone offenses out there, but frequently set their offenses up with great field position thanks to a defense that is big on turnovers. On Monday Night Football, the Bears went out there and dominated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> despite making the aforementioned mistakes on offense.</p>
<p>As such, they're rising in the Week 5 power rankings pretty heavily. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/10/2/3442748/nfl-power-rankings-week-5-texans-falcons-ravens" target="_blank">SB Nation's Joel Thorman</a> gets us started, and he's got them all the way up in the No. 5 spot:</p>
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<p>5. <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> (LW: 8, 3-1): I thought I might've had them too high last week, but their 16-point victory over Dallas makes me look smart.</p>
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<p>That's about the highest you'll find the Bears on any rankings though, so Thorman might just have them a bit too high. At least, that's the consensus. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings" target="_blank">ESPN</a> has them just inside the top ten at No. 9, up two spots from where they were last week. <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings" target="_blank">CBS Sports</a> had the Bears at No. 9 as well, which is actually <i>down</i> two spots from last week, though they only had good things to say about them, which is odd.</p>
<p>Brian Billick of <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings" target="_blank">FOX Sports</a> had them the second-highest of the major rankings, with Chicago coming in at No. 7, up two spots from last week. He cites that great, turnover-forcing defense as the major reasons why they could be on their way to top top five in future power rankings.</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/2/3444234/nfl-power-rankings-2012-week-5James Brady2012-10-02T12:28:31-05:002012-10-02T12:28:31-05:00Cutler Shines, Romo Falters in Bears Rout
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Bear Trap salutes Tony Romo as league's derpiest quarterback, and praises Brandon Marshall and. . . J'Marcus Webb?!?!</p> <p><i>Welcome to The Bear Trap, a weekly look at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> game that was. In this space, we will deal with the most pressing issues surrounding the Bears and their previous game. We'll favor overreaction, both positive and negative, to fair, balanced analysis. We'll ask if the Bears should withhold planning the Super Bowl Shuffle 2012 music video and if Brandon Marshall's erratic off-field behavior has derailed the season yet. We'll wonder if <span>Jay Cutler</span> is best described as aloof or super-duper aloof, and tally the number of fucks the notorious Shoulder Shrug has given up to this point. All that, plus some old fashioned Packer hate. We'll keep it lighthearted as long as its understood the hate is real and comes from a dark place.</i></p>
<p><i>So submit to the hazy feeling that comes with the loss of two pints of blood from your left leg. The Bear Trap always hits low. Never an arm tackle that allows you to escape the pocket and zip a 20-yard pass over the middle. Mobility is overrated anyway.</i></p>
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<p><b>Tim Jennings Honorary Game Ball </b>- Brandon Marshall earns the Tim Jennings Honorary Game Ball this week, beating out a bevy of fine options. Marshall had no trouble gaining separation from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a>' lockdown corner <span>Brandon Carr</span>. He caught 7 of the 8 passes thrown his way for 138 yards. To put this performance in perspective, the rejuvenated Dallas defense had only allowed an average of 158 yards passing per game through Week 3. Marshall nearly matched that by himself. Marshall's last catch, a 31-yard touchdown, unfolded without a single defender within 10 yards of him. This was the moment Dallas finally realized they could avoid a humiliating cafeteria beatdown by just handing over their lunch money from the get-go.</p>
<p><b>The Optimist's Take </b>- We forced 5 turnovers, 5 interceptions nonetheless, and scored 21 points off of those turnovers. Normally when our defense puts together such a stellar outing, the offense is just kind of there, sitting by idly, trying not to screw things up. That wasn't the case at all last night. Cutler and the offense moved the ball against a Top-2 defense. Receivers got open AND caught the balls that hit them in the hands. Forte provided a nice balance running the ball, despite his nagging ankle injury. Special distinction to <span>J'Marcus Webb</span>. He had some help from his backs and tight ends, but held up reasonably well one-on-one. He did allow the sack and forced fumble, but considering the constant big play threat from <span>DeMarcus Ware</span>, this seemed better than the possibility of more frequent, terrifying alternatives.</p>
<p><b>The Pessimist's Take </b>- Bears fans should know better than any fan base what it feels like to watch your quarterback literally throw away the game. I mean, underneath the layers of hopelessness, it can be kind of cute. Like a young giraffe learning to walk, you can't believe they haven't given up yet. So don't read too far into last night's turnover bonanza. It had far more to do with Romo and his receivers than anything the Bears defense did. The first interception was the result of <span>Dez Bryant</span> running the wrong route. The second interception went right through Ogletree's hands, taking points off the board. The third interception-fumble hybrid was a play only <span>Tony Romo</span> could make. But remember, today it was a 74-yard <span>Lance Briggs</span> interception return for a touchdown. Tomorrow it will be a 74-yard shovel pass touchdown to <span>DeMarco Murray</span>. For every spectacularly goofy turnover, comes a jaw-droppingly impressive touchdown pass. Such is life with Tony Romo. The Bears caught him on one of his bad days.</p>
<p><i>Are the Bears STILL going to the Super Bowl?</i></p>
<p>YES. The Bears are going to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/20/3359698/how-vince-young-allegedly-spent-5000-a-week-at-the-cheesecake-factory" target="_blank">spend $5,000 a week at the Cheesecake Factory</a>. This lavish lifestyle might not last forever, but it will last for the remainder of the week. They're not too concerned with the JAGUARS, too busy in the Ferrari and Jaguar, switchin' four lanes, top down, screamin' out, "Money ain't a thang!"</p>
<p><b>This Week's Adjective to Describe Jay Cutler </b>- Liberated. The book on Cutler is that, when given the time to throw, he is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. The problem, of course, is that he has not received good protection for going on 4 years now with the Bears. That wasn't a problem Monday night. Cutler had all day in the pocket to survey the field and find the open receiver. He must feel liberated this morning. Free of a pass rush, free of the criticism that he can't perform on a national stage, free of Kristin -- well, at least for the weekend anyway.<i> </i></p>
<p><b>Number of Fucks Given </b>- Does this man look like he has a single fuck to give?</p>
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<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1479529/cutlerjerk.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Cutlerjerk_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1479529/cutlerjerk_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1349197145638"></p>
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<p>Nope. Not a one. 0 fucks given this week for a total of 1 on the year. REMINDER: The lesser number of fucks given the better. Cutler tends to give a fuck when things aren't going well. As a general rule, the less amount of fucks given, the more likely the Bears are to have played well this season.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1479489/Cutty_Meter.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cutty_meter_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1479489/Cutty_Meter_medium.jpg"></a></p>
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<p><b>Number of Brandon Marshall Off-Field Incidents </b>- 0</p>
<p><b>Pic of the Game </b>- AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1479505/Pic_of_the_Game_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Pic_of_the_game_3_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1479505/Pic_of_the_Game_3_medium.jpg"></a></p>
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<p>A trashier website would point out the similarities between the above Tony Romo photo and a subordinate sexual position. We here at SB Nation Chicago are far too classy to even mention such a thing. Instead, what we have here is what should have been Dallas' preferred offensive attack. Romo drops back five steps and falls onto his back. If nothing else, this strategy limits all the game-changing interceptions.</p>
<p><b>Requisite Packer Hate </b>- From last week's Requisite Packer Hate:</p>
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> fans have rediscovered their cockiness. I'm looking forward to Wilson and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a> stripping it away. Hopefully in the most agonizing way possible.</p>
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<p>Hoo Boy. "Agonizing" does not even begin to describe that loss. I'm not sure there's a word in the English language capable of describing that loss. What I do know is this: All NFL fans, while mustering up faux outrage on your behalf, were secretly laughing at you behind your back. We didn't care about the injustice done to YOU, or the integrity of the game. We were worried the same thing could happen to US. We retweeted TJ Lang, not because we admired his courage to take a stand, but because he had the nerve to suggest he and his band of human sieves were not at all responsible for the loss. We were laughing at that assertion.</p>
<p>But this is how you like it, right? Being dressed up as martyrs? We're all so thankful that the Packers, noble franchise they are, handled this travesty with such class. Just like we're jealous of your tradition, community ownership, and a town whose residents wait in line for hours to shovel snow out of Lambeau for minimum wage. Please. We laugh at how much pride you take in "Titletown, USA" -- a MADE UP TITLE. We'll laugh the loudest when the your loss to the Seahawks costs you a playoff spot.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/2/3443934/bears-cowboys-recap-week-4-jay-cutler-gifJoseph Gems2012-10-02T11:25:51-05:002012-10-02T11:25:51-05:00Bears 34, Cowboys 18: A Critical Reassessment
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Bears improved to 3-1 behind a dominating defensive effort on Monday night. SB Nation Chicago's Ricky O'Donnell examines the victory.</p> <p>Not that <span>Jay Cutler</span> will ever be known for his emotional capacity, but easy it's to wonder if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> quarterback felt a certain amount of empathy for <span>Tony Romo</span> on Monday night. As a tidal wave of criticism prepares to descend upon the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a>' quarterback after throwing the Bears five interceptions, two for touchdowns, during a 34-18 Chicago win on his home turf to cap Week 4, only Cutler knows the feeling. He's been here before, just a fortnight ago. Cutler and Romo are the NFL's most surface level kindred spirits, brothers from another mother who lead with a penchant for playing Russian roulette with their team's fortunes and their fanbase's nerve. With each, there's always a tipping point. On Monday, Cutler persevered and Romo let a couple mistakes snowball into another nightmare performance.</p>
<p>If Cutler was the one who lost the game, who threw all of those interceptions, the dominating narrative the day after would have involved his <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/1/3441472/chicago-bears-jay-cutler-mike-tice-gif/in/3169145">first half sideline blowup with Mike Tice</a>. With the Bears' offense sputtering, the offensive coordinator went to talk to his quarterback on the bench, only to be spurned before he could say a word. This is where it all could have unraveled, when Cutler could have let his recklessness get the best of him and thrown proper judgment to the side. Instead, the Bears QB regrouped and turned in a killer second half: 11-of-12 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Romo wasn't so lucky.</p>
<p><b>Tipping point No 1</b>: Romo sees something in the Chicago defense near the end of the first quarter and reads hot. His receiver, <span>Dez Bryant</span>, does not. Romo fires a pass to the sidelines expecting Bryant to run a curl route. When Bryant instead decides to go long, Bears cornerback <span>Charles Tillman</span> is waiting for the interception. He juggles the ball before using his knee to corral it and take it to the end zone. The Bears were on the board and another slow offensive start for Cutler and Co. had been supplemented.</p>
<p><b>Tipping point No. 2:</b> After smoking the Cowboys' defense on an early third quarter drive that ends in a 34-yard touchdown reception by <span>Devin Hester</span>, Jay Cutler loses a fumble on his next possession. This is a very Jay Cutler thing to do. Not to be outdone, on the very next play, Romo does this:</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1478749/romo-interception-gif.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Romo-interception-gif_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1478749/romo-interception-gif_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1349191380282"></p>
<p>If this highlight isn't already set to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ">"Yakety Sax"</a>, the Internet must be broken.</p>
<p>Of course, there's another factor in Cutler overcoming his night terrors and Romo succumbing to them: the Bears' defense was, once again, nothing short of incredible. This was supposed to be the year the offense carried the defense, as the former gained several fun, new weapons and the latter only saw its most critical cogs age another year. But through four weeks, the young guns on Chicago's D have been very impressive and those same old, reliable faces we all thought could drop-off have been typically stellar -- maybe even better than usual.</p>
<p>Was Monday night about Romo's shortcomings or the triumph of the Bears' D? Romo's play will draw headlines, but a quarterback as good as he is doesn't ruin his pants on national television without a high-level performance from the opposition. </p>
<p>The Bears defense was great on Monday night: they only sacked Romo once but pressured him throughout. They didn't force any fumbles (unless you think Briggs' pick-six was actually a fumble, which it probably was), but that doesn't matter when you grab five interceptions. You know about Tillman, Urlacher, Briggs and Peppers, and they have been pillar of the Bears' 3-1 start. But what about <span>Major Wright</span> and <span>Henry Melton</span>? <span>Corey Wootton</span> and <span>D.J. Moore</span>? The Bears' D brings talent in droves, and no opposing offense is going to push it around. </p>
<p>Lovie Smith has been entrenched as the head coach of the Bears for nine seasons at this point, so it shouldn't come as news that the man likes to talk about the season in terms of quarters. With the victory over Dallas, Chicago wraps up its first quarter in impressive fashion: 3-1 overall, a game in front of the rival <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a>, tied atop the division with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Vikings</a>. This is wonderful no matter which way you slice it, but it hardly feels cathartic. We expected the Bears to be good, their record shows they are good, but it's still not enough. When 3-1 doesn't do it, is it a problem with the team or a problem with the fans?</p>
<p>Simply put, it's hard to win in the NFL. It's even harder to blow the doors off your opponent. If we expected this season to be as completely painless as the '85 season, that was stupid. Talent is spread evenly, most teams are well-coached. The Bears don't have some big advantage over the rest of the NFL with Cutler and Brandon Marshall, they just caught up to the times. 3-1 is a hell of a start. And look at the rest of the schedule...</p>
<p>The next game at Jacksonville should be a win. The home games that follow vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a> are also very winnable. Same goes for a date at Tennessee before a killer one-two punch of games vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> and at San Francisco test the Bears' true worth.</p>
<p>Point being: while this season hasn't been all unicorns and double rainbows so far, it's still been damn good. Forget about Cutler's body language. Forget about those delusions of offensive fireworks. Right now, the Bears have a great veteran defense and an offense that's still coming around. It's been enough to get them to 3-1, which is something no one should be complaining about.</p>
<p><b><i>Ricky O'Donnell is the editor of </i></b><a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation Chicago</a><b><i>. Follow him on </i></b><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/sbn_ricky">Twitter</a><b><i> or reach him at richardpodonnell@gmail.com. </i></b></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bears/2012/10/2/3442330/bears-vs-cowboys-highlights-tony-romo-jay-cutlerRicky O'Donnell