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The Bears Den: September 23, 2013 - Week 3 news and notes

Ayup. That's a score.

By Spongie

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Gregory Shamus

Brad Biggs' 10 thoughts - Ten thoughts after the Bears were dominant early and late in a 40-23 victory over the Steelers, improving them to 3-0.

Jay Cutler, Bears offense rewriting reputations with confident win - Chris Burke: The Bears' opportunistic defense almost always receives the praise when this team wins. When Chicago’s back was really against the wall, though, it was the offense that answered the bell.

Bears fear ACL tear for DT Melton - Brad Biggs: It is expected Melton will undergo an MRI on Monday and the team will likely be seeking a free agent or two to bring in. (Moon Mullin non-Tribune link)

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Chicago Bears 40, Pittsburgh Steelers 23

NFL.com game report and [Video] game highlights; box scores.

Larry Mayer's Game Blog - "Michael Bush, with good second effort, scores on a 1-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal. That may be the first time Bush scored three TDs on the same possession."

Quick start propels Bears to victory over Steelers - Larry Mayer: In their first away game of the season, the Bears storm to a 24-3 lead en route to a 40-23 win over the Steelers, improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2010.

Bears blitz Steelers for 5 turnovers, 2 TDs in 40-23 win; now 3-0 - Patrick Finley: The Bears proved the old saying that the best offense is a good defense during a harrowing three hours Sunday night against the Steelers.

Defense comes through in the clutch - Bob LeGere: The 40-23 victory for the 3-0 Bears may look easy on paper, but it wasn't. After it appeared the Steelers were on the verge of a remarkable comeback — or the Bears a monumental collapse — the visitors reversed the momentum and dropped the home team to 0-3.

Bears' show a hit on road too - Rich Campbell: Defense forces 5 turnovers, Cutler seizes momentum late as Trestman starts 3-0.

Rapid Reaction - Michael C. Wright with a few thoughts on the 40-23 win over the Steelers. Locker Room Buzz.

Earl Bennett's score comes as a bit of a surprise - Moon Mullin: Bennett wasn’t sure the catch was good when he made it but teammates were, and they were particularly pleased that it was #80, overshadowed at times by others on offense.

[Video] Jeff Dickerson & Michael C. Wright - Maverick and Iceman recap the Bears improving to 3-0 with a win over the Steelers.

[Video] Game review - Trent Dilfer breaks down what impresses him about the Bears' win over the Steelers.

Bears lose Melton but regain focus to top Steelers - David Haugh: Once everybody calms down from the Bears' first Sunday night road win since 2008, they will see a complete team that has come together quicker under Trestman than many expected.

Bears serve notice to underperforming NFC North rivals - Mark Potash: The anticipation of the Bears being an improved team this season is enhanced by the possibility that their division rivals might be worse.

Rapid Reaction - Dan Durkin with some thoughts on each of the three units from Bears-Steelers: most alarming trend is the lack of a pass rush.

[Video] PostGame Live - Chris Boden, Jim Miller and Dan Jiggetts savo(u)r their Kool-Aid as they review Bears-Steelers.

Game notes - Larry Mayer: Bears produce five takeaways; Melton hurt; more notes from the game.

Game notes - Larry Mayer: Earl Bennett provides insurance with clutch TD catch; Trestman happy with Cutler's game; more notes.

Game notes - Patrick Finley: Henry Melton ‘under observation’ following knee injury; DE rotation; more from the game.

Game notes - Bob LeGere: Cutler more than happy with O-line; DJ Williams leading team in sacks; more notes.

Game notes - Adam Hoge: Bears played mostly Cover-1 and dialed up blitzes the Steelers were not expecting; "poise in the noise"; momentum-changing penalty; more notes.

Game notes - Brad Biggs and Dan Wiederer with notes and observations from last night's game.

Game notes - Rich Campbell: Attacking defense; Cutler clutch again; "Poise in the noise"; Melton's knee.

As Bears evolve, Trestman savoring wins - Dan Wiederer: Through three games, the Bears have shown among other things that they are a group that is focused in the fourth quarter.

Conflicting answers about whether Bears are for real - Rick Morrissey: After such an up-and-down game, are the 3-0 Bears for real? Sure. Why not?

Trestman can learn a lot by beating team like Steelers - Mike Imrem: The Steelers aren't the Steelers anymore, but Marc Trestman could learn a lot about his team while beating them Sunday night in Pittsurgh.

[Video] highlights of the game from ChicagoBears.com; photogalleries from the Herald ... Sun-Times ... Tribune.

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Offense

Bears' big plays on offense lead to 3-0 record - Gregg Rosenthal: The defense remains a huge plus, but the difference in this team is on offense. For the first time in a long time, the Bears are balanced. The Packers have some catching up to do.

Trestman finally figured it out - Steve Rosenbloom: The Bears weren’t adjusting. They couldn’t block all the men the Steelers were sending, and worse, they couldn’t call or execute plays to take advantage of Pittsburgh’s aggressiveness. Trestman responded by making some big calls at big times.

‘Mr. Fourth Quarter’ does it again - Adam Hoge: After years of the defense saving the offense, it was once again the right arm of Jay Cutler turning the tables for the third straight game.

'Cold blooded' Cutler stays patient - Michael C. Wright: Aided by a defense that produced five turnovers and a couple of TDs, Cutler slammed the door on a potential Steelers comeback early in Q4 with three game-clinching plays.

Jay Cutler comes through in clutch again - Jarrett Bell: Cutler never panicked in making three third-down conversions on a nine-play, 74-yard drive to seal the win.

[Video] PostGame Live: 15 on 6 - Jim Miller: Cutler 'outstanding', didn't let Steelers frustrate him. [GIF] Cutler lowers the shoulder.

Offense can handle 3-4 defense - Adam L. Jahns: Some of the best teams in league use the 3-4. If the Bears are going to contend for anything, being able to handle such schemes will be necessary. And there were signs that Trestman’s Bears can hack it.

Forte thriving on heavy workload - Bob LeGere: Over the course of 16 games, Forte's two-game total works out to 424 touches for the season, more than he's ever had in the NFL, but he says he's ready for a heavy workload. Dan Wiederer: #22 lauds blockers' work on early TD run.

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Defense

Five more turnovers for vaunted Bears ‘D’ that keeps getting better - Mark Potash: ‘‘Now I see what it feels like,’’ said James Anderson, formerly of the Panthers. ‘‘Everybody watches film, saying, ‘How do you guys do it?’ I know now how they do it."

New faces, same identity - Michael Wilbon: The Bears' offense is trying to evolve while the defense has maintained its game-winning identity in a league where takeaways, not yards, are the measuring stick of a good defense.

D.J. Williams gives Bears' pass rush a boost - Brad Biggs: The Bears' pass rush had been silenced the first two games, but the MLB's sack/strip sets up 1st TD in victory over Steelers. Moon Mullin: LBs pick up for D-line.

[Video] PostGame Live - Good job by the defense?

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Game grades

Three Bears - Dan Wiederer: D.J. Williams too hot, Anthony Walters too cold, Jay Cutler just right.

[Video] PostGame Live - The PGL panel make their picks for Players of the Game.

Game grades - Bob LeGere (probably) hands out grades, and a game ball to Earl Bennett.

Game grades - The Bears get a B+ as Will Brinson hands out grades for every single game.

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Bearsss

Ex-Bear news - Lawyer says Gale Sayers dropping suit against NFL; Fred Mitchell: Says he did not consent to its filing.

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