Both the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers have been hit hard by injuries through the first half of the season and, though the teams’ match-up at Qualcomm Stadium on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” franchise wasn’t necessarily must-watch with a combined 4-11 record between the teams, it turned out to be an exciting game – and a healthy dose of medicine for the Bears in posting a dramatic 22-19 non-conference victory.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Chicago and kept the Bears somewhat in the playoff race with a 3-5 overall record.
The victory – highlighted by a two-touchdown fourth quarter rally — had to be doubliy pleasing for Chicago head coach John Fox, an alumnus of both Castle Park High School and Southwestern College, who was making a homecoming visit to the region.
“Have they (Castle Park High School) gotten a golden football yet?” Fox quizzed after finishing his post-game press conference. “The NFL is sending out golden footballs to everyone who was in a Super Bowl.
“If they don’t have one, they should get one soon.”
As part of its celebration of Super Bowl 50 early next year, the NFL is indeed sending out special golden footballs to be displayed at every high school of every person who played in a Super Bowl. Fox presumes the NFL’s Super Bowl High School Honor Roll also includes coaches.
Fox coached both the Carolina Panthers (2003) and the Denver Broncos (2013) to Super Bowl appearances.
On Monday, he coached his newest team to a thrilling victory.
“The first half didn’t go quite like we wanted it — missed opportunities, the kicking game, pick-six and the sack-fumble,” said Fox, whose team made up ground from an early 13-0 deficit with 15 fourth-quarter points to erase a 16-7 halftime deficit. “It says a lot about the guy (Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler) in the second half.”
Cutler threw a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to set a new franchise record with 139 career TDs, eclipsing Sid Luckman’s Bears record of 137 touchdown passes that had stood for 65 years. Cutler finished the game by completing 27 of 40 passes for 345 yards with two TDs and one interception.
“We have to figure out how to win in the fourth quarter,” Cuter reiterated to the media. “We’ve won games in the fourth quarter and we’ve lost games in the fourth quarter. That’s what the NFL is all about – you have to play your best in the fourth quarter.”
Cutler led his team on a 10-play, 80-yard game-winning drive. It was the 20th fourth quarter comeback of his career and his 24th career game-winning drive.
Winning in the fourth quarter is something the Chargers clearly have not been able to do in their last five games – the length of the team’s current losing streak.
Cutler called Monday night’s win “huge.”
“The second half, we got it going (a little better),” he said.
The Bears out-gained the Chargers 454-339 in total net yards.
Chicago receiver Alshon Jeffery had a big night with 10 catches for 151 yards while Jeremy Langford, subbing for injured starter Matt Forte, gained 72 yards on 18 carries while also making three catches for 70 yards. Langford scored on a one-yard run 54 seconds into the fourth quarter to move the Bears to within 16-14 on the scoreboard.
Fox called Langford a valuable dual asset in running and catching the ball. “He’s explosive,” the first-year Chicago head coach explained.
Martellus Bennett (eight catches, 57 yards) and Zach Miller (two catches, 23 yards) both caught touchdown passes. Miller’s one-handed snag of a speeding bullet from Cutler with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter stood up as the game winner.
“I knew I had to get to where the throw was going to be made,” said Miller, who gave his team its first lead of the night in scoring his first touchdown of the season. “I didn’t want to get pushed too much and lose leverage to the safety. Jay made a great throw. I just had to go get it. After that, I went unconscious.”
“He made a great catch, it couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Cutler said.
“It was a great one-handed catch,” Fox noted. “He (Miller) is a great leader in his position on the offense. It was a tremendous catch.”
The game wasn’t over following Miller’s TD catch, however. Langford scored on a two-point conversion that required a replay review and then the Bears defense had to stop Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers from leading his team down to either a potential game-tying field goal or game-winning touchdown.
In fact, the Chargers appeared to be marching to fulfill either of those scenarios after reaching midfield in a handful of plays. But the Chicago defense had other ideas as the Bears’ Lamarr Houston twice sacked Rivers for huge losses to bring up fourth-and-23 with 1:21 left.
Rivers dropped back and, scrambling under pressure, heaved the ball down the field. No Chargers were in the vicinity of the ball’s trajectory and it bounced off the chest of Chicago’s Antrel Rolle to fall harmlessly on the turf.
Fox, a defensive strategist, kept his team in pass defense mode all night long. The Chargers were never much of a running threat with just 77 rushing yards on 19 carries with no touchdowns.
Rivers did throw for 280 yards, completing 26 of 42 attempts, and one touchdown. That came on a 14-yard pass to running back Danny Woodhead in the first quarter to put the hosts ahead 7-0.
But Rivers’ receiving corps was further depleted during the game with the loss of Malcom Floyd. Woodhead, a five-foot-seven workhorse, led the Chargers with 33 rushing yards on six carries and also topped the team’s receiving chart with 78 yards on six catches.
Antonio Gates, the team’s six-foot-four pass catching target, made six catches for 69 yards but did not figure in any scoring plays despite moving into the No. 3 all-time NFL receiving slot for tight ends with 816 career receptions. He appeared to make a catch in the corner of the end zone for an eight-yard TD reception but the play was nullified by a penalty for an ineligible lineman down field.
Stevie Johnson had seven catches for 68 yards.
The Chargers, braced by a patchwork offensive line, scored just one offensive touchdown in the game while rookie Josh Lambo booted two field goals. The hosts did get a lift when Jason Verrett returned an intercepted Cutler pass 68 yards for a touchdown to boost the hosts to a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
But the San Diegans didn’t remain energized too long. Verrett soon left the game with a groin injury and remained on the sideline. Jeffery was too big and strong for the rest of the San Diego secondary to effectively deal with after that.
The inability to convert field goals into touchdowns continues to haunt the team during its current losing streak. The Chargers had the ball first-and-goal at the four-yard line with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal following the inopportune penalty that negated Gates’ touchdown catch.
Poor execution at critical stages once again doomed the Bolts.
The Chargers’ record dropped to 2-7 with the loss – its fifth straight — and all but eliminated the team from playoff contention.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for both San Diego head coach Mike McCoy and Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
“We didn’t make enough plays. It comes to that, that’s what the game comes down to, making plays. We gave (up) too many opportunities,” an obviously disappointed San Diego head coach Mike McCoy told the media after the game.”
Rivers, who has now thrown for more than 3,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons, called his team’s five-game losing streak “sickening.”
“It’s been a tough stretch to say the least,” he told the media. “You at least kind of wonder … it’s just crazy how they’ve all been very similar. We had a chance in all of them. The Oakland one was a little out of hand, still, even that one we made it interesting. We just don’t have the answers right now. It’s not surrendering and saying we’re not good enough. I’m not saying we’re surrendering, but we are what we are, and right now, that’s 2-7 on a five game skid.
“We just can ‘t seem to make that one play to either hang on or finish it. You can make a list of reasons but we’ve had chances to win all these games. We just didn’t make the plays.”
Game report
The Bears received the opening kickoff and promptly marched to the Chargers 28-yard line before an incomplete pass into the end zone prompted a field goal attempt by Robbie Gould. However, Gould missed the 47-yard attempt to keep the game scoreless.
But the game did not remain scoreless for long. The Chargers took over in good field position and promptly marched down the field with relative ease.
Facing third-and-five from the Chicago 35-yard line, Rivers found Johnson on a first-down pass to the 18-yard line. Woodhead then carried the ball down to the 14-yard line; Woodhead then caught a touchdown pass to the left corner pylon on the next play. Josh Lambo then kicked the extra-point conversion to put the hosts ahead 7-0.
The Chargers’ scoring drive took eight plays, navigating over 63 yards in 4:42.
The Bears came right back and, on a 17-yard third-down pass from Cutler to Bennett, quickly moved the ball to the 45-yard line. Langford carried the ball into Chargers territory to set up third-and-three. Cutler hit a wide open Langford on a 31-yard completion to the San Diego 17-yard line.
Langford moved the ball ahead four yards to the 13-yard line and a short pass completion to Bennett set up another third-and-three, this time for the Chargers 10-yard line.
A motion penalty forced third-and-eight from the San Diego 15-yard-line. Cutler was sacked on the play and the Chargers recovered the fumble to end Chicago’s second drive. Melvin Ingram forced the strip while Eric Weddle recovered the fumble.
The first quarter ended with the hosts up 7-0, though the visitors actually held the edge in time of possession (8:45 to 6:15).
Chicago began its third drive of the game on its own 28-yard line after forcing a San Diego punt. With the Bears missing leading rusher Matt Forte due to injury, Langford handled the bulk of the rushing duties. However, a Cutler incompletion on third-and-two forced a Bears punt.
The Bears caught their first big break of the game when Rivers hit Dontrelle Inman on a pass in open territory but Inman was hit and fumbled, with a trio of Chicago defenders falling on the loose ball at the San Diego 40-yard line.
It took only two plays for the Chargers to respond with their biggest play of the game when Verrett picked off Cutler and returned the ball 68 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
The Chargers missed the PAT conversion but led 13-0.
Again, it didn’t matter how long one possessed the ball but what one did with it that mattered most.
Right after throwing the pick-six, Cutler came back to hit a wide open Jeffery for 46 yards down to the San Diego 33-yard line. It was on this play that Verett injured his groin and Jeffery subsequently caught a second-and-12 pass for a first down to the Chargers 23-yard line.
Cutler’s lob attempt to Jeffery in the end zone was incomplete. Ka’Deem Carey ran for eight yards to the 15-yard line, and Cutler hit Jeffery over the middle down to the one-yard line to bring up first-and-goal for the visitors.
Chants of “Let’s go Bears!” rose from the sizable Chicago fan presence in the stadium.
It took one play for the visitors to score as Cutler cut the other way from his blocking entourage to hit Bennett on a bootleg pass in the middle of the end zone. Gould supplied the extra-point conversion and the Bears trailed, 13-7, with 6:53 remaining in the first half.
The 80-yard Chicago scoring drive took plays and consumed 3:05 off the clock.
The Chargers found themselves backed up on second-and-32 from their own 16-yard line after absorbing three successive penalties. Mike Scifres mustered only a 33-yard punt and the Bears took over possession at their own 42-yard line with 3:31 to play in the opening half.
Langford ripped off a 16-yard gain to the San Diego 42-yard line. A short two-yard run and an incomplete pass forced Cutler into a third-and-eight pass play. Cutler hit Bennett to the Chargers 35-yard line but an unsportsmanlike call on the Bears after the play forced a punt from midfield.
Javontee Herndon made the fair catch for the Chargers at the eight-yard line. A penalty moved the ball half the distance to the goal line. The hosts, facing third-and-one, sprang Woodhead for a 15-yard gain to get the ball away from the shadow of their own goalposts. A 15-yard completion from Rivers to Johnson then placed the ball at midfield.
Woodhead made a third-and-10 catch for 13 yards to set up a San Diego first down to the Chicago 38-yard line as the Chargers inched closer to field goal position as time ran down in the half. A roughing the passer penalty on the Bears moved the ball to the 23-yard line and the Chargers were suddenly looking for more than just a field goal attempt.
Rivers went complete to Inman to move the ball to the 14-yard line and Lambo booted a 31-yard field goal with three seconds left to boost the San Diego lead to 16-7
It took the Chargers just 2:03 to navigate 81 yards in 11 plays on the scoring play.
The Bears missed a 38-yard field goal attempt on their first possession of the second half.
Chicago received the ball at their own eight-yard line on their second possession of the second half and advanced the ball to the 30-yard line on two successive Cutler third-down completions. However, a holding penalty on the Bears moved the ball 10 yards backward to the 20 yard-line.
Facing third-and-five, Cutler hit Langford for a 23-yard gain. An ensuing pass completion to Jeffery advanced to ball to the Chargers 32-yard line. Anton Smith then carried the ball 11 yards to the 21-yard line and another first down.
Chants of “Let’s go Bears!” once again arose from the crowd.
The Chicago fans cheered even louder when Cutler hit Jeffery on a 16-yard pass play to the five-yard line to set up first-and-goal for the Bears on the final play of the third quarter.
Cutler threw incomplete on first down, and Langford took the ball to the one-yard line on second down. Langford then scored on the next play to the delight of the Bears and their sizable contingent of fans.
Gould nailed the PAT conversion and the Chargers’ lead was reduced to 16-14.
The Bears went 93 yards on 15 plays to chew up more than eight minutes off the clock.
Chicago had the ball for 11:15 of the third quarter to rack up seven points to get back in the game.
The Chargers kicked a field goal to go up 19-14 with 7:53 to play in the fourth quarter. After that, the San Diego offense flat-lined.
The Bears made the plays down the stretch run and the Chargers didn’t. It was as plain and simple as that to anyone among the crowd of 68,033 in the stadium.
McCoy said his team will stick together and find a way to win upcoming games.
“We’re playing for one another and pride,” he said. “We are going to show up and fight our tails off … week in and week out. This the NFL … that’s what it’s all about. We’ll keep plugging, keep fighting, we have a lot of character on this team. We’re going out there to fight hard, and competed every Sunday (or Monday or Thursday). We’ve got to do a better job overall.
“At this point you play for respect – respect from the other guys in the locker room,” said Rivers, caught by ESPN cameras in close-up after the Chargers’ last series with his head back, eyes closed and biting his lip in bitter disappointment.
It adequately summed up what has become of the Bolts’ 2015 nightmare season.
Extra points
Inactives for the Chargers in Monday’s game included safety Darrell Stuckey, inside linebackers Manti Te’o and Denzel Perryman, guard Orlando Franklin, tackle King Dunlap, tight end Ladarius Green and defensive tackle Corey Liuget.
Inactives for the Bears included, besides Forte, receiver Eddie Royal, safety Harold Jones-Quartey, linebacker Shea McClellin, center Hroniss Grasu, tackle Tayo Fubuluje and defensive lineman Ziggy Hood.
The Chargers have a bye in Week 10 while the Bears play the Rams (4-4) in St. Louis on Sunday, Nov. 15. Things get tougher from there. Chicago hosts Denver (7-1) on Nov. 22 also plays at Green Bay (6-2) on Thanksgiving.
McCoy served as an assistant coach under Fox at both Carolina and Denver. Fox improved to 5-1 against McCoy following Monday’s win.
The Chargers’ two wins have come against the Detroit Lions (1-7) and the Cleveland Browns (2-7).
AFC West Standings
Denver Broncos 7-1
Oakland Raiders 4-4
Kansas City Chiefs 3-5
San Diego Chargers 2-7
NFC North Standings
Minnesota Vikings 6-2
Green Bay Packers 6-2
Chicago Bears 3-5
Detroit Lions 1-7
Girls ages 7-15 get chance to dance at halftime
Girls ages 7-15 will get the opportunity to perform on the Qualcomm Stadium field at halftime of a Chargers game on Dec. 20 when they sign up to be a member of the Junior Charger Girls.
Group clinics begin Sat., Nov. 14 at Chargers Park from 12-4 p.m. A non-refundable $95 enrollment fee is due at time of registration. Enrollment is available online at www.chargers.com.
All participants will have the opportunity to learn a halftime routine from the NFL’s best dance team, the San Diego Charger Girls. Each performer is asked to raise a minimum of $175 in sponsor pledges. The money raised will help support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Chargers Community Foundation.
Junior Charger Girls who raise the pledge minimum will receive three clinics with the Charger Girls, autographed Charger Girls team photo, half-time show uniform and pom-poms, commemorative t-shirt and a game ticket. The group clinics will teach the dance routines and prepare all different talent levels for the show.
Chargers Park is located at 4020 Murphy Canyon Road in San Diego.
For more information, contact Lisa Simmons at 858-874-4500.
