After a slow start, a vintage quarter from Jay Cutler put the Bears ahead 10-7 at halftime of Monday Night Football’s return to Detroit.
A painfully slow first quarter included an avalanche of penalties by both teams. The Lions seemed a little too hyped up for the game.
Detroit’s offense has looked very uneven, with a 73-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson sandwiched between three punts and an interception. Matthew Stafford has made a handful of overthrows.
Chicago’s offensive line has been overwhelmed, but standout performances by Cutler and Matt Forte helped Chicago score 10 points in the second quarter. Forte rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries. Cutler threw for 103 yards on 14 attempts with a number of off-balance, low-percentage tosses that were on target.
The way the Bears line is playing, Cutler will probably need to keep pulling off difficult throws to pull this game out.