Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - Jay Cutler was not exactly welcomed back to Denver, but he played like it was home in the Chicago Bears' 27-17 preseason win over the Broncos.

Cutler completed 15-of-21 passes for 144 yards and a score for the Bears in his first game back in Denver since being traded in the offseason.

"It was a little bit weird," Cutler said. "Different locker room, different sideline, but that's how it goes. I love where I'm at in Chicago, and I think we're headed in the right direction offensively."

The quarterback set a single-season Broncos record with 4,526 passing yards and was named to his first career Pro Bowl last season but had a much- publicized spat with new Denver head coach Josh McDaniels, who unsuccessfully tried to acquire QB Matt Cassel in a trade with New England.

Communication between the Broncos and Cutler broke down, leading to his being traded on April 3 to the Bears in exchange for a package that included quarterback Kyle Orton.

Cutler was roundly and loudly booed by the Denver faithful, who also shook the stadium with their stomping when he stepped under center for the Bears. Cutler at times had to look to the sideline for signals because of the noise, but he played well regardless.

"I think it's exactly what we were prepared for, what we thought it would be. Denver's got good fans, and we knew coming in it would be a hostile environment. Which was good, it's good preparation for us going into Green Bay the first game."

For his part, Orton also played well before leaving in the second quarter with a cut right index finger. He finished with 96 yards on 12-of-16 completions.

"It was good to see (my former teammates)," Orton said. "I talked to them before the game, it was good to see them. Hopefully, we would have had a better outcome than we did. They're a good team. I give them all the credit tonight, for sure."

Adrian Peterson ran for 68 yards and a score on 12 carries for the Bears, who improved to 2-1 in preseason play. Matt Forte had a rushing and receiving touchdown for Chicago.

Peyton Hillis and Darius Walker each had a rushing touchdown for Denver, which played its first preseason home game but fell to 0-3.

Cutler had a slightly shaky start, as the Bears went four-and-out on each of their first two series. He was backed into the end zone on the second series, during which the crowd cheered mightily when he was pressured.

However, both offenses eventually got going and the teams traded field goals in the first quarter. Matt Prater connected on a 31-yard attempt and Robbie Gould succeeded from 40 yards out to make it a 3-3 game after one stanza.

The Bears went ahead in the second quarter, after Devin Hester returned a punt 54 yards and was denied a touchdown only when he was tackled at the Denver four-yard line. Forte ran for three yards and then plunged into the end zone from a yard out to make it a 10-3 contest.

The Broncos were forced to punt on their next series but pinned Chicago at its own two. However, Cutler led his new team downfield, completing a 16-yard pass to Earl Bennett and a 21-yarder to tight end Greg Olsen.

A roughing-the-passer penalty brought the ball to the Denver 14 before Cutler found Bennett for eight yards with under half a minute to play in the half. After an incompletion, Cutler found Forte at the front of the end zone in the middle of the field. He threaded the pass in for the TD with 13 seconds to play, giving the Bears a 17-3 halftime lead.

Orton suffered his injury in the series before Chicago's late drive, when he appeared to hit Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye on the follow-through.

Denver had the only score of the third quarter, when Hillis ran two yards into the end zone through the left side of the line, capping a 61-yard drive.

However, Peterson had a 12-yard TD run in the fourth that made it a 24-10 game.

Walker's one-yard scoring run capped Denver's 88-yard drive to get the Broncos within a possession, but Gould's 25-yard field goal with under 14 seconds to go sealed Chicago's victory.

Game Notes

Denver termed Orton's injury an "upper extremity" injury...The Broncos played without wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who was suspended for the remainder of the preseason Friday for conduct detrimental to the team...Denver's Tom Brandstater threw for 110 yards on 8-of-12 completions, while wideout Kenny McKinley caught four passes for 75 yards...Olsen had three catches for 47 yards.