[dropcap]B[/dropcap]etter late than never, right?
After a horrendous start to Sunday night’s game where the Chicago Bears (1-1) had a punt blocked on the first possession and proceeded to rattle off five consecutive drives that ended in a punt, Jay Cutler and the offense finally righted the ship to spoil the debut of San Francisco’s new Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers (1-1) out-gained the Bears in the first half 197-93 and were docked 85 yards on 10 penalties during that stretch.
Down 17-0 and with just under three minutes remaining in the first half, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler took a jarring hit to the sternum from 49er Quinton Dial. Cutler looked shaken for a few moments. Cutler went back under center and with 2:22 remaining, Cutler found receiver Brandon Marshall for an amazing one handed catch for the Bears first touchdown of the game.
That hit that Cutler took is where the Bears fortunes changed in the game.
The Bears came out in the second half and limited the 49ers to a total of three points. Colin Kaepernick, helped the Bears’ cause by tossing three interceptions, two by the Bears first-round pick, corner back Kyle Fuller. Fuller was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance Sunday Night.
Cutler led the Bears to three touchdown drives in the fourth quarter as he found Marshall for two more scores and dropped in a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Martellus Bennett to cap the scoring at 28-20.
The victory over San Francisco helped ease last week’s loss to the Bills. Chicago was playing without center Roberto Garza and guard Matt Slauson for the game and the Bears lost corner back Charles “Peanut” Tillman for the season after he tore his triceps muscle making a tackle.
Marshall and wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey played after being game time decisions with injuries that occurred the prior week.
