The Bears survived arguably the toughest two-game stretch of their 2009 season with a 1-1 record, no minor feat considering they had to defeat the Super Bowl champion Steelers 17-14 at Soldier Field on Sunday to get to .500.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, on whom many hopes are pinned, rebounded from a season-opening four-INT disaster in the loss in Green Bay to play like the guy the Bears gave up three high draft choices and quarterback Kyle Orton to get.

"It means a lot [to me], and it means a lot to this team," Cutler said. "We've had a lot of pressure and expectations on us since I got here, since Orlando [Pace] got here, since the defense has stepped it up. It's good to get this one off our back and move on. We went to Green Bay with the whole city of Chicago on us, which is fine. We love it. We expect a lot out of ourselves. To get this first one behind us and get rolling, it's good for us."

Cutler's 104.7 passer rating was 61.5 points higher than his 43.2 against the Packers.

"I thought Jay was outstanding all day," coach Lovie Smith said. "We as an offense, as a team, have a long ways to go. But he's a pro. I think he handled the week well."

That's a good thing since the Bears must play the remainder of the 2009 season without six-time pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who is on injured reserve with a dislocated right wrist. And defensive end Alex Brown, who had two sacks against the Steelers, suffered a sprained ankle of indeterminate severity.

With the running game languishing, Cutler and the passing game are even more crucial as the Bears prepare to head for the West Coast and a date with the Seahawks.

"We haven't had a lot of [rushing] yards," Smith said. "Some days a team will gang up on the run, and we'll [have to] beat them passing the ball. I'm still pleased with what we're doing with the running game."

The team that "gets off the bus running the football," according to Smith, has pulled up lame. In two games against 3-4 defenses, the Bears have rushed for just 129 yards on 49 carries, a 2.9-yard average. Featured ball carrier Matt Forte has just 84 yards on 38 carries for a 2.2-yard average.

On Sunday, the Bears had 39 passing plays and just 18 runs.