Jay Cutler sets Bears’ franchise record for TD passes

Other than a shaky home opener against Green Bay, his first regular-season game under offensive coordinator Adam Gase, he’s been in a groove in a system that fits his physical strengths to a tee.

The favorite has covered the spread in each of the past 4 games between the two teams. In reality, Chicago was this close to winning each of the past five games because of Cutler, with just late field-goal losses to the Lions and Vikings. Twice, Bears end Lamaar Houston beat San Diego’s best blocker, Joe Barksdale, for a sack of Philip Rivers, leading to a fourth-and-23 heave that had no chance.

The Bears’ last four games have all come down to the final minute, with them going 2-2 in those games. In addition to rattling and limiting Rivers, the Bears can win if they take advantage of potentially the only game in which they have an edge on special teams.

It allows the Bears to cross the most hard ingredient to find off their shopping list and just might give all of us renewed faith in the Bears. And yet, Cutler got the most out of what he had around him and the Bears continued moving the football, chipping away at a battered Chargers defense decimated by injury. Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee leads the way with five sacks and has looked impressive, but the Bears need more help outside of him. The NFC North Chicago Bears travel west to play the AFC West San Diego Chargers in an inter-conference showdown in Southern California.

In this game the biggest issue for the Bears will be containing Philip Rivers. Meanwhile, the Bears are ninth in total defense, 29th defending the run and – wait for it, here comes the mystery stat – fourth in the National Football League defending the pass.

Here are a few things to look for when the Chargers host the Bears: HOME-FIELD BLUES: This could be the third straight game in San Diego in which the visiting team has had a significant cheering section.

Rivers and the Chargers, minus Floyd, got the ball back with a pair of timeouts. Rivers found Woodhead for a 14-yard scoring pass and a 7-0 lead. This is a winnable game for the Bears. Keenan Allen, arguably their best wide receiver so far this season, was placed on season ending injured reserve with a lacerated kidney.

Both teams only have two wins on the season, and another loss for either of these teams will likely end any hope of a playoff run. Ka’Deem Carey, not Langford, drew the start Monday night with Forte out of the lineup nursing a knee injury. Without Matt Forte, however, no one really knows what to expect. Nonetheless, this game should be entertaining from an offensive standpoint. However, the offense hasn’t capitalized when it has needed to as they rank 14th overall in points per game (23.9). Either we’re not good enough to make the plays, or they outplayed us. With Forte out, it will be interesting to see if backup running back Jeremy Langford can rebound from last week against the Minnesota Vikings.

Here’s a breakdown of what both teams are thinking heading into Monday night’s 12th all-time meeting.

Perhaps the Chargers’ defense is the ideal opponent for Langford’s debut.