Dolphins Get Big Road Win, Defeat Bears 27-14
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CHICAGO (CBSMiami/AP) – Coming off of a heartbreaking last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Miami Dolphins came into Sunday needing a win to avoid falling two games below .500.
The sense of urgency was noticeable all week, but that needed to translate to Sunday's game in Chicago. And it did.
Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins looked more at home at Soldier Field than Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears.
Tannehill threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in an efficient performance, leading the Dolphins to a 27-14 victory over the Bears on Sunday.
Tannehill connected on his first 14 passes and was 25 of 32 overall, helping Miami bounce back from the brutal 27-24 loss to Green Bay. It looked as if the Dolphins were on their way to a big win over the Packers before Aaron Rodgers threw a 4-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds.
Lamar Miller also had a 2-yard touchdown run for the Dolphins (3-3), who had lost three of four since an opening victory over New England.
The Bears (3-4) remained winless in three home games and have dropped five of their last seven at Soldier Field dating back to last year. Matt Forte scored two touchdowns and Jeremiah Ratliff finished with a career-best 3 1/2 sacks.
Cutler threw an interception and lost a fumble as Chicago dropped to 0-4 when he throws at least one pick. He was 21 for 34 for 190 yards after he threw for 381 yards in last Sunday's 27-13 victory at Atlanta.
The Bears trailed 14-0 before Cutler passed to a wide-open Forte for a 10-yard touchdown on their first possession of the second half. Cutler went 5 for 5 for 47 yards on the drive, including three receptions for Brandon Marshall.
Miami responded with a 13-play, 81-yard drive that ended with Miller's fourth rushing TD in the last three games. Tannehill set up the key score with a 30-yard run on fourth-and-1.
Forte added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth, but that was it for the Bears. Cameron Wake had a strip sack and fumble recovery, and Caleb Sturgis kicked two field goals to put it away.
Miami got off to an inauspicious start when Tannehill was sacked by Ratliff on its first play from scrimmage. But the Dolphins quickly made up for lost time.
Tannehill threw for 176 yards in the first half, picking apart Chicago's defense with ease. He found tight end Charles Clay for 13-yard score, then had a 10-yard TD pass to Mike Wallace in the back of the end zone.
Meanwhile, the Bears looked listless and out of sorts. Linebacker Shea McClellin, back after being sidelined since Week 2 by a hand injury, slipped in coverage on Clay's TD, and the offense was hurt by curious play calling and Cutler's seventh interception.
Cutler was charged with a fumble on a lateral to rookie Ka'Deem Carey on the Bears' second drive, leading to a 10-yard loss. He missed badly on a pass in the second period that was intercepted by Reshad Jones, setting up Wallace's fifth touchdown reception.
Ratliff's big game came after he had no sacks this season; his previous career best was two with Dallas.
Miami had 209 yards at halftime compared to 54 for Chicago. The Dolphins also had the ball for 19:10, leading to a vigorous round of boos from the frustrated crowd as the teams headed for the locker room.
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