Bears-Saints: Chicago's Defense Steps Up in a Big Way

In no way, shape, or form can Bears fans blame the defense for last nights’ potential collapse. This defense continued to bend all night, but would not break; they came up big when they needed to.

In the first half, the Chicago Bears defense held the best offense in the NFL to zero points; that if you disregard the fumble by Orton at the one-yard line, but that’s not the defenses’ fault.

They also held Drew Brees, possibly the best quarterback in the NFL, to his lowest QB rating in a half since early in 2007. The Saints who have the best pass offense in the league against a Bears defense that has struggled against the pass all season.

Well, not last night, the Bears only allowed 232 yards passing and held the Saints to seven of 17 on third downs. Holding the Saints to four three-and-outs on seven first-half possessions. And, in the second half, forced a three-and-out on the Saints' first possession, and an interception on the second possession.

Six possessions in the second half for the Saints, coming up with only three points not off turnovers; that was the only drive where the Saints took the ball from outside of the Bears' 50 and scored points!

Even despite being overworked and on the field for 36:32 out of 60:00, the Bears' defense managed to stop the Saints' offense at crucial points in the fourth quarter.

Remember the terrible play call on the fake punt? Instead of pinning them deep to help the defense, we gave them the ball at the Chicago 47. Well, the Bears' defense stepped up and perhaps saved Lovie Smiths’ job after the fake punt failed.

The Saints took over with 7:31 to go from the Chicago 47-yard line.  On first down, a five-yard rush, second down, a four-yard pass, 3rd-and-1 now and Anthony "Big Daddy" Adams comes up huge stopping the fullback dive, leading to 4th-and-1, where the Bears' defense stuffed Pierre Thomas in the backfield for what seemed to be the game-ending five-yard loss.

There were a lot of coaching errors in that fourth quarter, but that is a whole other article. The point is that this defense is getting better every week and is starting to return to form.

They took one of the most potent offenses I have ever seen and made them look extremely confused and inconsistent. Despite the three turnovers, the defense held the Saints to only three points, the best offense in the league to three measly points!

This is the time of year to run the ball and play field position, someone needs to teach Lovie Smith and Ron Turner that, but the Game Ball definitely goes to the Bears' Defense and Special Teams!