Bears use big play to upset Rams

McClellin stopped Gurley for four yards after Rams quarterback Nick Foles converted a third-and-8 with an 8-yard toss to receiver Bradley Marquez. He suffered a groin injury in Wednesday’s practice and on Thursday the Bears were left pondering whether their quarterback could continue to be as effective Sunday against St. Louis without his chief deep option. We spent a few time on it. It was really good to get the ball in the end zone on the opening drive. The Bears were also without their injured top running back (Matt Forte) and second-best receiver in Eddie Royal along with star linebacker Pernell McPhee. He had a calf strain in the preseason and later missed four regular-season games with a hamstring injury. Cook has a 29 yard catch.

“It’s easy to point fingers”, Foles said. The Rams were 4 for 14 on third down, slightly improved from 4 for 37 the previous three games.

The Bears were then forced to punt after a seven-play drive netted only 30 yards. Makes you wonder – especially if you own Roethlisberger – why he didn’t start to begin with. “The way we are trending, I like the way the guys are going about their business”. No. 97 [Eugene Sims], he’s a little (expletive). That’s got to make him feel all warm and fuzzy.

Jay Cutler threw touchdown passes of 87 yards to Zach Miller and 83 yards to Jeremy Langford in posting a career-high 151.0 passer rating, while the Bears defense allowed just one TD and limited rookie running back Todd Gurley to 45 yards on 12 carries.

It was Jeffery’s third lower-body injury since training camp, but he was able to play against the Rams.

Ever since training camp, Bears coach John Fox has kept his cards close to the vest.

“This is my decision based on what I think is best for this team offensively to go in this direction”, Fisher said. That’s not very restful. It’s just a physical game in all elements of it, no matter what position you play.

The tipping point for the Bears’ season, however, happens in the next two weeks when Chicago hosts Denver, followed by a trip to Green Bay on Thanksgiving night.

Miller found the end zone on a 2-yard pass from Cutler after taking possession on a Rams fumble. In addition to having Jenkings back, safety T.J. McDonald and Robert Quinn may be making their return this week, which could truly impact Cutler’s play. He studies extremely hard to get that done.

“Too many mistakes for all of us”, Foles said. “Coach Fox hasn’t backed down from his message one time and I think the players haven’t lost any confidence in that either”.

Cutler isn’t in the mood for evaluating his improvement.

“As I told Case, he doesn’t have a short leash”, Fisher said. “That’s kind of an end-of-the-year summary, whenever we go back and look at everything of seeing where we start to where we finish”. The brotherly face-off would have provided extra excitement this year, because Kyle, a Pro Bowl guard during his first two National Football League seasons, has shifted outside to right tackle this season, meaning that he would have had plenty of opportunities for direct contact with his older brother. “You look at the past week and right now we’re looking at the Rams, so it’s a week-to-week thing”.