Keys to Miami Dolphins’ 27-14 win over Chicago Bears
.JPG "Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill runs for yardage in the third quarter to help set up a touchdown as Chicago Bears defensive back Tim Jennings chases him at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014.")
Dolphins defensive line vs. Bears offensive line
Who won: The Dolphins.
The impact: The Dolphins’ best unit — the defensive line — stood out again Sunday, outplaying the Bears’ offensive line. Miami was consistent against the run and pass, especially harassing Jay Cutler. The performance was punctuated early in the fourth quarter when Cameron Wake strip-sacked Cutler and recovered the fumble. The line’s play prevented running back Matt Forte from becoming a factor, and disrupted Cutler’s timing with his receivers. As a result, outside of their drive to start the second half, the Bears never found a rhythm and struggled moving the ball downfield.
Dolphins secondary vs. Bears Receivers
Who won: The Dolphins.
The impact: Miami’s secondary faced a tough matchup with Chicago’s vertical passing game Sunday, and it responded with a winning effort. Brent Grimes and Cortland Finnegan more than held their own on the boundaries, countering the Bears’ size with sound technique. The impact was immense. Cutler, known for slinging the ball down the field, was limited to mostly shorter plays. The Bears’ passing game opened up a bit in the second half, but by then it was too late. Cutler was held to only 190 yards, and also threw an interception. The performance went a long in way in shutting down a top-10 passing offense.
Dolphins offensive line vs. Bears defensive line
Who won: The Bears.
The impact: The Bears’ defense hardly resembles dominant units of the past, but Chicago’s defensive line stood its ground Sunday, beating the Dolphins’ offensive line at the point of attack. The Bears recorded four sacks, and held both Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas to under 4 yards per carry.The effort kept the Bears close enough to make a comeback attempt in the second half. It also forced Ryan Tannehill to take on a bigger burden running the ball. Tannehill finished with 48 yards on six carries. The struggle to run the ball consistently made it difficult for Miami to run out the clock later in the game.
This story was originally published October 19, 2014 at 11:33 PM with the headline "Keys to Miami Dolphins’ 27-14 win over Chicago Bears."