Bears’ Red Zone Turnovers Results in 21-14 Defeat

The Chicago Bears (3-2) won the battles of total yardage, first downs, and time of possession Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons (4-1). However, turnovers in the red zone and costly penalties late in the game prevented the Bears from getting their fourth victory of the season. It also gave them a 0-2 record on nationally televised games this season thus far.

The running game of both teams was non-existent—that was evident when Jay Cutler led all rushers with 34 yards on the ground. In addition to Cutler’s ground attack, his 27 completions for 300 yards were also game-highs, along with two touchdown passes. The downside of the Pro Bowl quarterback’s night was his two interceptions—one of which was in the red zone on the Bears’ first offensive possession. Atlanta tied the game 7-7 three plays after Cutler’s second interception in the second quarter. It was late in the third quarter where Chicago had the ball on the goal line and Matt Forte, who only had one fumble all of last year, coughed up the ball on back-to-back plays—the second resulting in an Atlanta recovery. Despite the lack of protection of the ball, the Bears still had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. But it was a false start penalty on guard Frank Omiyale and a offensive pass interference penalty on receiver Earl Bennett on back-to-back plays that gave the Bears a 1 st and 25 on the Falcons’ 30-yard line. After two incomplete passes, Cutler connected with Bennett for 24 yards, setting up a 4 th and 1 in the red zone. It was then that veteran tackle Orlando Pace committed Chicago’s third penalty of the drive, causing the Bears to back up five more yards. And with the game on the line, Cutler failed to complete a pass to tight end Desmond Clark over the middle.

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Not only did the offense have missed opportunities, but the defense did as well. In the third quarter, Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs couldn’t scoop up a Michael Turner fumble that was caused by linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. On the ensuing play, safety Danieal Manning dropped an interception. Throughout the entire game, the Bears’ defensive line couldn’t get to quarterback Matt Ryan, marking the first time this season that the Bears didn’t register a sack in a game. Despite the defensive miscues and inconsistencies, Chicago did manage to hold Turner to only 30 yards on 13 carries, as well as allowing Ryan to pass for only 185 yards. But the touchdown passes to receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, as well as the go-ahead five-yard touchdown run by Turner late in the fourth quarter, were all the Falcons needed to give the Bears their second defeat of the year.

The list of unfortunate events in Sunday night’s game will have to be put to the side, because the Chicago Bears have to travel to Cincinnati to face former teammate Cedric Benson and the rest of the surprising 4-2 Bengals.

By Clyde Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent