INDIANAPOLIS - The Chicago Bears' inability to finish drives in Saturday's first half had nothing to do with their quarterback.
Despite poor play from the offensive line, Jay Cutler looked sharp against the Colts' defense, leading the offense on three scoring drives.
Even minus Kevin White (PUP), Alshon Jeffery (calf) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) for much of the first half, Cutler spread the ball around to five receivers, completing 8 of 9 passes.
Cutler's lone incompletion, ironically enough, occurred on the play in which Wilson got hurt in the first half. Wilson was running to catch a deep ball in the back corner of the end zone.
But Cutler's brightest moments occurred on plays that penalties erased.
Showing off his athleticism and toughness, Cutler scrambled 13 yards to the goal line, where he lowered his shoulder into Colts defender Greg Toler in an attempt to cross the plane. Toler took the worst of the collision as Cutler, who lost his helmet upon impact, tumbled into the end zone. Replays later showed that Cutler would have been marked down at the 1-yard line.
Right guard Kyle Long's holding penalty made it a moot point.
Earlier in the first half, Cutler bought time outside the pocket to find Josh Bellamy 42 yards downfield for a completion. That play, too, was brought back because of a penalty.
