Brian Urlacher | Atlanta Falcons Tickets

Cutler Leads Bears in Mauling of Falcons

Linebacker Brian Urlacher, the cornerstone of the Bears defense, intercepted a pass to set up Chicago’s first touchdown then grabbed a fumble and ran it in as the high-flying Falcons offence was limited to a pair of field goals.

“The offense just sort of took care of business putting points on the board,” Bears coach Lovie Smith told reporters. “Defensively, the interception really got us going. We talk a lot around here about taking the ball away.”

The Falcons’ lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter when defensive lineman Kroy Biermann returned a tipped Cutler pass 50 yards for the score.

It was one of the few miscues for Cutler, who completed 22-of-32 passes for 312 yards, including touchdown passes to Matt Forte and Matt Spaeth.

Bears fans had lots to celebrate but the party was muted as the opener was played under a somber cloud given a pre-game ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Sports leagues and players who returned to the nation’s playing fields a decade ago to help Americans forget were front-and-center again 10 years later but this time to help a country remember.

While Chicago was spared in the attacks, a soldout Soldier Field joined other opening day crowds in a moment of silence.

As chants of “USA USA” rose from the stadium a giant American flag was unfurled covering the entire field and players from both teams join 150 first responders to help wave the Stars and Stripes.

“I got chills, I can’t explain it,” said Urlacher. “I was watching (September 11 remembrance programs) this morning before I came to the stadium. It’s crazy it’s been 10 years. Today was a big day.”

Punishing defences have long been a staple of Chicago football going back to the Monsters of the Midway, and Sunday’s performance was reminiscent of those days as Urlacher led an assault on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and pounded any Falcon play who touched the ball.

The two teams traded early field goals before Cutler hooked up with Forte on a 56-yard touchdown just before the end of the first quarter.

Robbie Gould chipped in 23- and 26-yard field goals to account for all the second quarter scoring to give the Bears a 16-3 advantage going into the intermission.

The Falcons opened the second half with a 25-yard field goal but the Bears hit back with a touchdown, Cutler capping the drive with a one yard strike to a wide open Spaeth.

Urlacher then scooped up a Ryan fumble and rumbled 11 yards for the touchdown and suddenly the Bears were in control 30-6.

“We just talked about making plays,” said Bears coach Lovie Smith. “We felt like we had a good football and we knew we were playing an excellent team.

“It’s one win, we’re excited by it but we have a long way to go.”

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

Snarling Bears Maul Falcons in Season Opener

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Chicago Bears, led by a ferocious defense and two touchdown passes from Jay Cutler, mauled the Atlanta Falcons 30-12 on Sunday for an explosive start to the National Football League season.

Linebacker Brian Urlacher, the menacing cornerstone of the Bears defense, intercepted a pass to set up Chicago’s first touchdown then recovered a fumble and ran it in for a score as the high-flying Falcons offence was limited to a pair of field goals for over three quarters.

The Falcons’ lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter when defensive lineman Kroy Biermann returned a tipped Cutler pass 50 yards for the score.

It was one of the few miscues for Cutler, who completed 22-of-32 passes for 312 yards, including touchdown passes to Matt Forte and Matt Spaeth.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

N.F.L. Fines 16 Players for Illegal Hits

Biermann and Jones received the biggest fines for helmet-to-helmet contact, by Biermann on Seattle quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and Jones for a hit on quarterback .

Seven players were fined for roughing the passer and three for flagrant fouls on defenseless receivers, two points of emphasis by the league this year.

Baltimore free safety Ed Reed was fined $10,000 for hitting New Orleans quarterback in the face. Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher lost $10,000 for striking the defenseless Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the neck and head area, Urlacher’s second violation this season.

Another Bears defender, the rookie safety Major Wright, was also fined $10,000 for hitting the rookie quarterback Joe Webb in the head and neck area and for leading with his helmet.

Two defenders, end Robert Mathis and safety Antoine Bethea, were fined $10,000 each. Mathis struck Jaguars quarterback David Garrard in the head and neck area, and Bethea was punished for helmet-to-helmet contact with Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas.

cornerback Devin McCourty was fined $10,000 for unnecessary roughness against the , and five players were fined $7,500 apiece, including tackle Kevin Williams for a late hit and his teammate Antoine Winfield for a hit on the Bears’ Jay Cutler.

Giants linebacker Jonathan Goff was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for hitting quarterback late and out of bounds, and Eagles cornerback Dimitri Patterson was called for a horse-collar tackle.

JONES-DREW MAY SIT Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew missed a third consecutive day of practice, casting doubt on his availability Sunday against Washington. Jones-Drew has dealt with knee problems most of the season, but his right one really became problematic after his sixth consecutive 100-yard game, Dec. 12 against Oakland. He missed two days of practice last week, and Indianapolis held him to 46 yards last Sunday.

STAYING FOR NOW The San Francisco 49ers are staying put until at least 2014 after the team reached a tentative deal with the city on repairs to Candlestick Park. Mayor met with the 49ers’ president, Jed York, this week to finalize the deal, which settles a $60 million claim filed by the 49ers. The suit charged that the city failed to complete required maintenance on the stadium, including flood control work and the replacement of seats. Under the agreement, the team will get rent credit for doing the repairs itself. It also adds flexibility to its lease after the 2014 season, when the 49ers plan to move to a new stadium in Santa Clara.

STAFFORD DONE FOR YEAR The placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve with a separated right shoulder. The move ends Stafford’s season with two games remaining. Stafford played in only three games this season and just 10 last year because of injuries. Stafford’s shoulder was separated in this season’s opener at Chicago. He later aggravated the injury. The move leaves Detroit (4-10) with two banged-up quarterbacks in Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton, along with the rookie Zac Robinson.