Offense: C+
Kyle Orton completed 22 of 37 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns for a passer rating of 97.1.
Matt Forte averaged 3.8 yards a carry but carried only 13 times for 50 yards. Devin Hester had a team-high six catches for 85 yards, and Brandon Lloyd and Greg Olsen made TD receptions.
Defense: D-
The Texans rolled up 455 total yards, including 328 through the air by quarterback Matt Schaub, who completed 27 of 36 passes for a passer rating of 121.1. Steve Slaton ran for 92 yards and a touchdown. Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson had 10 catches for 148 yards and two TDs. The defense came up short when the Bears needed it most, as the Texans drove 89 yards in the fourth quarter to take a commanding 31-17 lead.
Special teams: B
Brad Maynard landed four punts inside the 20, and
Robbie Gould converted a 37-yard field goal. But Gould’s onside kick in the final minutes was poorly executed. Danieal Manning returned six kickoffs for a 31.2-yard average but lost a fumble on one. Devin Hester returned one punt for no yards and called for two fair catches.
Coaching: C
The Bears knew about Johnson’s special skills and should have provided more help for cornerback Charles Tillman. Perhaps making it harder for Johnson to get off the line of scrimmage would have helped. Relying on the defense to stop the Texans midway through the fourth quarter was inviting trouble. Trailing 24-17 while in Texans territory, the Bears would have been advised to go for it.
