A week ago, few in the football world could believe that the Bears lost their season opener to the Buffalo Bills. Seven days later, the shock is that Chicago went on the road and upset the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.
According to coach Marc Trestman, that's just life in the NFL.
"Every week is a new storyline," Trestman said Monday evening on WBBM AM-780's 'Chicago Bears Coaches Show.' "The game is a story within itself."
The coach and wide receiver Brandon Marshall each hit the airwaves to discuss Sunday's 28-20 over the 49ers in Santa Clara, California. Both mentioned that the team pushed aside distractions after the loss to the Bills and focused on the game ahead, a difficult task given all the noise following the season-opening defeat.
"Our coaches and players put in the time. We had amnesia about the week before and went to work," Trestman said.
Marshall went more in depth, saying that the team had to correct the mistakes they made versus the Bills and also block out the noise of the people who were claiming the team's season was already finished.
"It felt like 60 percent of Chicago started panicking. It felt like that; that our season is over," Marshall said on WMVP AM-1000's 'Waddle and Silvy Show.' "You guys know football, you know better. When you turn the ball over like we did, we don't have a chance."
The Bears lost the turnover battle to the Bills 3-1. Against the 49ers, Chicago's defense forced four takeaways and the offense didn't give any away.
"We have a lot of great football in us," Marshall added. "If we continue to get wins like we did (on Sunday), halfway through the season I really think that's when we are going to hit our mark. Because right now, we are not where we should be. But we have the attitude and the work ethic to get there."
Marshall's presence was key to the Bears victory. He – along with teammate and fellow wide receiver Alshon Jeffery – were listed as questionable heading into the contest because of injuries. Both wound up playing, with Marshall hauling in three touchdown receptions in the win.
"I don't think they were at their best last night," Trestman said of his Pro Bowl wide receivers. "It was a very courageous job for Brandon and Alshon being out there. Just being out there made a tremendous difference in the game. Alshon drew three (pass interference penalties). Having those guys out there as targets made a difference in the final score."
Included in the three touchdowns for Marshall was a beautiful one-handed grab at the end of the first half that sparked the team heading into the break. Quarterback Jay Cutler lofted the ball into the endzone and Marshall leaped, spun and hauled in the ball in with his right hand in one fluid motion.
"If you look at my highlights, I don't have a lot of one-handed catches," Marshall said. "But this, starting in camp, but my left hand has started to feel like it has sticky-glue on it. My right hand… I didn't catch a ball one-hand with my right hand all offseason."
Marshall said the play, which gave the Bears their first points of the game, making the San Francisco lead 17-7 going into halftime, was a key to the team's come-from-behind win.
"It lifted us up a little bit, cut that lead a little bit, gave us some momentum," said the wideout.
The game was not without loss, however. Cornerback Kyle Fuller tore his triceps in the victory, ending his season prematurely for the second year in a row. The Bears placed Tillman on Injured Reserve on Monday.
"On a personal level I'm really disappointed for Charles. He was on his way to a Pro Bowl season," Trestman said. "Really, he had worked so hard this offseason to come back and get ready to go. We'll feel it on our football team. The next man has to step up and we have to play."
