BEARS ROUT LOWLY BROWNS

The Chicago Bears have had an up and down season, but they definitely sounded an ‘up’ note on Sunday.  Perhaps inspired by the presence of the world’s best mixed martial arts fighter, Fedor Emelianenko, on their sidelines, the Bears administered a fearsome beatdown to the hapless Cleveland Browns en route to a 30-6 victory.  Jay Cutler passed for 225 yards with only one interception, but was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season.  Matt Forte ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns as the Bears improved to 3-0 at home.  Overall, the Bears’ record stands at 4-3 after the victory while the Browns dropped to 1-7.

NFL football betting devotees who laid the -11 points with Chicago as home favorites cashed their tickets as the Bears made short work of the pointspread.  The Bears improved to 4-3 against the spread, while the Browns slumped to 3-5 against the number.  The 36 combined points scored went UNDER the posted total of 39’.  Chicago has gone UNDER in four of seven games this season, while Cleveland has stayed under the total in 5 of 8.

Despite the victory, Cutler stressed the importance of improved offensive efficiency:

"We've got a lot of work to do. It's good to get a win at home but offensively we've got to get to work.”

On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Tommie Harris was pleased with the Bears’ best defensive performance of the season:

"Very important, especially seeing all the guys come back and not just get a win but keep the offense down to just six points. We did an excellent job of that, and with the turnovers, it was a great game. We just have to build on that."

Derek Anderson had a rough game under center for Cleveland, and was pulled in favor of Brady Quinn late in the contest.  Asked about his starting quarterback plans for their next game, embattled head coach Eric Mangini shrugged:

"We'll look at it. We'll look at every single position."

Asked why Anderson didn’t get the hook earlier in the contest, Mangini responded:

"I thought we actually moved the ball at times earlier."

Anderson, meanwhile, had little positive to say about the current situation:

"I'm not happy that I got pulled out, I'm not happy we lost, I'm not happy about anybody's play, my play, nothing. I haven't been happy."

Anderson now has a bye week to try and ‘get his smile back’.  The Browns will see action next on November 16, as they host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.  They’ll play on the road the next two Sundays, traveling to Detroit and Cincinnati.  Chicago will host another erratic team this Sunday as the Arizona Cardinals come to town.  The Bears are a -3 home favorite with the total set at 44’.  Chicago will then turn around off a short week and play at San Francisco on Thursday, November 12h.  They’ll get a bye week after that before returning to action on November 22 at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.