Bears vs. Steelers: 3-And-Out, Bear Market
SUN-TIMES STAFF September 23, 2013 12:06AM
Updated: September 23, 2013 1:11AM
THREE AND OUT
1. First ‘real’ sack
Quarterback Jay Cutler took the blame for the first sack against the Bears the season – a failed screen play that resulted in Vikings defensive Jared Allen getting to him. So the first “legitimate” sack occurred Sunday against the Steelers when defensive tackle Brett Keisel beat left guard Matt Slauson and brought down Cutler in the second quarter.
2. Did you see?
Michael Bush’s goal-line touchdown run on fourth down wouldn’t have been possible without a stout block by fullback Tony Fiammetta. He took out safety DaMon Cromartie-Smith, allowing Bush to take on linebacker Vince Williams one-on-one. With a strong second effort, Bush scored.
3. Cutler connects
Cutler’s biggest play was his 13-yard scramble on third-and-10 in the fourth quarter. He didn’t slide, either. He put his shoulder right into Steelers safety Robert Golden. “I wanted to make sure I got the first down,” Cutler said. “When you slide, usually it goes back to where you start to slide.”
— Adam L. Jahns
BEAR MARKET
RISING
Alshon Jeffery (17): The Bears’ No. 2 wide receiver was a big part of the game plan early. He was targeted on four of the team’s first six plays, catching three. He finished with a team-high seven catches.
Scoring defense: Since the start of 2012, the Bears have returned an NFL-high 10 interceptions for touchdowns, including one Sunday.
Trestman’s challenge! Maybe the biggest play of the night came when coach Marc Trestman maintained that Earl Bennett’s 17-yard touchdown catch on third down should have counted. He won, and the Bears went up 34-23.
FALLING
Trestman’s challenge? The Bears ran out of first-half timeouts only 13 minutes into the game when Trestman (right) lost a challenge.
Jay Cutler’s common sense: Cutler scrambled for a fourth-quarter first down, but he didn’t slide. Instead, he threw his throwing shoulder into safety Robert Golden.
PATs: Robbie Gould had his first-ever blocked PAT in the fourth quarter. He had missed only one extra point in his career before then.
— Patrick Finley
GO FIGURE
15.6 = Yards per reception for the Steelers.
7 = Hits the Bears put on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, including three sacks, two by linebacker. D.J. Williams.
3 = Third-down conversions by the Steelers.
2 = Defensive touchdowns for the Bears. Major Wright (below) scored on a 38-yard interception return, and Julius Peppers scored on a 42-yard fumble return.
