Jay Cutler may not be the only reason the Chicago Bears win or lose a game, but the veteran quarterback certainly figured to be a key factor in Sunday’s NFC matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field.
Cutler was hot early, but Seattle took a 10-7 into halftime on a 31-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka. The Seahawks appeared initially to score a touchdown when Russell Wilson passed 14 yards to Braylon Edwards into the end zone with 10 seconds left. But the play was reviewed and determined that the ball was trapped.
Seattle had tied the game on a 4-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch with 2:15 left until the half. The nine-play, 94-yard scoring drive included a 49-yard pass from Wilson to Golden Tate.
Cutler, who entered the game with a 13-2 record in his last 15 starts, delivered during the Bears' first drive. Lynch fumbled with 11:59 left in the first period when Brian Urlacher forced the ball away and Kelvin Hayden recovered at the Seahawks' 49. The Bears converted the turnover into a 12-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Earl Bennett with 8:33 left.
Bennett was hit low by Brandon Browner inside the 5-yard line and flipped into the end zone. The Bears led 7-0 with Robbie Gould's extra point.
Bennett later went to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.
Cutler completed 10 of 16 passes for 125 yards and one TD in the first half for a passer rating of 107.6. The Bears had just 41 yards rushing at the intermission.
Marshall had 7 first-half catches for 94 yards.
Since Week 16 of the 2009 season, the Bears had compiled a 27-10 record (.730) in games Cutler has started. He had completed 659 of 1,103 passes (59.7 percent) for 8,144 yards, 57 touchdowns and 35 interceptions for a passer rating of 86.6.
Cutler says he cares only about winning.
“Eight and three, that’s the only thing,” Cutler said of the Bears’ record this season entering the game. “I couldn’t tell you one stat. (Brandon Marshall) obviously is well-schooled on his stats. Not only his stats, but every other receiver in the league, so he’s got it down pat. That’s receivers for you. The good ones are all like that; they want the ball, and they want the ball a lot."
The Bears were hoping their patched-together offensive line could protect Cutler. With right guard Lance Louis out for the season with a knee injury, tackle Gabe Carimi has been plugged in at guard. Left tackle J’Marcus Webb knew he would have his hands full trying to slow down Seattle’s defensive end Chris Clemons.
fmitchell@tribune.com
Twitter@kicker34
3rd quarter: Seahawks 10, Bears 7
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3rd quarter: Seahawks 10, Bears 7
