Chicago Bears beat Arizona Cardinals 28-13 – NFL Week 16 Recap
Chicago Bears beat Arizona Cardinals, 28-13, in Week 16 game on Sunday, December 23, 2012, at U of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ.
Bears played really well after a long time and ended their three-game losing streak with this triumph.
Bears cornerback Zack Bowman scored on a 1-yard fumble return in the first quarter to take the lead 7-0.
Cardinals kicker Jay Feely kicked a 49-yard field goal and took the score to 3-7.
In the beginning of the second quarter, Bears running back Matt Forte rushed for 4 yards and scored a touchdown to lead the team with 14-3.
Feely scored another field goal of 35 yards and gained three more points for the team.
When 19 seconds were remaining in the second quarter, Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall scored a touchdown on an 11-yard pass from quarterback Jay Cutler.
Cutler completed 12 of 26 passes for 146 yards and scored a touchdown.
According to him, even though the team won it was not one of the best efforts from the Bears. He said:
"They made some great catches for me. It wasn't the prettiest game, but we got done what we needed to get done."
In the third quarter, Bears cornerback Charles Tillman scored a touchdown on an interception return.
Cardinals rookie quarterback Ryan Lindley was sacked four times and he was forced to throw three turnovers in the game. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 141 yards and did not score any touchdown.
It was the third game for Ryan as starter. After poor performance from quarterback John Skelton, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced Lindley to be the starting quarterback for last three games of regular season.
Cardinals safety Justin Bethel scored a touchdown in return of a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter of the game, and took the score to 28-13.
Bears head coach Lovie Smith told about what he had advised his team, He said:
"Defensively we asked them to take over and play the way they have been capable of doing."
He added:
"How we played early, taking the ball away specifically, is what I am talking about. It was an added bonus getting a couple of scores. "
Bears defensive end Julius Peppers, who had three sacks in the game, said:
"I can't even state how big this is. It is either win or you are done. We can't control what happens next week with other teams, but if we don't win today, we don't have a shot."
Bears have won nine and lost six games. They are 2nd in National Football Conference (NFC) North, while at 5-10, Cardinals are standing dead last in NFC West.
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