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A difficult game to critique because the Bears were dangerously close to winning everywhere except the scoreboard because of turnovers. The offense compiled 463 yards, the defense allowed just 168so why were the Lions an officials call away from winning a game that should have been a Bears runaway?

Quarterback: B+

Jay Cutlers decision-making cost the Bears in the first quarter. He failed to take an open field in front of him to run the ball in from the Detroit five, then threw into triple coverage for an interception. He lost the ball on a third-quarter sack when he held the ball too long. But he finished 23-for-35 for 372 yards, his most as a Bear.

Running backs: A

Matt Forte fumbled twice but his 89-yard catch-and-run on a first-half screen pass was a turning point and his tumbling 28-yard TD catch provided the winning points. Fortes 201 total yards (151 receiving, 50 rushing) were complemented by Chester Taylors 29 rushing yards and 44 receiving.

Receivers: B

Devin Aromashodu let a pass go through his hands in the end zone on a first-quarter pass and Greg Olsens fumble inside the Detroit 10 were lost scoring chances. Aromashodu led all receivers with 5 catches, and he, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox averaged 15.5 yards on their combined nine receptions.

Offensive line: C

C Olin Kreutz delivered a key block after pulling to spring Forte on his 89-yard TD catch and run. RG Lance Louis was strong against DT Ndamukong Suh and recovered a fumble. The failure to wedge out a half-yard for a TD was embarrassing, Kreutz said and the four sacks of Cutler were too many.

Defensive line: B

Julius Peppers sack and forced fumble produced a field goal late in the first half and he added two QB hits to go with singles by Tommie Harris and Matt Toeaina. Harris also recovered a fumble and the line was solid throughout until the final Detroit drive.Linebackers: A

Lance Briggs timed a center blitz so perfectly that he nearly took a Detroit handoff in the fourth quarter but did force a fumble recovered at the Lions half-yard line. Brian Urlacher let the Lions know he was back, with a sack in the third quarter and repeated impact plays that included three tackles for loss and a QB hit. Pisa Tinoisamoa added a tackle for loss among his three solos.

Secondary: A-

Zackary Bowman held Detroit super-receiver Calvin Johnson without a catch in the first half, four for the game and just 11.3 yards per reception while contributing six tackles overall. Charles Tillman made an over-the-shoulder catch for an interception deep in the Chicago end of the field late in the third quarter. Major Wright played well enough in his first regular-season game to be left on the field for Detroits final drive.

Special teams: B

Ever-dependable Robbie Gould salvaged a field goal on the Bears first possession and added a 31-yarder in the second quarter. Devin Hester averaged 3.4 yards on five punt returns but Brad Maynard put 4-of-5 punts inside the Detroit 20.

Coaching: B-

Conservative play-calling at the end of the first drive led to no throws into the end zone on three snaps inside the Detroit 10 in the first quarter. The decision not to salvage a field goal from a first-and-goal at the half-yard line can be questioned but the intent was to give the offensive line a chance to establish itself. The overall defense dealt solidly with Calvin Johnson and held the Lions to 20 yards on 21 rushing attempts.

John “Moon”
Mullin is CSNChicago.com’s Bears Insider, and appears regularly on
Bears Postgame Live and Chicago Tribune Live. Follow Moon

on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bears information

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Bears receive strong marks on first report card | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Pepper tours, shopping for pepper products from select vendors, and special chili décor are all part of the fun. See more than 40 varieties of peppers (from ‘Ring-O-Fire’ cayenne to ‘Sweet Chocolate’ bell) growing in the garden, pick up pepper facts and tips from signs posted throughout the Garden and visit “Pepper Discovery Carts” to explore the history of peppers and the many types that can be grown in a home garden.

Family activities include making a chili pepper butter mix, playing a special game to learn where peppers and other vegetables come from and creating artwork using peppers, eggplants, and potatoes!

As part of the Garden Chef Series, Shelley Young of The Chopping Block in Chicago will give cooking demonstrations at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. Juan Carlos Median Vazquez of Café Central in Highland Park will appear at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden and All About Peppers Weekend is free. Select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. For information about Garden programs and events, call 847-835-5440, or visit chicagobotanic.org/chef/pepper.

About the Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit chicagobotanic.org, or call 847-835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden’s Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Julie McCaffrey, 847-835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

Summer Heats Up at Chicago Botanic Garden’s “All About Peppers” Weekend August 22-23 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.