Saints, Bears scoreless after first quarter

CHICAGO, Ill. - It was a story of consecutive turnovers in soggy Chicago on Monday night by teams that resemble in every way their 5-8 records.

Fourteen plays into the Bears' offensive attack, they had a turnover, two sacks, and 27 yards, 2 of which were Jay Cutler's very own.

All of which led inevitably to a scoreless tie after the first quarter at Soldier Field.

Chicago's first drive would end abruptly when Cutler's 3rd-and-8 pass for Martellus Bennett was tipped into the grasp of cornerback Patrick Robinson.

But Cutler's 22nd turnover would not cost the Bears, as Drew Brees' first pass attempt was caught and fumbled by Nick Toon on the Bears 3, recovered for the home side by Jared Allen.

Cutler was nearly intercepted again on the 3rd-and-1 play that ended their second drive.

The Bears' signal caller finished competing 2-of-5 passes. Matt Forte rushed 6 times for 21 yards, half the 42 he gained in his last two games.

A fumble would come to end the Saints' second possession. After Pierre Thomas took a screen pass 39 yards through traffic, when Brees fumbled an exchange on the next play, recovering for a 5 yard loss.

Backup quarterback Luke McCown, serving as special-teams holder, dropped the sloppy long snap, and in a panic rolled left on a pass attempt that was itself nearly intercepted.

Shayne Graham ventured a penalty-influenced 51 yard field goal that slid right, nearly slipping to the turf on his follow-through.

New Orleans is seeking a berth in the playoff, sharing the lead in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons, who they will host Dec. 21. 

Jay Cutler was sacked on consecutive possessions, by David Hawthorne through the middle and on a delayed pass play from his blind side by Junior Gallette that ingloriously ended the Bears' third drive.

Kenny Stills easily snaked into Chicago's secondary to snag a 21 yard pass from Brees to near midfield, though Terron Armstead was called for holding Jared Allen, producing the 1st-and-20.

Which in the hands of Pierre Thomas was easily converted on his second successful screen catch, clear over midfield to the Bears 32 for a 31 yard gain.

Drew Brees is 5-for-6 on 111 yards, 70 of which went to Thomas.

New Orleans outgained the Bears 131-27 in fifteen minutes.

Chicago was eliminated from postseason contention for the fourth straight season, and are playing without leading receiver Brandon Marshall, who was excused for the season after suffering two broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the Bears' Thursday night matchup with the Cowboys.