The Bears Den: October 02, 2012 - Week 5 News and Notes

Bears hammer Cowboys in Dallas - Larry Mayer: Bears dominated on both sides of the ball Monday night in Dallas, grabbing a share of first place in the NFC North with an impressive 34-18 rout of the Cowboys.

Bumbling Cowboys make Bears, their fans feel right at home - Chris Burke: What did the Cowboys and their fans have in common on Monday night? Neither of them showed up.

Tony Romo has a night to forget - "When the defense is playing like that, it's hard to lose," Cutler said.

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Bears 34, Cowboys 18

Old Bears defense picks off 34-18 win over Cowboys - Briggs and the rest of those 30-something Bears defenders showed Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys how much they can still play.

Game stats - Box score, play-by-play, player stats, that sort of thing. Injury reports.

Bears put on ‘Monday Night’ show for 34-18 win over host Cowboys - Sean Jensen: Defense comes up with five interceptions, and Cutler throws touchdown passes to Hester and Marshall as Bears improve to 3-1 on the season.

Bears' defense dominates Cowboys in 34-18 win - Fred Mitchell: Bears improve to 3-1 and claim a share of first place in the NFC North with the surprising Vikings.

Bears get five interceptions in 34-18 rout of Cowboys - Brad Biggs: National audience got a good glimpse of the stout defense and volatile yet improving offense that has defined the first quarter of the Bears season.

Larry Mayer's game blog - With his 25-yard interception return, Charles Tillman tied Mike Brown's Bears record with seven defensive TDs.

Complete effort against quality foe results in impressive victory - Sean Jensen: Lovie Smith likes to split a season into quarters, and the Bears have earned a passing mark that puts them tied atop the NFCN with the Vikings.

NFCN Blog Rapid Reaction - Kevin Seifert's thoughts on Monday night's events at Cowboys Stadium, where the Bears beat the Cowboys 34-18. What were Michael C. Wright's halftime thoughts?

Forte makes his return in the nick of ‘game time’ - Joe Cowley: Bears needed their $32-million RB healthy and on the field, even if it wasn’t at 100 percent.

[Video] NFL.com game highlights - All the best of the action, minus Major Wright's excellent read for his second and Romo's fifth interception.

Game notes - Mark Potash: Tillman and former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins are the only players in the NFL since 1991 to have 30 or more forced fumbles and interceptions. Plus, more game notes

Bears stomp Cowboys - Maggie Hendricks' comprehensive game report.

[Video] Game highlights - "The video is not authorized for your location (GB)" If it's two minutes of cheerleaders, I'mma look for a proxy.

Photos from the game - Aaaaand the rest of the week, the Den will be using pictures of the cheerleaders.

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Offense

Hester capitalizes after voicing his concern - Jeff Dickerson: Comments last week about wanting an increased role in the offense did not fall on deaf ears.

Devin Hester gets his wish - Vaughn McClure: Devin Hester got the ball, as promised, catching a 34-yard TD pass from Jay Cutler in the third quarter to give the Bears a breathing room.

Marshall's monster game helps lift Bears - Larry Mayer rounds up a pretty good offensive performance.

Cutler, Marshall in tune, put up big night - Michael C. Wright: As Marshall became “chippy” as Cutler put it, the QB continued to “managed the huddle well,” according to the WR.

Free fall for Bears' Chris Williams continues - Vaughn McClure: Former first-round pick a healthy inactive as Scott gets opportunity. Plus, more game notes.

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Defense

Bears defense delivers in thrashing of Cowboys - Larry Mayer on the defensive dominance.

This isn't Jay Cutler's team, it's the defense's - David Haugh: If the offense can catch up, this team is good enough to join the NFL's elite.

Defense still leading way for Bears - Michael Wilbon: The Bears' defense is aging, but it put on a dominant display in beating the Cowboys.

Bears’ defense rattles Romo into throwing five interceptions - Rick Telander: On this night, the Bears’ ‘‘D’’ was the epitome of what Smith’s beloved cover-2 can, and should, be.

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Game grades & analysis

Michael C. Wright's Report Card - Bears grade out well following their 34-18 win over the Cowboys.

Brad Biggs' Four downs - Melton coming up big in contract year; QBs may start shying away from Tim Jennings; Hester showing up on offense; Cutler's sideline demeanour.

Three Bears - Vaughn McClure: Who's too hot, too cold, and just right?

Matt Bowen's game notes - Bears beat up the Cowboys: Xs and Os, personnel, etc.

[Video] ESPN postgame - Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico break down the Bears' win over the Cowboys.

[Video] Pompei & Haugh's postgame analysis - Impressive team performance, the kind of game they can build on.

ProFootballFocus: Three performances of note - Cutler-Marshall, the DL, and... the OL? Yes, deservedly so.

[Video] MNF postgame analysis - Even Dilfer can't criticise the passing game.

NFL.com: Bears show up; Cowboys M.I.A. - The Bears made a statement on Monday night in moving to 3-1. As for the Cowboys? Dan Hanzus says they are showing some of the same DNA traits as last season's disappointing group.

Adam Hoge's grades - Lovie Smith's first questionable decision of the season in an otherwise clean game.

Game stats & information - The Bears now lead the NFL with 11 interceptions and 14 total takeaways this season; Cutler now tied for 2nd most passing TDs in Bears history.

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Cutler sulkwatch 2012

Cutler brushes off exchange with Tice - Jeff Dickerson: Perhaps the only negative for Cutler occurred in the second quarter when television cameras recorded an awkward exchange between the QB and OC Mike Tice on the team's bench.

NFL.com: Jay Cutler more than just a great villain - You might not like Jay Cutler, but you'll never call him boring. The Bears' QB brought his reality villain act to prime time Monday, giving us a show on the sideline ... and in the field.

Bears’ defense takes ball and goes home - Rick Morrissey: Would you rather have the petulant Cutler or the star-crossed Tony Romo, who threw five interceptions. Answer: I’d like to have Tom Brady.

Stellar play trumps Cutler’s attitude - Dan Bernstein: Cutler is what he is. That thought just feels a heck of a lot better right after the scoreboard says what it says.

Cutler's latest dis at least came in a win - Rosendoom: Big plays backed by a smothering and deadly defense is a championship combination, so the Bears don’t need silly acts in the heat of a game by the most important player on the team. That doesn’t pass for leadership.

Bears winning covers up Jay Cutler's sins - Dan Pompei: Impressive performance against a fine defense in a hostile environment, and kept the Bears in a tie for first place in the NFCN. Cutler had several examples of fine leadership, all of which overshadowed his latest YouTube moment.

Chris Williams! Wherefore art thou, Chris Williams?