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 "You have to play your best in the fourth quarter, and that's what
coach (John) Fox has talked about," Bears quarterback Jay Cutler
said. "It's good that it happened today, but we have to continue
it."
Trailing by nine points after three quarters, Chicago rallied to
beat the San Diego Chargers 22-19 Monday night.
The Bears (3-5) handed San Diego (2-7) a fifth consecutive loss.
The Chargers' skid is their longest since they dropped six in a row
in 2011.
Cutler hit tight end Zach Miller for a game-deciding, 25-yard
touchdown with 3:19 remaining. Running back Jeremy Langford rushed
over for the two-point conversion and a 22-19 advantage, the Bears'
first lead of the night.
Miller's one-handed catch over the middle helped the Bears snap a
two-game losing streak.
"Jay made a great throw, and I was able to go up and get it," Miller
said. "After that, I went unconscious. It was one of those things
where instincts kind of take over. I really didn't have time to go
up with two (hands) because he put some juice on it. I went with one
and thankfully pulled it down."
Culter completed 27 of 40 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns.
He also lost a fumble and was intercepted once. Bears receiver
Alshon Jeffery caught 10 passes for 151 yards, but it was the pass
to Miller that was the difference.
"The safety flew over the top, and it was just a matter of waiting
for Zach to get past the linebacker," Cutler said. "I left it high
on him, and he made a heck of a catch. It couldn't have happened to
a better guy. For him to come up with a catch, it was something
special."
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was 26-for-42 passes for 280
yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. It was the first time
he didn't throw for at least 300 yards in six games.
San Diego running back Danny Woodhead produced 111 total yards and a
touchdown.
Kicker Josh Lambo's second field goal, this one from 22 yards,
increased the Chargers' lead to 19-14 with eight minutes to play.
Before Lambo's kick, San Diego had a touchdown pass from Rivers to
tight end Antonio Gates wiped away when right guard D.J. Fluker was
flagged for being downfield.
Prior to Fluker being penalized, wide receiver Stevie Johnson was
called for delay of game after spiking the football when he didn't
reach the end zone on an 8-yard reception to the Chicago 4.
"I didn't really spike it that hard, but they called it, and that is
part of it," Johnson said. "I've got to be smarter than that."
Chargers coach Mike McCoy, who owns a 20-21 record in his two-plus
seasons, agreed.
"We made critical mistakes -- two penalties and take points off the
board," he said.
The Bears pulled within 16-14 with 14 minutes remaining on
Langford's 1-yard touchdown run. It capped a 93-yard, 15-play drive
in which Chicago converted four third downs, the final one on the
rookie Langford's score.
Lambo's 31-yard field goal in the half's waning seconds pushed the
Chargers' advantage to 16-7.
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The Bears sliced their deficit to 13-7 when Cutler clicked with
tight end Martellus Bennett on a 1-yard pass midway through the
second quarter.
Earlier in the second, Chicago cornerback Tracy Porter stripped wide
receiver Dontrelle Inman of the ball, and it was recovered by
linebacker Christian Jones, with the Bears taking over at the San
Diego 41-yard line.
Two plays later, though, cornerback Jason Verrett went 68 yards for
a pick-six and a 13-0 Chargers advantage. Lambo missed the point
after. It was Verrett's first touchdown and second interception of
his career off Cutler's second turnover of the first half.
The Bears appeared poised to score late in the first quarter, when
they advanced to the Chargers' 10-yard line. However, Chicago
retreated 5 yards on an offside penalty, and then linebacker Melvin
Ingram sacked Cutler and forced a fumble, which was recovered by
safety Eric Weddle. The Chargers weren't able to convert the
turnover into points.
The Chargers struck first after Chicago kicker Robbie Gould was wide
left on a 47-yard field goal attempt to end the game's first
possession. Gould also missed from 34 yards in the third quarter.
Rivers found Woodhead for a 14-yard scoring pass and a 7-0 lead.
Woodhead ran a wheel route from the left side of the formation and
was wide open for the score as the Bears bungled their zone
coverage.
Rivers admitted that taking a losing streak into the team's bye is
no fun.
"When you lose five in a row, it's pretty sickening," he said. "When
it's like this, you kind of want to dig a hole and hide for a little
while."
NOTES: Chargers WR Malcom Floyd (shoulder) exited the game in the
second quarter and didn't return. ... Chargers ILB Manti Te'o
(ankle) missed his fourth consecutive game. ... San Diego LT King
Dunlap (ankle) was out for a second consecutive contest. ...
Chargers DT Corey Liuget (foot) wasn't able to play after getting
hurt last week. ... San Diego OL Chris Watt (shoulder) was placed on
injured reserve. ... Bears rookie RB Jeremy Langford saw more time
with Matt Forte (knee) out. ... Chicago WR Eddie Royal (ankle) was
inactive. He is a former Charger. ... Bears coach John Fox, who
played at San Diego State, was on Bobby Ross' first Chargers
coaching staff in 1992.
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