"If the Bears' season slipped away Monday night, it was in no way shape or form the fault of Jay Cutler.

At times this season, the Bears quarterback has appeared frazzled, disoriented and panicked at the suggestion of pressure.

Monday, he marched into what was hell for an offense in impressive command of his troops.

Ford Field never has been more uninviting to a visiting team, according to those who have been here for good times and bad. The Lions' pass rush was relentless. It would have been easy for a quarterback to fall apart in this situation.

Instead, Cutler stood tall, completing 28 of 38 passes for 249 yards. It was his best game of the season, as well as his most challenging.

"Jay was under pressure," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "He made some throws. He got us out of a lot of bad plays. He gave us a chance, kept us in it."

The Lions were penalized for a lot of things, but too many men on the field was not one of them. It sure seemed like the Bears were playing against more than 11 though. Like 65,000 more than 11."