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Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals

University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona

Sunday, December 23, 2012 4:25 PM

Chicago Bears 28
Arizona Cardinals 13
-6
37.0
F

Bears Cardinals Game Recap


Bears 28, Cardinals 13:
Jay Cutler overcome a dreadful start to throw for 146 yards and a touchdown as visiting Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak and kept its postseason hopes alive.

Matt Forte rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries before leaving with an ankle injury as the Bears (9-6) won for only the second time in seven games to keep pace with NFC North rival Minnesota in the playoff chase. Chicago also received a pair of touchdowns from its defense, with Zack Bowman recovering a fumble in the end zone and Charles Tillman returning an interception 10 yards for a score - the Bears' eighth TD off a pick this season.

The Bears need to win at Detroit next week and have the Vikings lose at home to Green Bay to secure a postseason slot.

Cutler misfired on 11 of his first 12 attempts but he was 5-for-5 for 76 yards on a last-minute drive in the second quarter, capping it with an 11-yard scoring pass to Brandon Marshall for a 21-6 lead. It was Marshall's 11th touchdown of the season.

Tillman put the game out of reach when he picked off Ryan Lindley early in the third quarter to balloon the lead to 28-6 and send the Cardinals (5-10) to their 10 loss in 11 games. Lindley threw for 141 yards and the pick before he was replaced by Brian Hoyer. Arizona got its only touchdown on a return of a blocked field goal with 1:46 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bears recorded their eighth and ninth defensive TDs, tying them with San Diego (1961) for the second most all-time. Seattle set the record of 10 in 1998. Tillman's touchdown was the ninth of his career, extending his franchise mark. ... Arizona set a dubious record when Dave Zastudil eclipsed the league mark of downed punts inside the 20-yard line with 43. ... Marshall had six catches for 68 yards, giving him 113 receptions for 1,466 yards - both franchise records.

Preview: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals


The Chicago Bears are once again attempting to salvage their season following a pronounced slump. After losing three straight and five of their last six games, the Bears will look to keep their postseason aspirations alive on Sunday when they visit the Arizona Cardinals. Chicago saw longtime rival Green Bay celebrate its second straight NFC North title with a 21-13 decision at Soldier Field last week.

The Bears now find themselves trailing division rival Minnesota and Seattle in the race for the NFC's two wild card berths. They'll face an Arizona club which snapped a nine-game losing skid with a 38-10 home victory over Detroit last week. Beanie Wells matched a career high with three touchdowns in the rout.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Bears -5, O/U 36.5

ABOUT THE BEARS (8-6): Chicago saw a strong start go by the boards last season in the wake of injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. While both players are healthy, the offense clearly is not. The Bears have averaged just 14.2 points over their last six games - an amount which is more than 50 percent less than what they totaled in the first eight contests (29.5). Chicago amassed just 67 of its paltry 190 total yards in the second half last week.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (5-9): Arizona is expected to match strength with strength when it sends cornerback Patrick Peterson to defend Bears stud wideout Brandon Marshall. Peterson sits one interception behind Chicago's Tim Jennings for the NFL lead, while Marshall has a team-record 107 receptions for 1,398 yards and 10 touchdowns. Talented WR Larry Fitzgerald has been bottled up by double teams and less-than-desirable quarterback play. Fitzgerald has mustered just 10 catches for 89 yards in the last five games combined.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Marshall was publicly critical of the team's offense last week, saying that people should be held accountable - even at the risk of their employment. Marshall admitted that he heard some feedback from within the organization on his comments - both good and bad.

2. Arizona posted a 41-21 victory over Chicago in the teams' last meeting on Nov. 8, 2009. Prior to that, the Bears had won five of their previous six outings - with then-Cardinals coach Dennis Green screaming: "They are who we thought they were" during a postgame rant in 2006.

3. Chicago's offense rests near the bottom of the league in sacks (30th), total yards (29th) and passing yards (28th).

PREDICTION: Bears 20, Cardinals 14

Away Spread Consensus 69% Bears (-6.5) Home Spread Consensus 31% Cardinals (6.5)
Total Over Consensus 59% Over (37.0) Total Under Consensus 41% Under (37.0)
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