The Bears' season took an ominous turn Sunday when quarterback Jay Cutler was ruled out for the rest of their game against the Redskins at FedEx Field because of a groin injury in the second quarter.
Martellus Bennett caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Josh McCown to give the Bears a 41-38 lead with 3:57 remaining.
Cutler was sacked in the second quarter and lay on the ground for several minutes before walking off gingerly with the help of the medical staff. Fox sideline reporter Tony Siragusa said Cutler tried to walk to the locker room under his own power but couldnt and was put on a cart and carried in to get an X-ray.
Cutler was 3-for-8 for 28 yards and one interception before leaving. His passer rating was 8.3. McCown replaced him, a scenario with which the Bears have said they were comfortable.
Robbie Gould's 49-yard field goal pulled the Bears to within 38-34 with 8:44 left in regulation.
A 45-yard pass from Robert Griffin III to Aldrick Robinson put the Redskins ahead 38-31 with 11:04 left in the game. Charles Tillman lost track of the ball on what could have been his second interception of the day.
Matt Forte's third touchdown of the game had pulled the Bears into a 31-31 tie with 12:49 to play. Forte became the first Bear to rush for three TDs in a game since Rashaan Salaam in 1995.
The Redskins went ahead 31-24 on a four-yard touchdown run by Roy Helu Jr. with 3:19 to play in the third quarter. Bears linebacker Lance Briggs had to come out due to a shoulder injury during the eight-play, 83-yard drive. He was listed as probable to return but was still out early in the fourth quarter. Tillman later joined him on the sidelines as the Bears' injuries mounted.
Earlier in the quarter, Forte broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown run to pull the Bears into a 24-24 tie.
The Redskins had taken a 24-17 lead shortly before halftime on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Griffin to tight end Jordan Dean.
An 81-yard punt return touchdown by Devin Hester had tied the game at 17. It was his first return touchdown in nearly two years and gave Hester, who turns 31 on Nov. 4, 19 in his career.
Hester tied Hall of Famer Deion Sanders for most career return touchdowns and also has a 108-yard TD return on a missed field goal. Hester now has 13 punt return TD.
Washington's defense lit up the scoreboard early in the second quarter, with linebacker Brian Orakpo intercepting a pass intended for Alshon Jeffery and returning it 29 yards for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead.
Each team scored via the ground game early. Helu scampered 14 yards through a huge hole for a touchdown that gave Washington a 10-10 tie with 13:50 to play in the second quarter.
Forte hurdled two defenders on a two-yard run gave the Bears a 10-3 lead with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter. Tillman set up the score by intercepting a Griffin pass and returning it 28 yards to the Washington 10.
Tillman has 36 career interceptions and trails only Gary Fencik (38) and Richie Petitbon (37) on the franchise's all-time list
The kicking game was the key early in Sunday's game. Gould's 47-yard field goal pulled the Bears into a 3-3 tie with 7:03 left in the first quarter.
The Bears had gone three-and-out on their first possession, but Adam Podlesh's 65-yard punt was downed at the 1-yard line by Zack Bowman to put the Redskins in a hole.
Washington used the pass to march downfield on the game's first possession, with Kai Forbath connecting on a 38-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead at the 11:28 mark. Griffin hit Reed on two passes totaling 53 yards to set up the score.
Forte had four rushes for nine yards in the first haf. Griffin rushed six times for 58 yards. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 154 yards and one TD. His passer rating was 83.9.
Alfred Morris rushed 13 times for 45 yards (3.5 avg.).
The Bears had the ball 7 minutes, 59 seconds. The Redskins controlled the ball 22:01. Washington had 249 total yards and the Bears 46.
The Bears, who are off next weekend, were playing their only game in a 24-day stretch against the Redskins. They travel to Green Bay on Nov. 4 for a Monday night game.
fmitchell@tribune.com
Twitter @kicker34
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1021-bears-redskins-chicago-20131021,0,2971915.story
