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Michael Lewis seals the win with his interception.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
With :08 remaining in the game and the Chicago Bears driving to score the game-winning touchdown, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler threw his fifth interception of the game right to the hands of San Francisco 49ers safety Michael Lewis. The interception ended the 49ers’ four-game losing streak and gave the team hope for the remainder of the season after the 10-6 win.
“We a took a step, that’s the most important part,” Lewis said after the game.
At 4-5, the 49ers have given themselves the opportunity to make a push towards the NFC West title. That’s the step the 49ers made on Thursday night.
Coming into the game, the issue the 49ers struggled with was the turnover battle. With Cutler’s five interceptions (to the 49ers one turnover), the 49ers not only took the Bears out of the game, but allowed themselves to get in position to win.
The Bears’ final drive nearly ended under three minutes left in the game, but a defensive penalty on fourth down extended the Bears drive. The Bears, starting on their own 20, drove all the way down to the 49ers 12 yard line. And unlike the game in Minnesota, the 49ers were able to prevent the opposition to end the game with a touchdown.
The biggest interception of the game might have come in the second quarter during a scoreless tie. On 3rd and 1 from the 49ers 1 yard line, pressure on Cutler forced an off balance right NT Aubrayo Franklin’s hands.
Another interception by Cutler led to the first score of the game. On a curl route, Bears WR Devin Hester slipped and CB Tarell Brown intercepted the ball and returned it to the Chicago 14 yard line. On the very next play, RB Frank Gore ran in for the score.
Gore totaled 28 carries in the previous two games, but on Thursday, the 49ers gave Gore the opportunity to run 25 times for 104 yards. And Gore’s running late in the fourth quarter helped the 49ers take time off the clock.
“The more I touch the ball, the better I am,” Gore said.
Head coach Mike Singletary, in his first game as a head coach against the team he played for, said that the running in the fourth quarter was exactly what he wanted to see.
For Bears to come in here today and for us to beat them,” Singletary said. “Looking at schedule, they’re just another team of schedule.”
And on the running attack towards the end of the game.
“The one thing we did do well toward the end of the game,” he said during the press conference. “We put a drive together to take time off the clock.”
It wasn’t a pretty win and with both struggling teams on the field. The 49ers stuck with what they did well, which was the run defense. By containing Bears RB Matt Forte to only 41 yards on the ground, the Bears were forced to throw the ball. And that was the difference for the team.
The 49ers passing game wasn’t required to do a much due to the success of the running game. QB Alex Smith went 16-23 for 118 yards and an interception. Smith benefited from the short dump/shovel passes late in the game to help continue drives.
But the outlook of the game from Smith was the same from other players in the locker room.
“A step in the right direction,” Smith said. “Important thing about tonight is getting back on the right track.”
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Game Notes:
- LB Takeo Spikes injured his hamstring and his status at the moment is unknown. The initial report is a hamstring straing.
- Along with Lewis, Brown and Franklin, FS Dashon Goldson and FS Mark Roman also had interceptions.
- Bears RB Matt Forte couldn't get much on the ground, but screen plays to Forte worked well for the Bears. Forte had 120 yards through air on eight catches.
- Cutler threw for 307 yards but didn't look comfortable in the pocket for most of the game. The Bears quarterback went 29-52 passing.
- Last time the 49ers had five interceptions: 9/14/1997 against the Saints. Heath Schuler and Danny Wuerful were the quarterbacks.
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Comments
Man, that is what you call winning UGLY
Ryan, that is funny that you say that because I was going to come on here and say how GREAT the niners defense played in the redzone.
They played well given the long list of injuries for the niners. Alex Smith doesn't fail to disappoint. I find myself watching niner games less and less the more I see the ball get turned over..........Where you at Nate Davis.
Man, that is what you call winning UGLY
This is a good example of how the defense picked up the offense's struggle. The 49ers definitely need to improve in that category. The offense needs to step up and make plays too.
Ugly yes. But a step in the right direction no doubt.
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