NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Charles Tillman forced four fumbles. Brian Urlacher scored on a 46-yard interception return. Plus, the Bears turned a blocked punt into a touchdown.
Even when they don’t start with the ball, these Bears are exceptionally dangerous.
Jay Cutler threw three TD passes to Brandon Marshall just for good measure and the Bears put up their highest point total since 1980, routing the Titans 51-20 yesterday for their sixth straight win.
The Bears (7-1) scored a franchise-record 28 points in the first quarter. They took control by creating three turnovers in the first 13 minutes, resulting in 14 points.
“It has to be upsetting when you know our reputation coming in,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Every team we’ve played has the mindset that this team will strip the ball. That’s who we are.”
Urlacher became the latest Bears defender to score on an interception return. They have done it seven times — no other NFL team had returned six for TDs through the first seven games of any season.
The lone highlight for the Titans (3-6) came when Chris Johnson scored on an 80-yard run in the fourth quarter. Johnson finished with 141 yards on 16 carries against the NFL’s best rushing defense.
Tillman, the NFC defensive player for October, stripped receiver Kenny Britt of the ball on Tennessee’s first offensive play, forced two fumbles by Johnson and later stripped Titans tight end Jared Cook.