Chicago Bears vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats On Dec 23, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 23, 2012

Bears 28, Cardinals 13: Jay Cutler overcome a dreadful start to throw for 146 yards and a touchdown as visiting Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak and kept its postseason hopes alive.

Matt Forte rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries before leaving with an ankle injury as the Bears (9-6) won for only the second time in seven games to keep pace with NFC North rival Minnesota in the playoff chase. Chicago also received a pair of touchdowns from its defense, with Zack Bowman recovering a fumble in the end zone and Charles Tillman returning an interception 10 yards for a score - the Bears' eighth TD off a pick this season.

The Bears need to win at Detroit next week and have the Vikings lose at home to Green Bay to secure a postseason slot.

Cutler misfired on 11 of his first 12 attempts but he was 5-for-5 for 76 yards on a last-minute drive in the second quarter, capping it with an 11-yard scoring pass to Brandon Marshall for a 21-6 lead. It was Marshall's 11th touchdown of the season.

Tillman put the game out of reach when he picked off Ryan Lindley early in the third quarter to balloon the lead to 28-6 and send the Cardinals (5-10) to their 10 loss in 11 games. Lindley threw for 141 yards and the pick before he was replaced by Brian Hoyer. Arizona got its only touchdown on a return of a blocked field goal with 1:46 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bears recorded their eighth and ninth defensive TDs, tying them with San Diego (1961) for the second most all-time. Seattle set the record of 10 in 1998. Tillman's touchdown was the ninth of his career, extending his franchise mark. ... Arizona set a dubious record when Dave Zastudil eclipsed the league mark of downed punts inside the 20-yard line with 43. ... Marshall had six catches for 68 yards, giving him 113 receptions for 1,466 yards - both franchise records.