CHICAGO (CBS) — During the course of a long NFL season, good teams find a way to win games during which they play poorly, and Lovie Smith said that’s just what the Bears did on Sunday against Carolina.

Smith spoke with WBBM Newsradio’s Josh Liss this morning, saying: “I think during the course of a year, you have to have games like this when you don’t play your best ball.”

Smith went on to praise quarterback Jay Cutler, who struggled for three quarters, but posted a 122 quarterback rating in the fourth quarter, leading the Bears down the field in the final minute and setting up Robbie Gould’s winning field goal.

LISTEN: Lovie Smith On WBBM Newsradio With Josh Liss