Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye sacks Rams quarterback Kyle Boller. (Jose M. Osorio/Tribune)
The Bears needed a cure for what ailed them during a four-game losing streak, and they found it today by outlasting an even more dreadful opponent -- the St. Louis Rams.
The
Bears used a one-yard touchdown run by Matt Forte, a three-yard scoring pass from
Jay Cutler to Earl Bennett and a 27-yard Robbie Gould field goal to
improve to 5-7 on the season with a 17-9 triumph at Soldier Field.
The Rams fell to 1-11.
Forte rushed 24 times for 91 yards. Cutler completed 8-of-17 passes for 143 yards. The Rams' offense consisted of Steven Jackson rushing for 112 yards on 28 attempts.
The Bears started their opening drive at the St. Louis 49 after a short kickoff by the Rams was returned to midfield by Rashied Davis. But Forte fumbled on his second carry and Oshiomgho Atogwe recovered for the Rams at their own 42. The Rams failed to capitalize on that opportunity, however.
The Bears scored on their next possession. The five-play, 85-yard drive included a 48-yard pass from Cutler to Devin Hester and culminated with a one-yard TD run by Forte on third down. Gould converted for a 7-0 lead with 9:43 left in the first period.
Cutler and Bennett hooked up on a 71-yard pass play on third down from the Bears' 9-yard line. The drive ended with a 27-yard field goal by Gould for a 10-0 lead.
The Bears benefitted from a Rams turnover midway through the second period. A pass to Gibson popped out of his grasp and directly into the arms of safety Al Alfalava. The rookie returned it 43 yards to the Rams' 16.
The Bears later lined up for an apparent 28-yard field goal. But holder Brad Maynard took the snap and threw a shovel pass to tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen was dragged down short of a first down and the Rams took over at their own 10.
St. Louis took advantage of that
opportunity by marching 88 yards in 14 plays before Josh Brown kicked a
20-yard field goal to make the score 10-3 at halftime.
The Rams scored the first points of the second half when Brown converted a 48-yard field goal to bring St. Louis within 10-6.
The Bears answered with a three-yard TD pass from Cutler to Bennett at the end of a 13-play, 76- yard drive to make it 17-6 with 1:23 left in the third period.
Brown boomed a 50-yard field goal with 10:10 left in the fourth quarter to bring the Rams within 17-9.
Register with Chicago Tribune and receive Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks newsletters for free. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
To blandest:
"I don't consider the 49ers or Cardinals good teams."
Cardinals 30, Vikings 17 - I guess you called that, the Cardinals just aren't a very good team....
Good win for the Bears. They are high fiving at Halas Hall due to this job saving win against the mighty Rams.
Turn it around? U'r kidding right?
U probably also liked RT's call on "3rd and 6" for a WR screen?
.
Fans need to give Lovie, Turner, and Jay time to turn it around -- today was a good start. A couple of ugly losses in ten games isn't enough reason to call for wholesale changes. Give the coaches and their new QB a season or two for pete's sake. Don't forget Lovie took us to the Super Bowl a few years back and Jay is Pro Bowl caliber. Go Bears!
Geeze Bear fans are nothing but crybaby whiners!
Everyone who is whinning here... would you rather the Bears lost against the Rams? We all know the Bears suck. I mean unless you were hiding beneath a rock this fall you would know that. So what is the point of this moaning?
BTW blandest22.. I hope you are watching the Sunday night game. Do you still think the Cardinals are a bad team? I am wondering if you even watched the playoffs last year.
Whew, was I wrong. Everything is going to be OK after all.
I take back all those mean things I said about Lovie, Marinelli, and Angelo. The D-Line were monsters. They made a top flight QB - Boller - look bad. There was some major hitting going on. Hester's punt returns were awesome. Tommie Harris was a beast. Chris Williams is the answer. Olin Kreutz was playing pro-bowl type ball.
Look out Colts, Saints, Vikes, etc. The Monsters of the Midway are coming!
And, Bears fans - please everybody, show up for games, buy merchandise, premium TV packages,....whatever you can to support the McCaskey's and thank them for this outstanding entertainment product.
Don't know about you all, but I've got something to brag about now with my friends tomorrow at work.
On the bright side, the newly sodded field is browning very nicely.
Just wanted to say I think the bears didn't play great, but a front-page picture of cutler getting sacked doesn't really tell the story. I mean, they still won, cutler was at least decent and the bears are clearly a better team than the rams. congratulations bears! you're still a blob team and aren't aren't in the pile with the truly bad teams.
Everybody can sugar coat that we've remedied the season or we've turned the corner but the fact is unless we get a difference coach AND sign some really good free agents, the Bears are looking at a .500 season this year and next year.
Watching this game kept me nauseated on the Bears. I really expected Cutler and the receivers to light up the Rams defense. Bummer. Turner and Angelo still need to go. Offensive play calling and player personnel moves have been horrendous. The Chicago press should NOT LET UP on calling for wholesale change in this organization just because today the Bears beat the Rams--just barely!
Now what? Are we going to talk about playoffs again after we beat all the pathetic teams?? I hope this win does not delay Angelo's exit...
My God, does Kyle Boller suck!
bashir...get Farve? He would be dead by now, remember no O-line!
They still look badly COACHED!!! The play calling suck all game.They beat a team with a QB who threw for 118 yards. If they had anyone who had a arm, The Rams would have beat the Bears. NOW JUST BECAUSE THEY DID NOT STINK AS BAD AS LAST WEEK DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T SUCK. FIRE LOVIE NOW!!!!!!!!! ANYONE ONE OF US WHO WORK IN THE REAL WORLD AND PERFORM LIKE LOVIE DOES, WOULD BE FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bears beat cleveland,the rams,the lions the not impressive steelers(who lost to the raiders today and the chiefs 2 weeks ago).So they beat the weakest teams in the nfl and get manhandled by the real teams.LOL The bears are Cornballs.
d3km on December 6, 2009 6:34 PM
Alright!! Big win for Da Bears. We're still in the playoff hunt. Lovie, Jay, and boys will sweep the last four games and pull out a wildcard.
What! Are you serious? The Bears aren't going to beat Green Bay, Bal, and the Vikes. The realistic chance the bears have winning again is Jan 3 when they play the lions. Best possible record this year is 5-11.
The only reason we won today is because of the truly pathetic offense of St. Louis. With the lead we do waht we always do, play so safe and predictable and give the other team ample opportunities to tie or win the game. We need to get rid of the top play callers because they need to get with the times. Despite what anyone thinks, Cutler is a great QB and we need to let him play more. Lovie and Ron Turner need to go.
Alright!! Big win for Da Bears. We're still in the playoff hunt. Lovie, Jay, and boys will sweep the last four games and pull out a wildcard.
Hey fellow Bears fans we won today! We are making that playoff push! Let's reward the Bears by contining to sell out Soldier Field and continue to show our support and let the Bears know that they don't need to change a thing as long as the money keeps coming in.
Wholly unimpressive.
"bashir on December 6, 2009 6:01 PM
Its the stinkin Rams....anyone notice Ced makes history with Cincy today? Remember in the preseason when we could've gotten Favre? Dumb Bears management....they've been dumb for two decades...they'll be dumb forever. I pray a young billionaire comes in one day and cleans house completely. Run the team like the Tier 1 Franchise it is. Until that happens enjoy the interminable wilderness of the dumb that is the Bears."
Favre is old and he won't last to much longer in the NFL. Who cares about Cedric? He was not going to be a good runningback for the Bears anyways because he had a bad start with the Bears from the beginning. Ced needed a new change of scenery.
Its the stinkin Rams....anyone notice Ced makes history with Cincy today? Remember in the preseason when we could've gotten Favre? Dumb Bears management....they've been dumb for two decades...they'll be dumb forever. I pray a young billionaire comes in one day and cleans house completely. Run the team like the Tier 1 Franchise it is. Until that happens enjoy the interminable wilderness of the dumb that is the Bears.
Glad they won, but, man, was that boring.
Wake me when the season is over.
Bears beat Gordon Tech)Rams
Yayyyyyy!
All good comments. the B4eaars this yeare are terrible. Probably the worst in history. But given the top mgt., lousy coaching and lack of chemistry on the field, what'd,ya expect. Things change. Hopefully it's fo the better in the next few years when Virginia learns to give in to her better voices (Papa Bear whispers the moves--fire the whole cop level including Phillips, Angelo and Smith--and hire some competent folks to delive the goods.)
Is there really a Santa Claus, Virginia.
With team that can't score, can some explain to me why they don't put three on the board and instead try for the trick play? This coaching staff has their heads lodge way deep up their BEEPS!
With team that can't score, can some explain to me why they don't put three on the board and instead try for the trick play? This coaching staff has their heads lodge way deep up their BEEPS!
blandest22... nobody cares that you think that the Cardinals are a bad team. The NFL begs to differ. Cardinals went to the Superbowl last year and almost won it too. You should wake up to notice that it is 2009 and they have a winning record this year.
That game smelled like poop. 3 hours of my life that I wish I could have back. I will just read about the games for the rest of this year. These bums have taken up enough of my time.
"5-0 against terrbile teams, 0-7 against good teams."
You're way off Rocket Man. They are 0-5 against good teams and 5-2 against terrible teams. I don't consider the 49ers or Cardinals good teams.
Super Bowl Bound Bears.
Give it up for the village idiot... jk80906. Forgot the touchdown, 8.4 yards per pass play and 96.0 QB rating, did we? There were 38 rushing attempts by the Bears, how much is the QB going to throw?
Three of the Bears wins were against the three worst teams in football and today was only an 8-point win. The Seahawks stink and it looks as though the injury plagued Steelers won't make the playoffs either. 5-0 against terrbile teams, 0-7 against good teams. We should be sooooo proud as Bear fans.
Bears beat the Rams 17-9.
Very impressive.(snicker!)
ALL Pro, Future HOFer The Jaybaby Cutler - 8-17 for 143 yds.
Even more impressive.
Bwahahahahahahahahah!
Hahahahahahahah!
Wow, we got buy a real gutsy team. We bore down and toughed it out prooving we can play with the best of them. We have turned it around and are on our way. This is the beginning of a brand new season. We should get our extensions tomorrow morning. I'm so happy!! Please pass me some of those pills over there will ya.
BORING! Playing the Rams, the Bears should have scored double the number of points they did in this game. Now we get to hear Lovie say that this is the start of the Bears playoff push?
Hi Ya'll...
Well I didn't screw it up but I didn't tear it up either. I feel the vice of losing around my testicles. I have an arm "stronger than Elway's" yet I barely throw for 50% completions and 150 yards.
Hey -- No INTs for me! woooohooooo!
WOW. The Bears beat the Rams. Now we can listen to all these sportswriters talk about how they are starting to come back, rebuild, get on the right track, blah blah blah.
It's the Bears. They Stink. Give It Up.
Are you kidding, "Bears find remedy in Rams, snap four game skid"...Okay - they won....but they were playing the Rams!!! Plus it's not like they won by 20+ points. Give it up Bears.