Winning Ugly: Bears Outlast Weather and Ravens for a 23-20 Overtime Win

Nov 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman leaves the field due to inclement weather against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly enough, Marc Trestman made the opposite call on a 4th and 1 with the Bears trying to protect a three point lead.  I thought for sure he’d pull the big Tresticles out from under his coat and play to seal the deal. Instead, the Bears punted and the Ravens proceeded to march down the field and kick a last second field goal to force overtime.

It was another odd sequence for Trestman and the Bears coaching staff.  The Ravens were moving the ball well on their final drive and were well within field goal range but with time winding down and all of their time outs available, the Bears opted to let the Ravens run it out before the Ravens finally had to kick a field goal.  If the Ravens had managed to score a touchdown, the Bears would have no time left to operate.  Trestman didn’t give a lot of detail behind his decision:

"“We were going to call time out on the next one and they called timeout, instead of us. We were going to use the clock there just to rest our team. We didn’t see the value in calling a timeout.”"

Huh? Didn’t see the value?  Oh, I forgot.  He must’ve known the Bears stellar defense was going to stop them.

Josh McCown was Mr. Overtime, hitting a crucial 3rd and 9 pass to Alshon Jeffery followed immediately by a 43 yard pass to Martellus Bennett that set up Robbie Gould’s 38 yarder to pull the Bears out of a looooong day at Soldier Field with a much needed win.