New York Giants bring Chicago Bears unbeaten run to an end Part Two
While the first quarter was slow offensively, the second was even slower. The game looked like a contest between two defences. The second quarter had ended with a failed field goal attempt. When the 3rd quarter began the Bears were in possession
and on the 27 yard line.
The Giant’s defence was turning heads again. First play of the second quarter was a four yards short left pass to Chicago’s Greg Olsen taking the Bears to the 31 yard line. The next play was a sack. Cutler moved to the right while looking for a receiver.
What the quarterback didn’t know was that Osi Umenyiora had slipped past the offensive line and was streaking in from the left.
Umenyiora was up against Greg Olsen on the line of Scrimmage. Olsen dived at Umenyiora but could not stop him. After evading Olsen, Umenyiora had a clear path all the way to the quarterback who’s attention was downfield. Cutler had no idea that Umenyiora
was closing in on him and the ferocity of the hit that Umenyiora landed on him sent the ball flying out of Cutler’s hands.
Chicago’s offensive lineman Olin Kreutz was able to recover the fumbled ball before any of the Giants could get to it. The Giants then focussed their attention on Kreutz, and held him down before he could make a run downfield. The Bears lost 11yards in that
play and were back on the 29 yard line where they took the punt.
Now it was the Giants turn. Quarterback Eli Manning started the Giants’ drive on the 30 yard line and the Bears defence made their first major breakthrough. On the very first play for the Giants in the second quarter the Bears sacked Manning for 10 yards.
The Bears defence was too quick for Manning. The quarterback pulled back but three of the Bears defensive linemen converged on him.
Kevin Shaffer grabbed Manning by his feet forcing him to the ground and to top it all off, Tommie Harris dived on top of the fallen quarterback. Manning tried to salvage the drive but managed only 14 yards in two plays so the Giants had to take the punt.
Devin Hester returned the punt for 6 yards and the Bears started on the 35 yard line.
In what was started to look routine, the quarterback was sacked again. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna stood between defensive lineman Justin Tuck and Bears quarterback, Cutler. Justin was eventually able to force his way through and pulled down the quarterback.
As Cutler swung to the ground, he fumbled the ball. Chicago’s Matt Forte was the first one to get to the ball to ward off a turnover. Chris Canty tackled Forte before he could make any gain.
Matt rushed 3 yards in the next play and then Cutler got sacked again. For the third time it was Osi Umenyiora who sacked the Bears quarterback. While the Bears offense tailed him, Umenyiora went behind the quarterback. Cutler was just about to let go before
Umenyiora made the hit. As Cutler went down he lost the ball again. Chicago safety Deon Grant recovered the ball on the Chicago’s 29 yard line. The Giants couldn’t drive the ball from the 29 yard line to the end zone. Then the Bears’ drive began on the 20
yard line and didn’t get very far either.
The bears earned 8 yards and lost 5 in a penalty followed by 2 more lost yards when quarterback Cutler ran out of bounds just to make sure he isn’t sacked. But he would be sacked in the very next play. There was no protection for the quarterback. He moved
back, waited for a receiver as the Giants closed in on him, eventually deciding to make a run for it himself. Justin Tuck though was waiting for him and as soon as he tried to make a run for it, Tuck was on top of him. Cutler lost 9 yards in that play.
It was a total mess. Sack after sack kept taking down the quarterbacks. It was almost senseless. The 9 yard sack forced the Bears to Punt and when the Giants came to the offense, Manning was sacked. Julius Pepper sacked Manning and forced a fumble which
was recovered by Brian Urlacher.
The game was just unreal as yet another sack followed in the very next play. Chicago lost 9 yards when Barry Cofield broke through the centre of Chicago’s offensive line. In the Final minute Cutler was sacked for an ubelievable tenth time in the game by
Aaron Ross.
The defence dominated the second quarter and neither team was able to score anything in the second quarter. The quarter ended 3 – 0 in the Giant’s favour.
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