CHICAGO — If this were a Super Bowl preview, just be glad it doesn’t rain in the Superdome.
A steady drizzle turned the expected defensive struggle between two of the NFL’s stingiest units into a mistake-filled slopfest last night at Soldier Field that ended in a 13-6 Texans victory after the Bears not only lost the ball (frequently), but ground in the division and their starting quarterback.
Four turnovers led to an ugly defeat that trimmed 7-2 Chicago’s NFC North lead over the surging Packers to just one game, but Jay Cutler becoming the league’s third prominent passer in a matter of hours to exit a game with a concussion was the more pressing postgame concern for the Bears.
The Texans had no such worries after moving into a tie with the Falcons for the NFL’s best record at 8-1 while adding to their newfound image as road warriors.
Houston isn’t the sexiest team you will ever see, but Gary Kubiak’s team is now 4-0 away from home — including wins at Denver and now Chicago — after grinding out last night’s victory with its usual recipe of stifling defense (in this case, two forced fumbles and two interceptions) and 102 yards on 29 carries and a 2-yard TD catch from Arian Foster.
“We showed we can win any game in any situation at any time and any place,” said J.J. Watt, Houston’s all-world defensive end. “It was tough weather, a tough place and a very good football team we were going against, but we wanted it and went out and got it.”
That defense also was ferocious last night, especially when it came to the treatment of Cutler in the first half. After intercepting him twice in the first quarter, Houston sealed Cutler’s exit for good late in the second quarter.
Cutler’s pummeling began with 2:30 left in the half on a helmet shot from linebacker Tim Dobbins on a controversial play in which Cutler stepped over the line of scrimmage, negating a 42-yard pass to Devin Hester.
Cutler somehow got up from that hit and stayed in the game for seven more snaps, but the Bears no doubt will face second-guessing for that after Kareem Jackson drilled Cutler on the very next play.
Cutler finished the half but wasn’t allowed to return for the start of the third quarter. Bears coach Lovie Smith claimed — dubiously, based on the videotape — that Cutler showed no symptoms until halftime and said the team is hopeful he can play this week against the 49ers.
Cutler’s exit paved the way for Jason Campbell, but he also couldn’t get anything going against a rock-like Houston defense that thrived even with Watt smothered most of the night.
That defense also allowed the Texans to survive on a night when their own quarterback looked just as helpless as Cutler and Campbell. Matt Schaub completed just 14 of 26 passes for 95 yards and was intercepted twice (both by NFL leader Tim Jennings) before the Texans realized riding Foster would be the only way to go in the terrible conditions.
A former Bear, safety Danieal Manning, set the tone for the Texans early by forcing a fumble on Chicago’s opening possession with a fearsome hit on tight end Kellen Davis. Manning then added to his revenge later in the first quarter with the first of Cutler’s two interceptions.
Houston’s offense couldn’t do much with all of those turnovers, converting them into a mere three points, but the tone was definitely set. The Bears had erupted for 51 points in a road rout of the Titans last week, thanks mostly to their opportunistic defense, but there would be no explosion of points for Chicago this week.
“If you want to call it a statement win, feel free,” Jackson said.
The Bears, meanwhile, were left with a painful loss that could reverberate for weeks to come – even if their coach didn’t see it that way.
“It’s a loss, so you have to go from there,” Smith said. “But we’re 7-2, and it’s one game.” The better team won tonight, but we’ll bounce back.”