SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 4, 2012
Bears 51, Titans 20: Brian Urlacher led a dominating defensive effort with an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery as visiting Chicago jumped out early and cruised against Tennessee.
Jay Cutler completed 19 of 26 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns and Brandon Marshall made nine receptions for 122 yards and three scores for the Bears (7-1), who forced four turnovers in the first quarter and five in the contest en route to their sixth straight victory.
Chicago put the game away in the first period thanks to the defense and special teams. Corey Wootton began the onslaught with a 5-yard touchdown return of a blocked punt and the defense forced three turnovers that became points, including Urlacher’s 46-yard interception return.
Devin Hester’s 44-yard punt return set up an 8-yard touchdown run for Matt Forte, and Chicago turned Charles Tillman’s second forced fumble of the first quarter into a touchdown when Cutler hit Marshall with a 13-yard pass three plays later.
Chris Johnson rushed for 141 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown burst in the fourth quarter, but fumbled twice for the Titans (3-6), who have dropped back-to-back games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Forte carried it 12 times for 103 yards and made two catches for 45 yards. … Chicago’s 28 first-quarter points set a franchise record. … Tennessee scored on a safety in the first quarter, when Bears LT J’Marcus Webb was called for an illegal use of hands penalty in the end zone.