Props to Lovie and the boys for a really solid effort in all three phases. This is one of those "quality wins" that should go a long ways towards restoring some respect for the Bears, which will increase even more if we can duplicate it next week on the road vs. the Saints.
QB - I really wanted to give Cutler an "A" but that misfire to Kellen Davis on the gadget play in the red zone... yikes. Still... his much improved conditioning, footwork and leadership were all on display and paying off big-time. His stat line at halftime would have been considered a banner game for most of the QBs we've had here (at least in my lifetime). Remains to be seen if he can have that much success against a D-backfield that roughs up our WRs, but he sure looks like he's ready to take his game to the next level. Grade = B+ which would have been a solid "A" if not for botching the easy TD throw to Davis, and the pick.
RB - Forte was the man and Bell did a nice job in reserve. We're still missing a power component to our run game but hopefully we get that when Barber gets back and/or the OL continues to jell. Clutts is going to be a fan favorite very soon if he keeps showing the effort he did yesterday. He took out two guys on that Forte screen pass TD alone. Grade = B+
WR - I've been ragging this unit all preseason but they all did a great job finding the holes in the D yesterday, their hands were solid and I saw a lot of good downfield blocking. Roy Williams was on his way to a nice game before pulling up lame. Hester's run after catch on what should have been a TD play, was unreal. Knox and Sanzenbacher played very well. Bennett, curiously, was the quiet one but this unit as a whole did their jobs well, right across the board. Grade = A
TE - Spaeth and Davis did great as WRs... spotty on the pass protection. Still though, a very solid outing and those two are going to cause DCs some problems this year I think. Grade = B+ ... would have been an A if not for some blocking breakdowns.
OL - A solid overall performance marred by some individual breakdowns. Webb clearly was the weak link but was going against one of the best in the game in Abraham. Carimi and Chris Williams also had some "teaching moments". Garza and Spencer (playing out of position) were solid on the inside, especially giving Cutler room to step up on his passes. Grade = B
DL - The best base pass rush I have seen from this unit in years. Watching them pummel Ryan especially towards the end of the game was a thing of beauty. The DTs in particular are miles ahead of previous years when Tommie Harris was bringing the whole unit down. Peppers was bringing it all day and Reed made me a believer. Granted they were going against a patchwork Falcons OL but if they can build on this it will really make our D tough to beat. Grade = A
LB - Big-time game by #54. Good to see the guy still has some game changing ability left in the tank. Other LBs played well too, minus a couple of Turner runs that went for more than they should have. Grade = B+
DB - This group really exceeded my expectations. I thought Tillman played his best game in the last 4 or 5 years yesterday. Tackling by this unit was solid and they worked nicely together with the DL pass rush to make for very few "easy" completions for Ryan, especially downfield. Merriwether didn't wow me but he didn't have any big screwups either which for having a week in a new system is about all you can ask. Grade = A
STs - Too many penalties but otherwise not much to fault them for. Grade = B
Coaching - Well done by the whole crew. Lovie was absolutely right to challenge the Hester non-TD, and should have won it. Martz called a very good game though I would like to see him get less cute down in the red zone and just rely on our big bodies more. The D was dialed-in all day and as I said before, DL play in particular was outstanding.