With Green Bay and Minnesota winning, the Bears cannot give any ground vs. the Detroit Lions in the division, one of only two with three of four winning records (NFC South). Right now they hold the No. 2 record (4-1) in the NFC and third-best in the NFL (Atlanta 6-0, Houston 6-1) and dont play a team with a winning record until Houston in three weeks.
Lovie Smith teams have won five of their last six after a week off and it will have been 15 days since the win at Jacksonville. Monday is a chance to go three games up on Detroit and take a commanding conference positiononly the Giants, Falcons, 49ers and Vikings have fewer than three losses.
Indianapolis Colts (3-3) W 41-21
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Balanced identity established with 33-35 run pass ratio and O runs up 428 yards with Jay Cutler throwing for 333 yards and 2 TDs to go with rushing TDs by Michael Bush (2) and Matt Forte (1) as part of 122 rushing yards.
@ Green Bay Packers (4-3) L 23-10
Cutler berates offensive linemen on national TV for seven sacks; linemen just have to accept Cutlers four INTs apparently. Embarrassing offensive performance all around as defense holds Aaron Rodgers and Pack to 3 FGs and one TD.
St. Louis Rams (3-4) W 23-6
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Defense sacks Sam Bradford six times and holds Rams out of the end zone. Offense scores only one TD for the second week in a row and Cutler continues to find a groove with receivers.
@ Dallas Cowboys (3-3) W 34-18
Five interceptions of Tony Romo, two returned for TDs (Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman) and a workmanlike 360 yards on offense produce a crucial road win on MNF.
@ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) W 41-3
Bears offense runs up 501 balanced yards (214 rush, 287 pass) and explodes after a sluggish first half. Briggs and Tillman make NFL history with TD interceptions for second straight week and Brandon Marshall puts up 144 yards on 12 catches.
Sun., Oct. 14 Bye Week
vs. Detroit Lions (2-3)
Next: BEARS, MNF
vs. Carolina Panthers (1-5) Sun., Oct. 28, noon
Freefall reaches four straight as Cam Newton cant get Panthers offense above 14 points for third time in last four. No answer to Dallas two FGs in the fourth quarter. Next: at BEARS
@ Tennessee Titans (3-4) Sun., Nov. 4, noon
Remember Chris Johnson? Bills will after franchise RB goes for 195 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries. Titans go to Buffalo and upset Bills behind another Matt Hasselbeck comeback. Two straight wins and scoring. Next: vs. Indianapolis
Houston Texans (6-1) Sun., Nov. 11, 7:20 p.m
After Green Bay embarrassment, Texans annihilate Baltimore. Seven games with at least 23 points and defense is top 10 vs. both run and pass. Next: Bye Week
@ San Francisco 49ers (5-2) Mon., Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m.
49ers survive a defensive taffy pull with Seattle to recover from the embarrassment vs. Giants. Offense questions with QB Alex Smith remain but Frank Gore runs for 131 vs. good Seahawks D. Long break to prepare for Cards in tough NFC West match. Next: @ Arizona (Mon.)
Minnesota Vikings (5-2) Sun., Nov. 25, noon
Weak offensive day vs. Cardinals except for APs 23 carries for 153 yards and a TD. Christian Ponder nets 58 passing yards but a W is a W. Vikes 4-0 at home. Next: vs. Tampa Bay
Seattle Seahawks (4-3) Sun., Dec. 2, noon
Russell Wilson struggles with 9-for-23 passing and cant get Hawks in the end zone for four quarters or on the scoreboard in the second half vs. 49ers. Next: at Detroit
@ Minnesota Vikings (5-2) Sun., Dec. 9, noon
Green Bay Packers (4-3) Sun., Dec. 16, noon
Another Aaron Rodgers masterpiece: 30-37 passing, 342 yards, 3 TDs, no turnovers for second straight game. Rams threaten but Packers score three times in fourth quarter. Next: vs. Jacksonville
@ Arizona Cardinals (4-3) Sun., Dec. 23, 3:15 p.m.
A stumble at Minnesota makes three straight for former 4-0 team that now gets 49ers, Packers and Falcons. John Skelton in for Kevin Kolb and is sacked seven times. Next: vs. San Francisco
@ Detroit Lions (2-3) Sun., Dec. 30, noon
Next: @ BEARS (MNF)