CHICAGO — Chicago's offense appears to be in sync, even if the same might not be true of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his offensive coordinator.

Cutler played one of his most impressive games Monday night in a 34-18 victory over the host Dallas Cowboys, connecting on 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

Even after posting his third-highest career passer rating (140.1), a lot of postgame attention was again focused on Cutler's sideline behavior.

Cutler at one point sat on the bench after he had obviously been irritated by confusion on the field regarding a play call the previous series. When offensive coordinator Mike Tice — a former Seahawks tight end — sat down next to him and began talking, Cutler walked away.

"I don't have to sit by him the whole game, do I?" Cutler said afterward.

Told it appeared he had snubbed Tice, Cutler said, "Just because I walk off and go and get water, it doesn't mean much."

On Sept. 13, Cutler shouted at and shoved left tackle J'Marcus Webb after some shoddy blocking — and after that 23-10 loss to Green Bay, he criticized the play of the team but indicated his own play had been both good and bad.

On his weekly radio show Tuesday, Cutler said any negative interpretation of the episode with Tice was media embellishment.

"If I yell on the sidelines, I get killed," the 29-year-old Cutler said. "If I don't say anything, I get killed. If I walk away, I get killed. It's a no-win situation."

It is not the first time Cutler seemingly has been at odds with an offensive coordinator. Last year, he was caught by TV microphones cursing at then-OC Mike Martz. There have also been reports Cutler did not get along with former offensive coordinator Ron Turner.

Meanwhile, Cutler praised Tice's calls for a second half when the offense gained 238 yards.

"I thought Mike did a great job of dialing those plays up," Cutler said.

Unitas' son

encourages Brees

METAIRIE, La. — With Drew Brees in position to surpass Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas' record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass, Unitas' son has sent words of encouragement to the New Orleans Saints' quarterback.

A letter from Joe Unitas congratulates Brees for tying the record of 47 straight games last weekend in Green Bay. The Saints play San Diego on Sunday.

Joe Unitas said his father, who set the record from 1956 to 1960 and died in 2002, would want Brees to own the record.

In the letter, Joe Unitas called Brees "a role model."

Notes

• According to multiple media reports, receiver Santonio Holmes of the New York Jets might be out for the season because of an injury to his left foot suffered in Sunday's 34-0 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

• Oakland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey practiced for the first time since being hospitalized by a helmet-to-helmet hit by Pittsburgh safety Ryan Mundy on Sept. 23.

• Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk has voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage, a view opposing that of Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo.

• According to ESPN.com, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told radio station KRLD-FM: "Let me say this ... I know this: I couldn't be more disappointed."