NFL Power Rankings: Jay Cutler leads Chicago Bears to comeback win
The Chicago Bears had a tough road game on Monday night in San Diego, and they left with a huge victory. It snapped their two-game losing streak, and may give them some momentum as the season progresses.
The Chicago Bears faced a tough game in San Diego against the Chargers. They lost two games in a row, games in which they were winning late. If they lost another, they could have spiraled.
Well, Jay Cutler and the defense would not let that happen. Cutler threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns (and survived a pick-six and a lost fumble), and the defense harassed Philip Rivers. They got two sacks, but they pressured Rivers enough to make his decisions quicker than he wanted, and he had trouble hooking up with backup receivers who had to come in because of injured starters.
Alshon Jeffery had a monster game, making ten catches for 151 yards. The Bears were also without receivers, notably Eddie Royal.
Jeremy Langford played for the injured Matt Forte and was effective. He rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown, and added 3 catches for 70 yards.
The Bears were down 19-14 when Cutler led the offense on a ten-play, 80-yard drive. Langford ran in the two-point conversion.
The comeback was Cutler’s 20th since 2007, third-most in the NFL over that period. “That’s what the NFL is about,” Cutler said to the media after the victory. “You got to play your best in the fourth quarter.”
The win perhaps gives the Bears some momentum as the season progresses. They have St. Louis, Denver and Green Bay coming up, so having this uplifting game will help them as they face those tough teams.
Let’s take a look at how the victory affects their positioning on this week’s NFL power rankings:
47. Another week, another Patriots win. They ended this one early on, as they had two touchdowns before Washington could run their second play from scrimmage. The Pats cruised from there. . (8-0). Previous: 1st. New England patriots. 1. team
(8-0). Previous: 2nd. cincinnati bengals. 2. team. 56. The Bengals are starting to open eyes. Yes,I know, let’s see what they do in the playoffs, but they are playing like they haven’t played before. <strong><a href=
87. The Panthers continue to impress. Many talk about how <strong><a href=. (8-0). Previous: 4th. carolina panthers. 3. team
The Cardinals had a bye in Week 9. They face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. . (6-2). Previous: 6th. arizona cardinals. 4. team. 32
Previous: 7th. minnesota vikings. 5. team. 60. The Vikings continue to challenge the Packers in the NFC North. <strong><a href=. (6-2)
The Broncos suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts. <strong><a href=. (7-1). Previous: 3rd. denver broncos. 6. team. 45
green bay packers. 7. team. 49. The Packers lost back-to-back games, and are now tied with the Vikings for the division lead. <strong><a href=. (6-2). Previous: 5th
team. 55. The Steelers won the battle against the Oakland Raiders, but they may lose the war. In his second week back after a knee injury, <strong><a href=. (6-3). Previous: 9th. pittsburgh steelers. 8
36. The Seahawks had a bye in Week 9. They face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. . (4-4). Previous: 10th. Seattle seahawks. 9. team
30. The Jets snapped their two-game losing streak. It was an ugly game, but <strong><a href=. (5-3). Previous: 12th. new york jets. 10. team
Previous: 8th. atlanta falcons. 11. team. 44. The Falcons are tumbling down. After starting the season 5-0, they have now lost three out of their last four games. All three losses were to the bottom feeders of the league (Saints, Bucs and Niners), and had two other tough games against Washington and Tennessee. It appears they are reverting to the same old Falcons. . (6-3)
New York giants. 12. team. 31. The Giants got four field goals by <strong><a href=. (5-4). Previous: 13th
team. 51. <strong><a href=. (4-3). Previous: 11th. st. louis rams. 13
The Eagles have gotten back to even for the season by beating the Cowboys in overtime. <strong><a href=. (4-4). Previous: 17th. philadelphia eagles. 14. team. 54
15. team. 16. The Bills thrashed the Dolphins for the second time this season. The bye was the best thing to happen to them. They look so much different when <strong><a href=. (4-4). Previous: 19th. buffalo bills
16. team. 46. Andrew Luck came through against his predecessor in Indianapolis, Peyton Manning. Luck had 252 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he had NO interceptions. <strong><a href=. (4-5). Previous: 20th. indianapolis colts
17. team. 28. The Raiders lost a shootout with the Steelers. <strong><a href=. (4-4). Previous: 16th. oakland raiders
59. After winning the first two games under the <strong><a href=. (3-5). Previous: 14th. miami dolphins. 18. team
(4-5). Previous: 15th. new orleans saints. 19. team. 15. <strong><a href=
20. team. 124. The Chiefs had a bye in Week 9. They face the Denver Broncos in Week 10. . (3-5). Previous: 21st. kansas city chiefs
(3-5). Previous: 24th. chicago bears. 21. team. 57. The Bears snapped a two-game winning streak against a depleted Chargers team. The Bears themselves were missing key players. Jay Cutler shrugged off a pick-six and a fumble lost to throw for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Alshon Jeffery caught ten passes for 151 yards.
The Cowboys continue to lose games. They have lost six in a row now, this time to the Eagles in overtime, and it now might not matter that <strong><a href=. (2-6). Previous: 18th. dallas cowboys. 22. team. 123
tampa bay buccaneers. 23. team. 48. The good news for the Bucs and <strong><a href=. (3-5). Previous: 22nd
Previous: 23rd. san diego chargers. 24. team. 13. Philip Rivers did not record a 300+ yard game for just the third time this season. He could be excused as he did not have his receivers. His one healthy receiver, <strong><a href=. (2-7)
26. team. 26. The Ravens had a bye in Week 9. They play the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. . (2-6). Previous: 27th. baltimore ravens
42. The Niners went with <strong><a href=. (3-6). Previous: 30th. san francisco 49ers. 27. team
(2-6). Previous: 31st. tennessee titans. 28. team. 35. <strong> </strong>Marcus Mariota returned and he led the Titans to their second victory. He beat Drew Brees in a shootout, throwing for 371 yards and four touchdowns. The Titans were down 21-10 at one point, but were able to slow the Saints down and come away with the victory.
10. The Texans had a bye in Week 9. They face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10. . (3-5). Previous: 29th. houston texans. 29. team
jacksonville jaguars. 30. team. 52. The Jaguars’ road woes continue. They lost their 13th consecutive road game, even though <strong><a href=. (2-6). Previous: 26th
team. 53. The Browns met their in-state rivals Bengals and got devoured. <strong><a href=. (2-7). Previous: 28th. cleveland browns. 31
team. 50. The Lions had a bye in Week 9. They face the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. . (1-7). Previous: 32nd. detroit lions. 32