Bears First Team Strong in Win Over Raiders
Published on August 24 2013 9:31 am
Last Updated on August 24 2013 9:31 am
Written by Greg Sapp
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears scored the game's first 27 points behind strong performances from Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and Michael Bush en route to defeating the Oakland Raiders, 34-26, in preseason action on Friday.
Cutler threw for a touchdown and 142 yards on 12-of-21 efficiency, while Forte racked up 76 yards on six carries with a touchdown catch. Bush added two rushing scores in the victory.
The Chicago defense harassed Oakland starting signal caller Matt Flynn, picking him off twice and limiting him to a 3-of-6 performance for 19 yards. Terrelle Pryor, though, fared much better. He completed 7-of-9 throws for 93 yards while accumulating a passing and a rushing touchdown in the second half.
The Bears received a 45-yard field goal from Robbie Gould on their first possession, and the offense was back on the field quickly after Tim Jennings picked off Flynn's first pass of Oakland's second series. On the next play, Cutler threw short to Forte, who rumbled 32 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 Chicago lead.
The Bears were back in the end zone again soon after, with a 35-yard rush from Forte keying a 6-play series that ended on a 10-yard TD run by Bush. Bush then added a 1-yard score early in the second to help Chicago build a 24-0 lead.
Sebastian Janikowski's 49-yard missed field goal set up Bush's first score, but he was able to counter a Gould 53-yarder with a 58-yard bomb at the conclusion of the half to make it 27-3.
Pryor took hold of the offense in the second half and thrived, scrambling for a 25-yard touchdown on his first possession. The Raiders got a 30-yard field goal from Janikowski after making a fourth down stop, and Pryor hooked up with Nick Kasa for a 19-yard touchdown on his final drive to make it a 27-20 game.
Matt McGloin took the reins next for Oakland with a chance to tie the game, but was picked off by C.J. Wilson. Michael Ford then ran for a 15-yard touchdown to re-establish a two-score lead for Chicago.
McGloin came back to toss a 5-yard TD pass to Jamize Olawale, but was picked off again, this time by Jerry Franklin, on Oakland's last possession.
