Lots of snow, but the field looked like Spring.

The Battle of the “Sixes” Cutler and Sanchez turn the frozen tundra at Soldier Field into a shootout.

by Dan Peters


Game Photos by Scott Krause

The Bears win the shootout, with an impressive second half performance. 38-34

What was touted as battle of two of the NFL’s top rated defenses, turned into an offensive battle, each team answering the others with points. But today, this offensive battle was won by the Bears.

The Bears had already secured the NFC North title with a blow-out and record setting victory last week in Minnesota. So today, the task at hand was to secure a bye and home field advantage in the upcoming playoffs. The Bears met the task, and are peaking at the right time.

Both Teams Saw Plenty of  End Zone results...

Earlier in the season, it was the Bears stout defense that gave them the opportunity to win close games. Today it was the offenses turn.

The Bears took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on their first two offensive possessions. The slow starting Jet’s offense would rebound and score 21 unanswered points.

With Jay Cutler deep in the Bears territory, he would throw an ill fated- pass, intercepted by Lowery and returned 20 yards, untouched. This would put the Jets ahead by four points, 14-10 The Jets would add another touchdown, and it looked bleak for the Bears.

But these Bears would close the gap heading to the half, trailing by 7, 24-17.

It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

The Jet’s would try to trick the Bears on a fourth down play. It would turn out to be the game-changing play. Punter Steve Weatherford came on the field. But Sanchez lined up as the up back, took the direct snap and threw to Brad Smith in the right flat. Rashied Davis broke up the pass. On the next play, Cutler’s 40-yard TD bomb to Knox tied the game 24-24.

“You anticipate trick plays each week, but that changed the momentum for us,” Smith said. “[Special teams coordinator] Dave Toub and [assistant] Chris Tabor did a good job of preparing the guys, and they executed and made the play.”

“Everybody knew it was a fake,” Davis said. “Everybody at home knew it was a fake. You just have to diagnose and figure out what’s happening, what they’re trying to do to you.

“At first I thought they were going to keep Brad Smith in the backfield and try to run some kind of option or direct snap. But once they shifted him out, it was obvious they were throwing the ball to him.”

The teams would trade touchdowns, again tying the game at 31 apiece.

Cutler would hit Johnny Knox for the second touchdown in the third quarter, putting the Bears ahead for good, 38-31

They tried, but just could not keep the ball from Devin Hester

One bad kick saved by two good hands...then it's all over...

“We worked it all week,” said Jets coach Rex Ryan. “We felt good about it. Quite honestly, [if] the ball got in Hester’s hands, we knew where it was going to end up. It’s just one of those things where we thought that play was there, and we knew that play was there. We have to execute that play.”

“It felt great, the opportunity to get my hands on the ball on a return,” Hester said. “We knew that there weren’t going to be a lot [of chances], so the opportunities that we did have we wanted to make sure we made them pay for it.

Hester was a key part of the victory.

Hester brought back a punt 38 yards and a kickoff 40 yards to set up touchdowns that put the Bears ahead 31-24 and 38-31

Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan was not happy. “That was disappointing to say the least. I can understand you get a play or two, but we’re going in there trying to kick the ball away from that guy.

“We tried to do it all day and he got his hands on it. That’s when you see how important it is to kick the ball away from that kid. He’s the best returner in the game.”

Lovie Smith wasn’t surprised about Hester’s two returns.

“I thought they did a good job of trying to keep the ball away from him,” Smith said. “But it’s hard to just give the ball up on the 40-yard line or continue to try to kick it out of bounds and end up with a 20-yard or a 10-yard punt.

“You have to eventually play. That’s just how it goes. We expected them to kick the ball. When you’re a great special teams group, you’re not going to give a guy that much respect.

The defense finally gets on track.

After allowing three touchdowns and two field goals in a span of eight possessions, the Bears defense stopped the Jets on their final three drives of the game.

“Our offense helped us out today,” said defensive end Julius Peppers. “They held it down. It’s like that sometimes. Sometimes we need to pick each other up and they carried us today."

The defense saved the game again.

With the Jet’s driving, Chris Harris intercepted Mark Sanchez at the Chicago 41 with :51 remaining. The pass was intended for Santonio Holmes. Game Over.

“That was a big play by Chris Harris making that interception,” Smith said. “We look at this as playoff football and there’s not going to be any blowouts in playoff football. You have to finish the game and our guys did that.”

Jay Cutler proved he was the best “Number 6” On the field today

Cutler would go on to complete 13 of 25 passes for 215 yards and a 104.2 passer rating. Cutler is perfect when his passer rating is over the century mark.

“He’s just been playing outstanding football,” Smith said. “You expect that, though. You want your playmakers to step up. When we’re behind, you need your best players to make some plays, and it always starts with the quarterback offensively.”

Despite losing, the Jets (10-5) clinched a playoff berth in the AFC when the Jaguars lost in overtime to the Redskins.

“I think we’re in the playoffs,” Ryan said after hearing his players cheering in their locker room. “I’ll be honest, I would have much rather won it ourselves, but I’ll take it.”

The Bears are a team running on all cylinders.

Running, passing, special teams and defense. But the running game is what has improved the most, and just at right time.

The Bears are now 8-0 all-time when Matt Forte rushes for at least 100 yards. Forte gained 113 yards on 19 carries Sunday, including a 22-yard touchdown.

Controlling your destiny

“We control whether we get the bye or not,” Smith said. “We have a lot of reasons to be pumped up for this game. It’s our rival, Green Bay, coming up. We’re playing for that first-round bye. So what happens with Philly really doesn’t matter. We want to be in this position right here, with an 11-4 record getting ready to play another NFC North opponent.”

The Packer’s are up next, and that won’t be an easy task. They thrashed the once dominant New York Giants , giving them the desire to play hard and win to get into the playoffs.

The NFL announced late Sunday that next Sunday's Bears-Packers season finale at Lambeau Field will be flexed from noon to 3:15 p.m.