If Friday night's dress rehearsal is any indication of what's ahead, the Chicago Bears should be fun to watch this season.
With the Oakland Raiders looking like a clown car speeding into the abyss, the Bears took control early and never let go in a 34-26 preseason victory highlighted by progress on offense.
Quarterback Jay Cutler led the Bears on five first-half scoring drives, looking at ease in coach Marc Trestman's reimagined attack. The onslaught was rapid. The Bears marched to a 23-0 lead and -- with more than 10 minutes left in the first half -- rolled up 222 yards to just 34 for the Raiders.
"It was a good outing for everybody," Cutler said, per the Chicago Tribune. "But it is preseason. Can't get caught up in that. We start off the season 0-0 like everybody else. We have to get back to work next week."
Cutler was knocked last week for locking in on Brandon Marshall on all five of his pass attempts. The quarterback promised that would change, and he followed through by targeting six different receivers in the first quarter alone Friday. Cutler's numbers -- 12-of-21 passing for 142 yards and one touchdown -- would have been better if not for his receivers' six drops.
In the backfield, Matt Forte was a revelation. Trestman is known to lean on his runners in the passing game, and Forte is an ideal fit for this scheme. He looked rejuvenated against Oakland, banging out 76 yards on six rushes for an outrageous 12.7 yards per carry.
Cutler's right: It's just a preseason game. But the old, boring offense of the Chicago Bears looks to be a thing of the past.
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