Coach Marc Trestman said everything that went into the Bears’ 24-21 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field on Sunday — the slow start, A.J. Green’s star performance, the poor pass rush and so on — was a test of their resolve as a team.
“It was a very good team win for our football team,” Trestman said. “We knew it was going to be a 60-minute game. I think it tested us and our backbone, because it didn’t go the way we wanted it to certainly in the first half. But the guys hung in there, got together.”
Here’s a look at the Bears’ snap counts in their victory:
100 percent
The Bears’ offensive line of Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson, Roberto Garza, Kyle Long and Jordan Mills, tight end Martellus Bennett and quarterback Jay Cutler played every offensive snap (64).
On defense, safeties Major Wright and Chris Conte, linebackers Lance Briggs and James Anderson and cornerback Tim Jennings played every snap (58).
Sick bay
Cornerback Charles Tillman missed one Bengals possession in the second quarter because he was feeling ill. Tillman saw 49 snaps (84 percent). Backup cornerback Zack Bowman got six defensive snaps in Tillman’s absence.
Nickel and base
Nickel back Isaiah Frey got 18 snaps, but also saw time at cornerback when Tillman was sidelined. Linebacker D.J. Williams was on the field for 42 snaps, plus three on special teams.
D-Line rotation
Defensive end Julius Peppers led the line with 51 snaps. Henry Melton (46 snaps), Corey Wootton (42), Stephen Paea (42) and Shea McClellin (30) were behind him.
The rookie
Rookie linebacker Jon Bostic didn’t relieve Williams at any point on defense. He did play 18 snaps on special teams, which was tied for the team lead with Blake Costanzo, Eric Weems, Craig Steltz and Anthony Walters.
The weapons
Brandon Marshall led all receivers with 63 snaps (98 percent). Alshon Jeffery (56) and Earl Bennett (18) were the only other receivers to play on offense.
The Bears used a lot two and three tight-end sets. After Bennett, who played every offensive snap, Steve Maneri was on for 17 and Kyle Adams for 11.
As far as the running backs, Matt Forte got 52 snaps (81 percent). The Bears used fullback Tony Fiammetta 25 times and Michael Bush 14.