Emma: Bears' Character, Chemistry Again Revealed In Comeback Victory
By Chris Emma--
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CBS) -- Let's go, let's go, let's go!
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler shouted this to his offense on the final drive Sunday, waving his hands frantically to assemble his offense. Before the Bears took the field with 1:58 left in the game and trailing 17-12, he looked around. He had two replacements at wide receiver, a fill-in at left tackle and a rookie center playing his first NFL game.
With the odds stacked against the Bears, Cutler had to lead his team. So he got players in position and kept them from thinking, panicking and crumbling under pressure.
"He who hesitates is lost," tackle Kyle Long said.
For the Bears, the game was won. Cutler led a fourth-quarter comeback and game-winning drive in the final minute for the second straight week, earning Chicago an 18-17 victory against Kansas City when he found Matt Forte on a seven-yard scoring pass with 18 seconds left at Arrowhead Stadium.
Facing a 17-3 halftime deficit, the Bears came out of the locker room and got key stops defensively, a blocked field goal from Pernell McPhee and winning plays from Cutler. Once again, the Bears held strong for an impressive victory.
"We're building that bond," McPhee said. "That brotherhood is clicking and we're fighting for each other."
One year ago, Marc Trestman's players were fighting with -- not for -- each other. Now, the character of the Bears revealed itself once again in a stellar showing.
Victories like this remind why Trestman was fired, John Fox was brought in, Brandon Marshall was traded and more moves were made to clean up the Bears' chemistry catastrophe of 2014. This group stuck together to earn an important victory.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, "Mike" linebacker Shea McClellin suffered a knee injury and was carted off. Christian Jones took over with the calls from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, signed on Sept. 29, stepped in to McClellin's position. Rookie Hroniss Grasu battled through a rough rookie debut to give his offense just enough.
Undrafted rookie Cameron Meredith had four catches in place of the injured Alshon Jeffery, including two on the winning drive. And another undrafted rookie, Harold Jones-Quartey, filled in well at safety for the injured Antrel Rolle. Those put in uncomfortable situations helped the Bears to a victory.
In a microcosm for the Bears' win, Grasu's snap to Cutler on the game-winning touchdown pass to Forte was low, and Cutler bobbled it to the Arrowhead Stadium turf. Cutler recovered, bought himself time and won the game.
The Bears persevered to earn that victory.
"It says a lot about our team," Cutler said.
Added Fox: "It was a very gutsy, good-football-character victory."
Sunday's comeback victory was one the Bears wouldn't have won in 2014, when the locker room was marred with character flaws. This 2015 team was projected to be bad, yet it doesn't walk and talk as such. For what the Bears lack in organizational talent, they make up for in effort. Credit the coaching staff for putting the players in position, but give those players credit for buying in, too.
What does buying in mean?
"Coaches can only go so far," Cutler said. "At a certain point, you kind of tune them out and the players have to take some ownership. I think everyone who leads in the offense and the defense has started to take these roles and become assistant coaches in the meeting rooms."
Small happenings helped the Bears improve this week. McPhee spent time helping Reynolds learn his roles at linebacker. Left guard Matt Slauson guided Grasu to his task at center. And when the Bears needed to drive for the win, Cutler rushed the Bears to the line and acted like a leader.
Once again, the Bears' character was tested and revealed in a comeback victory.
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.