Thread: Urlacher: 'We didn't see this one coming'

Urlacher: 'We didn't see this one coming'

Defense plays decent, but not well enough in linebacker's mind

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jay Cutler wasn't the only Bears player to be blind-sided Sunday night.

"We didn't see this one coming," said linebacker Brian Urlacher, following the Bears' first loss of the season, an error-filled 17-3 setback to the Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium.

The Giants sacked Cutler an NFL-record nine times in the first half before Cutler sat out with a concussion in the second half.

"It was tough to see anyone get hit like that, especially our quarterback," Urlacher said. "I don't know what happened, but he didn't go back in, so it's probably not good."

The Bears' defense kept the visitors in the game most of the way, trailing just 3-0 at halftime on a Lawrence Tynes field goal.

"It was a three-point ballgame at the half," Urlacher said. "I think they went three-and-out the first drive. Then they had the 90-yard drive … we've got to stop them. We've got to play better on defense."

The Bears' defense managed to keep pressure on Giants quarterback Eli Manning, but nothing like the kind of heat Cutler felt.

Manning completed 18 of 30 passes for 195 yards. He was sacked twice and had a passer rating of 79.2.

"We got pressure on him, we just couldn't stop the run enough," said Urlacher. "There were a couple of plays there that the running back busted, and those are frustrating. But the ones that hurt us were in the third and fourth quarters."

Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 129 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Brandon Jacobs chipped in with 62 yards and a TD on just six attempts.

Urlacher was credited with five tackles, including one tackle for loss, two passes defended and one fumble recovery.

"We had a good week in practice. We didn't play well today," lamented Urlacher. "We made some plays when we had to. Just not enough."

fmitchell@tribune.com