Matt Forte rushed for 97 yards and scored the game's only touchdown as the Chicago Bears rode a suffocating defensive effort to a 16-0 victory over the host Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

Robbie Gould kicked three field goals as the Bears (7-3) won their third straight game and moved one-half game ahead of Green Bay in the NFC North.

Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler was a pedestrian 16 of 25 for 156 yards with an interception as the Bears controlled the ball for 37 1/2 minutes and became the first team in NFL history to win 700 games.

Miami third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen, making his first start since the end of the 2008 season, was overwhelmed by Chicago's defense, finishing 17 of 29 for 187 yards and an interception.

Thigpen also was sacked six times as Miami (5-5) managed just 187 yards in getting shut out at home for only the second time in 40 years. Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall had three catches for 41 yards before leaving with an injury.

It marked the first shutout for the Bears since 2006, the year they advanced to the Super Bowl.