When Bears attack - Sports - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-01-16

Document text

0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Morning Jolt: And the Oscar nominees are … Morning Jolt: Al-Qaida groups claims responsibility for Charlie Hebdo attack Morning Jolt: Rep. says Hitler was better than Obama Morning Jolt: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's best Golden Globes jokes Morning Jolt: Policewoman killed during hunt for Paris terror suspects Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Politics and Elections Education Environment State News Nation - World Immigrants can now get Mexican birth certificates in US Consumer comfort rises to highest since July 2007 Belgium police kill 2 in anti-terror raid during shootout Switzerland stuns markets by giving up on currency peg Target to shut 133 Canada stores to stem massive losses Obituaries Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Which three countries would you be in if your boss is more likely to be a woman? Video proof that society isn't going down the drain NY Times' '52 Places to Visit in 2015' has some shockers on it 6 biggest Oscar snubs revealed LIST: Big names up for worst of Hollywood's Razzies Sports Latest Stories Year in review: Sports stories of 2014 Varsity 541 College Sports Pro Sports Community Sports Business Latest Stories Real Estate News People In Business Transportation Agriculture Opinion Latest Editorials Letters to the Editor Guest Opinions Lifestyle Latest stories Food Home and Garden Health Hiking Biking Faith Milestones and Achievements Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Theater Music Community Events Dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW   Barricaded suspect arrested       ...       Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary       ...       Medford police, fire chiefs get raises       ...       Barricaded suspect arrested       ...       Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary       ...       Medford police, fire chiefs get raises       ...           NFL When Bears attack Cutler rallies Chicago past 49ers with three TDs in fourth quarter Comment By Janie McCauley The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Janie McCauley The Associated Press Posted Sep. 15, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Janie McCauley The Associated Press Posted Sep. 15, 2014 @ 2:00 am »  Social News SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Down big, Jay Cutler kept his poise on the road while Colin Kaepernick struggled in prime time. Cutler passed for three fourth-quarter touchdowns after much of Chicago’s starting defense went down, and the Bears beat the San Francisco 49ers 28-20 Sunday night to spoil their Levi’s Stadium debut. “We just kept plugging, we knew we had some good stuff,” Cutler said. “We just had to figure them out.” Cutler threw three TD passes to Brandon Marshall, two in the wild fourth quarter, as Chicago erased a 13-point deficit and quieted the sellout crowd. Cutler threw for two scores in a 27-second span early in the final period, aided by the gutsy play of a backup cornerback. Kyle Fuller made two late interceptions for the depleted Chicago secondary, and the first set up the go-ahead score. “Just coming in here, working hard, it was a team win,” said Fuller, the Bears’ first-round pick in this year’s draft. “We are thankful for that and will keep on building.” Kaepernick was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for “inappropriate language” following Fuller’s first big play. That gave the Bears first-and-goal on the 3, and Cutler threw a 3-yard TD pass to Martellus Bennett as the Bears went ahead 21-20. Kaepernick threw three interceptions in all, lost a fumble and his cool, a far cry from his breakout start on the Monday night stage nearly two years ago in a rout of the Bears. Cutler sat out that night with a concussion. A sloppy game filled with 26 penalties — 16 by the Niners — and a crazy collapse overshadowed the fanfare of the regular-season debut for the sparkling $1.2 billion stadium. The Bears (1-1), in a stretch with six of eight games on the road, go home with some serious momentum despite injuries on both sides of the ball. Five key defenders are hurt: cornerbacks Sherrick McManis (quadriceps) and Charles Tillman (triceps), defensive end Trevor Scott (foot), safety Chris Conte (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion). The 49ers (1-1) had a 17-7 halftime lead, but missed an opportunity to grab an early lead in the NFC West after the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks lost earlier in the day at San Diego. Michael Crabtree caught a touchdown pass on his 27th birthday and Frank Gore ran for a score but also had his 54-yard TD burst negated by Anquan Boldin’s costly holding penalty. Cutler helped the Bears get on the board with a 25-yard run late in the first half. He took a jarring hit from Quinton Dial with 56 seconds remaining, but stayed in the game and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Marshall, who made a leaping, one-handed catch to pull the ball into his body as he fell into the end zone. What a way for Chicago to forget that bitter 23-20 overtime loss to the Bills at home in Week 1. San Francisco didn’t give the ball away once in a season-opening win at Dallas. In the first half, the 49ers outgained Chicago 197-93 and out-penalized the Bears 10-7 for 85 lost yards. The much-scrutinized field featured visible chunks of loose sod after new grass was laid for a third time since April. Kaepernick made his first career start against the Bears nearly two years ago, and then held onto the No. 1 job over Alex Smith. Cutler didn’t face the 49ers during a November 2012 Monday night game at Candlestick Park. A concussion to now-Chiefs QB Smith thrust Kaepernick into the spotlight that night, and he threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns as the Niners pounded the Bears 32-7. The 49ers were embarrassed at home for the second time in a month. They lost 34-0 in a rout by Denver in the first preseason game in the new stadium. Chicago’s patchwork offensive line looked shaky early with center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson each sidelined by ankle injuries. San Francisco tight ends Vance McDonald (knee) and Vernon Davis (ankle) were hurt as the 49ers lost a home opener for the first time under fourth-year coach Jim Harbaugh. By Janie McCauley The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Janie McCauley The Associated Press Posted Sep. 15, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Early Fantasy Predictions for Packers vs. Seahawks  Jan. 14, 2015 at 7:00 am Fantasy Outlook for Jaguars Stars  Jan. 14, 2015 at 3:40 am DraftKings Optimal Championship Lineups  Jan. 13, 2015 at 7:00 am Vegas Odds, Top Fantasy Picks for Saturday Divisional Games  Jan. 10, 2015 at 9:00 am Fantasy League Guide to Divisional Sunday  Jan. 10, 2015 at 6:48 am Fantasy League Guide to Divisional Saturday  Jan. 9, 2015 at 6:23 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501