Grading the Bears: Much better GPA vs. Vikings

QUARTERBACK

B+

Jay Cutler helped rally the Bears from a 10-0 deficit, throwing two touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall and one to Alshon Jeffery. Cutler also threw two INTs, but his defense bailed him out on the second one.

RUNNING BACK

A

Matt Forte came through again with 175 yards from scrimmage — 26 rushes for 117 yards and six receptions for 58 yards. He converted a third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 on the TD drive that gave the Bears a 21-10 lead.

WIDE RECEIVERS

A

After three difficult games, Alshon Jeffery (11-135, 1 TD) and Brandon Marshall (7-90, 2 TDs) took advantage of favorable matchups to become the force they were expected to be this season.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cShN4vqoOSs&w=560&h=315]

OFFENSIVE LINE

A

With starters Matt Slauson and Jordan Mills out, Jay Cutler wasn’t sacked by a defense that came into the game ranked first in sacks per pass attempt. The Bears gained 468 total yards, including 138 on the ground.

DEFENSIVE LINE

B+

Jared Allen (5 tackles, 1 sack) had his way with former teammate Matt Kalil, and Willie Young had a sack and a hurry as the Bears never gave Teddy Bridgewater a chance to get into a rhythm. The Bears held the Vikings to 48 yards on 15 carries.

LINEBACKERS

B+

Lance Briggs was credited with only four tackles, but he still was an impact player with a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a third-down pressure that forced a punt.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

A

The Vikings had only 147 net yards passing, and their longest pass play was 24 yards. Ryan Mundy clinched the game with an INT in the end zone. Nickel back Demontre Hurst had a team-high six tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS

D

The Bears were snookered on a fake punt when safety Andrew Sendejo took a handoff and ran 48 yards to set up a TD. Robbie Gould missed a 47-yard FG.

COACHING

B

The Bears recovered well from back-to-back blowouts and played with a purpose, but it wasn’t exactly an efficient effort — 468 yards, 21 points and a special-teams gaffe. Marc Trestman’s late-first-half clock management is hard to defend.