"...where we love the smell of victory in the morning."
Cutler, Forte lead way as Bears beat Colts, 41-21 - Cutler and Marshall weren't about to let Andrew Luck upstage them. Instead, they played like they'd never been apart.
Winning season follows when Bears open with a win - Bob LeGere: Since Lovie took over in 2004, the Bears have never had a losing record after winning their opener.
USAToday team report - Future opponents won't be able to double Brandon Marshall constantly.
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Bears 41, Colts 21
Explosive Bears outduel Colts - Larry Mayer: The Bears' season opener Sunday was one of the most anticipated in years due mostly to the potential of a revamped offense stocked with a multitude of weapons.
Bears trounce Colts in opener - Brad Biggs: Bears unveil wide-open attack on offense in routing the Colts 41-21 in the season opener. Q1, Q2, Q3 thoughts & observations.
[Video] Colts vs. Bears highlights (jump to 3:35) - NFL Gameday: Tom Waddle and Darren Sharper review game highlights.
Game stats - Box score, play by play, drive log. And more.
Bears defeat Colts 41-21 in home opener - Sean Jensen: The Bears couldn’t have had an uglier start to the 2012 season, but couldn’t have had a prettier finish.
Larry Mayer's game blog - Interesting titbit: Garza's snaps from the shotgun were a problem throughout training camp too, according to Larry.
Despite slow start, Bears crush Colts - Moon Mullin: After a slow first quarter, the Bears picked up the pace and defeated the Colts in their first game of the season, 41-21.
Nice win for Bears, but… - Dan Bernstein takes a wee in your kool-aid.
Bears give Andrew Luck a rude welcome - Neil Hayes: If Andrew Luck thought the preseason was fast, then Sunday’s game was unfolding at warp speed in a blur of navy blue jerseys, especially early on.
Hoge’s Grades: All units good, But room to improve - Adam Hoge grades the Bears following their 41-21 win over the Colts.
Michael C. Wright's Report Card - Much to like in Week 1 rout.
NCFN Blog Rapid Reaction - Michael C. Wright: Bears 41, Colts 21. The Bears' new-look offense had fun against the Colts.
Offense
Offense stumbles early, then rolls - Moon Mullin: What was their secret to success against the Colts?
Report card: Offensive explosion nets straight A's - Moon Mullin: The Bears skill position players showed off their considerable skill behind a strong day from the offensive line.
Cutler, Marshall right on target - Jon Greenberg: Marshall will help Cutler become the QB Bears fans have been longing for.
Jay Cutler's cure for early woes? Keep throwing - Michael C. Wright: 3 of 12 for 21 yards and a passer rating of 4.9 at the end of the first quarter, Cutler finished with a passer rating of 98.9.
Forget Bears’ false start, Jay Cutler’s aim is true - Rick Morrissey: It looks like Cutler and Marshall will give Bears fans plenty of opportunities to learn proper red-zone etiquette this season.
Brandon Marshall: “Went in, turned around, Jay threw it, caught it, touchdown.’’ - Rick Telander: If it can be that simple from here on out, what an offense the Bears will enjoy.
Bears brings the big-boy offense - Rosendoom still finds a way to gripe.
Disaster averted as offense steals the show - Adam Hoge: The start of the 2012 Bears season was nothing short of a disaster. Fortunately, that disaster only lasted a few minutes.
Marshall delivers in Bears debut - Larry Mayer: Brandon Marshall performed exactly like the player the Bears envisioned when they traded for the three-time Pro Bowler in March.
Forte plays big role in Bears' potent offense - Vaughn McClure: 80 rushing yards, 40 yards receiving and a 6-yard touchdown run. Also, game notes.
A Bears offense never seen before - David Haugh: Jay Cutler and crew should be a sight for sore eyes to behold all the way to the playoffs.
As advertised, Bears offense carries the day - Barry Rozner: After a terrible start, the Bears' offense showed up in full force and took apart the Colts. The scary part for the NFC is the offense has a chance to get a lot better.
Marshall-Cutler reunion a hit for Bears - Fred Mitchell: Lovie Smith acknowledged Sunday that the Marshall-Cutler reunion was "as good as advertised."
Matt Forte sounds unhappy being pulled at goal line - Joe Cowley: Maybe having the two backs battle for carries will serve the Bears better as the season goes on. In this case, competition is a good thing.
NFL Sunday game notes - Matt Bowen: "The Bears had the 3-step slant and the back-shoulder fade all day vs. the Colts because of Marshall." When's the last time you heard mention of the slant and back-shoulder fade, except as things opposing offenses used against us?
Matt Forte demonstrates he deserves big part in balanced Bears offense - Melissa Isaaacson: Sill has the same edge that got him to this point.
Get used to the fireworks, Bears fans - David Haugh: Everybody in the end-zone seats Cutler tried in vain to shush, you are forgiven. Chicago simply doesn't know how to act yet with a Bears offense this explosive.
Defense
Report card: Bears defense dominates, too - Moon Mullin: Lost in all the attention focused on the Bears offensive output is the strong play by the defense despite three stars having quiet days.
Jennings steps up as Tillman goes down - Vaughn McClure: The Colts opted not to re-sign Tim Jennings a few years back because they believed he had a chronic ankle problem. A healthy Jennings was a recurring pain in the rear end for rookie QB Andrew Luck.
Jennings plays takeaway in Bears victory - Larry Mayer: Working on his ball skills throughout the offseason and into training camp paid big dividends for Tim Jennings.
Jennings used rope-a-dope to trick Luck - Moon Mullin: Tim Jennings appeared to have been bear[sic] for a long TD before making a terrific play to intercept the Andrew Luck pass. But it was just an illusion according to the veteran CB.
Brian Urlacher’s knee holds up in limited action - Mark Potash: Brian Urlacher said his knee is fine. But his ego might have taken a bit of a hit.
Bears defense shows some fight - Dan Pompei: While press box statisticians credited Urlacher with only two tackles, they could not put a number on presence.
Urlacher half way back - Moon Mullin: Will he be 100 percent for Thursday's big game in Green Bay?
Charles Tillman’s leg injury not considered serious - CB Charles Tillman suffered a lower-leg injury on a punt return Sunday and was removed from the lineup late in the first quarter. Plus, game notes.
Colts castoff Tim Jennings a delight for Bears - Sean Jensen: In a star-studded lineup, on an afternoon when the Bears’ defense generated four turnovers, the most yeomanlike starter shined the brightest.
Kelvin Hayden is proud of his Englewood upbringing - Bears CB credits his mother's fortitude and the neighborhood's teaching him to be tough with helping him survive the violence and now thrive in the NFL
Bears cautious with Brian Urlacher - Jeff Dickerson: #54 wasn't happy about Lovie Smith's decision to pull him early, but said, "That's the head coach. I do what he says."
Urlacher not happy about being taken out of game early - Adam Hoge: Brian Urlacher looked rusty in his return to the playing field and once the Bears built a comfortable lead, Lovie Smith elected to pull him from the game.
Other Bears news
Five things we learned - Jeff Dickerson's thoughts to take away on the offense, Lovie resting Urlacher, Alshon Jeffrey, and Tim Jennings.
Brad Biggs' Four downs - O-line passes test, Marshall & Jennings come up big.
Jay Cutler asks fans to keep it quiet in red zone - Brad Biggs: The Bears pipe crowd music in to practices during weeks with home games. That is not standard in the NFL but the Bears don’t know what else to do.
Cutler to fans: ‘Let’s tone it down a little bit’ in red zone - Adam Hoge: Fans making too much noise is not supposed to be a problem for the home team.
Breakfast with the Bears: Why this season is different - Chris Boden takes a look at the differences we can expect to see from the Bears.
Bears’ biggest weapon no longer running or ‘D’ - Rick Morrissey: Passing game will decide whether the team is special this season.
Mike Tice is developing a new identity - Dan Pompei: Bears OC is assuming a role he never has fulfilled in 30-plus seasons in the NFL as a player and coach.
Three Bears - Brad Biggs' Bears who are too hot, too cold, just right. No porridge.
Bears four downs - Brad Biggs with four thoughts on the season ahead.
GM Emery: Bears won't rest on roster - Phil Emery said Sunday he would continue looking to bolster the team’s roster during the season.
USAToday's QB rankings - For what it's worth, Cutler just outside the top 10 of QBs. Campbell among top 5 backups.
Ex-Bears WR Roy Williams retires - "I'm in good shape. I can still play." You couldn't catch, Roy. That was the problem.
Because The Boss is playing in Chicago soon...