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| Other Week 12 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF at KC | CAR at ATL | CHI at STL | CIN at PIT | GB at NO | HOU at CLE | IND at SD | MIN at JAX |
| NE at MIA | NYG at ARI | NYJ at TEN | OAK at DEN | PHI at BAL | SF at DAL | TB at DET | WAS at SEA |
Week 12 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 27, St. Louis Rams 3
What you need to know
| Chicago Bears |
Kyle Orton didn't have a great game statistically, but he did look much better than he did last week in Green Bay. Orton threw for 139 yards and a touchdown, with no turnovers. However, it was clear his ankle still was bothering him, as he didn't attempt many deep throws due to not wanting to plant his foot. Most of his throws were short routes, his lone touchdown coming on a throw to FB Jason McKie.
Rookie RB Matt Forte was outstanding in this game, racking up 132 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Forte showed great power and speed all game, finding holes and bursting through them for long gains. The highlight of his afternoon was a 47 yard touchdown run in the second quarter, as he exploded through a hole, made a couple defenders miss, and easily made it to the end zone. The lone blemish in his numbers came on a fumble he lost in the second quarter.
The Bears' defense rebounded in a big way, racking up five sacks and four interceptions. It was one of their most dominant performances of the year, as they held St. Louis to just three points.
| St. Louis Rams |
QB Mark Bulger was sacked and injured the Rams' first drive, and he did not return to the game. In his place, Trent Green had an underwhelming performance as he threw four interceptions and couldn't lead the Rams on any touchdown drives. After his fourth interception, he was benched in favor of Brock Berlin.
The Rams running game was non existent without Steven Jackson, as Pittman and Darby combined for just 18 yards on 16 carries. Darby however, was slightly more productive in the receiving game as he had three catches for 29 yards, compared to Pittman's three receptions for 11 yards.
WR Torry Holt showed some signs of life, hauling in four passes for 84 yards. Most of his targets in this game were on deep balls, and his long catch of the game was for 38 yards.
What you ought to know
| QB Kyle Orton, Pass: 18 - 29 - 139 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
Orton still seemed to be bothered by his ankle, but this week he did a better job of managing the offense and keeping the chains moving. He threw his lone touchdown to FB Jason McKie in the first quarter, a seven yard strike capping off a 63 yard drive. Orton remained turnover free, and didn't really have to make any big plays with Forte running so well.
| RB Matt Forte, Rush: 20 - 132 - 2, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (3 targets) |
On the Bears' first possession, Forte burst through a hole in the middle, breaking a tackle and falling into the end zone for a 13 yard score. It was a sign of things to come as Forte absolutely dominated the entire game. Early in the second quarter he lost a fumble, but redeemed himself the next drive as he took a handoff up the middle for a 47 yard touchdown. Forte finished the afternoon with 146 total yards and two touchdowns.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 5 - 35 - 0, Rec: 1 - -1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Peterson took five carries for 35 yards, with his long carry going for 16 yards. He didn't see much action, but may continue to get the occasional handoff as long as Jones remains out and Forte needs a breather.
| RB Jason McKie, Rec: 3 - 16 - 1 (4 targets) |
McKie caught a seven yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter on a play where he got wide open slanting towards the outside of the end zone. McKie later lost a fumble in the red zone on a six yard reception in the fourth quarter, not too important since the Bears had the game put away. He finished with three receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown.
| WR Devin Hester, Rush: 2 - 32 - 0, Rec: 5 - 57 - 0 (7 targets) |
Hester caught a fade late in the first quarter for a 27 yard gain, his best play of the afternoon. He also added four other receptions for 30 yards. In the return game, he continued to look tentative, as he continued to struggle making much happen returning punts.
| WR Rashied Davis, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (4 targets) |
Davis hauled in one of his four targets, good for a 10 yard gain.
| WR Brandon Lloyd, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (2 targets) |
Lloyd had only one catch for three yards in this game, he didn't see much action.
| TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 5 - 40 - 0 (6 targets) |
Clark injured his right knee in the third quarter on a play where Forte ran the ball, he did not return to the game. Prior to the injury, he was one of the Bears' top receivers as he had five catches for 40 yards.
| TE Greg Olsen (2 targets) |
Olsen was only targeted twice, and was unable to bring either of them in.
| PK Robbie Gould 2 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points |
There is nothing significant to report in the kicking game, Gould made all of his kicks.
| CHI Rush Defense |
The Bears' rush defense turned out a dominating performance much like their game against the Titans, limiting the Rams to 19 yards on 19 attempts. The backs simply had nowhere to go, as the Bears' defenders often wrapped them up quickly or hit them in the backfield.
| CHI Pass Defense |
The Chicago pass defense did a great job all game generating pressure on the Rams' QBs, sacking them five times. The constant pressure also forced them into mistakes, as Trent Green was picked off four times by the Bears. Two of the interceptions came on balls tipped at the line.
| QB Trent Green, Pass: 16 - 30 - 219 - 0 TD / 4 INT, Rush: 2 - 1 - 0 |
Green had a game he'd probably rather forget, throwing four interceptions. Two of the interceptions came on balls tipped at the line, but one came on an under thrown deep ball and the fourth was on a short pass across the middle where he simply didn't see the defender. Green did not have any scores, but did throw for 219 yards. He was eventually benched for Brock Berlin.
| QB Brock Berlin, Pass: 1 - 3 - 6 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Berlin entered the game late in the fourth quarter following Green's fourth interception. He only attempted three passes, completing one for six yards.
| QB Marc Bulger, Pass: 2 - 2 - 11 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Bulger was shaken up following a sack to end the Rams' first drive. The injury was described as a blow to the head, and Trent Green came into the game the second drive. Bulger did not return.
| RB Antonio Pittman, Rush: 9 - 8 - 0, Rec: 3 - 11 - 0 (4 targets) |
Pittman had one nice run for 11 yards, however the rest of his carries went for combined negative yards. He finished with nine carries for eight yards.
| RB Ken Darby, Rush: 7 - 10 - 0, Rec: 3 - 29 - 0 (3 targets) |
Early in the fourth quarter, Darby caught a short screen pass and turned it into a 15 yard gain for a first down, using some good moves and showing good speed. However, in the running game, Darby was ineffective, running for only ten yards on seven carries.
| WR Torry Holt, Rec: 4 - 84 - 0 (7 targets) |
Holt was the most targeted Rams' receiver, being thrown to seven times. In the third quarter, Holt caught a pass for a nice 38 yard gain, his longest catch of the game. He finished the day with four receptions for 84 yards.
| WR Dane Looker, Rec: 4 - 46 - 0 (6 targets) |
Looker caught four of his six targets, picking up 46 yards. His long reception came in the third quarter, good for 22 yards.
| WR Donnie Avery, Rush: 1 - -5 - 0, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (3 targets) |
Avery only had one catch in this game, making a 14 yard gain out of it.
| TE Anthony Becht, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets) |
Becht caught one of his two targets for 11 yards.
| TE Daniel Fells, Rec: 1 - 26 - 0 (1 targets) |
Fells hauled in a 26 yard reception in the second quarter. It was his only catch of the game.
| PK Josh Brown 1 - 2 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points |
Brown missed a 40 yard field goal attempt wide left, his other kick was good.
| STL Rush Defense |
St. Louis got run over by Forte, as they frequently missed tackles and struggled to bring him down. They allowed his to run for over six yards a carry against them, and gave up two scores.
| STL Pass Defense |
The Rams' pass defense did a decent job, allowing only one score and limiting Orton to just 139 passing yards. They also managed to sack Orton once, but couldn't force any interceptions. The Rams did recover two fumbles in this game, recovering both of them.
