Chicago Defense Hangs on to Beat Detroit, Keeps Playoff Flame Lit

Published by on December 30, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The Bears defense once again stepped up and carried the team to a critical win.

While the offense also looked pretty good most of the day, it squandered the four turnovers the defense provided for it.

On the plus side, Matt Forte topped 100 yards and looked very good doing it to the last run. When they needed to kill the clock, the Bears went heavy with Forte and he delivered.

Jay Cutler played very well for most of the game and overcame some pressure, escaping from multiple sacks. The Lions just couldn’t finish a tackle on Cutler, and nearly every time he slipped away, he completed a pass.

Earl Bennett also had a great day, topping 100 yards and proving to be a comfort blanket for Cutler when Brandon Marshall was covered, something which was the case quite often.

Rookie Alshon Jeffery also made some excellent catches, and between the three of them and Forte, this offense seems to be shaping up nicely.

If things fall right, it could be very dangerous in the playoffs. More on that in a minute.

Defensively, the Bears just pressured Matt Stafford into numerous mistakes. He made some great throws, but also some horrific ones. Tim Jennings picked him off once, and Stafford fumbled twice as well.

There is no doubt that this defense is intense and shouldn’t be one any team will want to see in the playoffs.

Of course, as we just said, this isn’t a sure thing.

The Bears have done their job this week and now need to be Green Bay fans. The Packers have to beat the Minnesota Vikings (or tie them) for Chicago to slide into the sixth seed and make the postseason.

So across the country for one weird moment, Bears fans will be cheering for the Packers.

Playoff hopes make for strange bedfellows.

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