Jay Cutler Steps Up When Needed Most For Bears
By Chris Emma--
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CBS) -- The Bears' sideline was filled with some unfamiliar faces Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
When the Bears took the field, a roster in flux with so many injuries and moving parts could've kept the team from earning its 18-17 win over the Chiefs -- or even being competent. But quarterback Jay Cutler pulled through once again, leading Chicago its second straight comeback on the final drive.
To Cutler's credit, he brought the Bears back from a 17-3 deficit while working without receivers Alshon Jeffery or Eddie Royal, left tackle Jermon Bushrod and center Will Montgomery. He eased players in and brought the Bears to victory.
"It says a lot," Cutler said after the Bears improved to 2-3. "I have a lot of pride in that offensive huddle, and those guys fought hard."
Cutler found Matt Forte on the game-winning seven-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in regulation, that coming after he fumbled a low snap.
Yet, the best play of the day for Cutler came with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, as he found receiver Marquess Wilson in the corner of the end zone. Cutler evaded pressure and threw a strike that beat two Kansas City defenders. It was a remarkable effort and throw.
Bears tackle Kyle Long offered a solid description of his reaction.
"Well, I'm out there trying to block Justin Houston, and that's freaking hard," Long said. "So, I'm blocking, blocking, blocking, you hear the ball is out, you see the ball is out, you look up and the ball just drops from the sky right into Marquess's hands. I look up like, 'Did anybody else just see that?'"
Cutler finished the game 26-of-45 for 252 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the final 3:05 of regulation. Save for a fumble when he was sacked early, he avoided turnovers and kept the Bears in the game.
The Bears' final drive for the win was reminiscence of one week ago, when Cutler led the team back against Oakland, setting up Robbie Gould's game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Once again, he brought his offense down the field and in position to earn the victory.
"He came through," Bears coach John Fox said of Cutler. "He's done it two weeks in a row. I'm proud of him and proud of the football team."
When the Bears were needing their best, Cutler came through. He helped assemble the moving pieces into one collective comeback.
"Great guy, great leader," Wilson said. "He's the type of guy that never gives up."
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.