GRADING THE BEARS

QUARTERBACK

B+

Jay Cutler (28-for-39, 290 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 97.2) threw 2 INTs and had a fumble returned for a TD, but for the second consecutive week he was good when he had to be — 7-for-9 for 76 yards and a 16-yard TD to win it.

RUNNING BACKS

B+

Matt Forte outplayed Adrian Peterson, rushing for 90 yards on 19 carries (4.7 ypc) and catching 11 passes for 71 yards. Michael Bush had 2 carries for zero yards.

RECEIVERS

A

Brandon Marshall had 7 receptions for 113 yards, including a 34-yard TD and 2 big third-down receptions on the winning TD drive. TE Martellus Bennett had 7 catches for 76 yards and caught the winning TD pass.

OFFENSIVE LINE AJermon

Bushrod seemed to struggle with Jared Allen, but who doesn’t? The Bears had 411 total yards and scored 24 points on offense. The line did its job.

DEFENSIVE LINE

C

The Bears had 1 sack, and that was a statistical one by Corey Wootton. Wooton also had a fumble recovery and a hurry. Still waiting for Julius Peppers to make an impact. Nate Collins was credited with a forced fumble.

LINEBACKERS

A

Lance Briggs dropped Adrian Peterson for a 3-yard loss on the first play and played at a Pro Bowl level (10 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 pass breakups). James Anderson was nearly as good (9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass breakup).

DEFENSIVE BACKS AChristian

Ponder played well, but the Bears’ defense held the Vikings to 3 FGs in the second half. Tim Jennings returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown and had 2 pass breakups. Safety play needs to improve.

SPECIAL TEAMS

B+

The ultimate mixed bag. Devin Hester had KO returns of 80, 76 and 42 yards. But Cordarrelle Patterson returned a KO for a TD, and a too-many-men penalty on a punt kept a Vikings drive alive.

COACHING

B+

An uneven game for Marc Trestman & Co. — a TO on defense left them without one they needed late in the first half. But in the end, the QB kept his cool, and the Bears got the job done.