Bears Blitz

Published by Christopher Murphy on September 13, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

It would seem even in victory the Chicago Bears make it impossible to believe in them. The Bears did their best Plaxico Burress impression and shot themselves in the leg on numerous occasions in the team’s 19-14 victory over the Detroit Lions.

In total yards, the Bears outgained the Lions 463 to 168. The Bears had 23 first downs to the Lions’ 13. The Lions were even without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who will miss 4-6 weeks, for the entire second half.

On paper, it would look like the Bears shellacked the Lions, but the truth was they barely escaped and thanks to an odd rule, the Bears came out victorious over a team that is extremely beatable.

Luck can only take you so far, however.

Four turnovers, not scoring on a first and goal from inside the 1-yard line, horrendous blocking and penalties was what setback the all-important points category for the Bears. 

Jay Is Our Quarterback

Cutler was extremely effective, avoiding a pass rush, even though he was sacked four times, and going 23-35 with 372 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. Cutler also had five carries for 22 yards and a fumble.

Cutler would have had over 400 yards and three touchdowns if not for a Devin Aromashodu drop in the endzone on the opening drive. In fact, the entire receiving crew did not go out of their way to help Cutler, as Johnny Knox and Armashodu often looked lost, but Cutler was still able to put together an impressive game.

 The new offensive system seemed to work well with the awful offensive line, who is only getting real production from Roberto Garza. It is sad that two tight ends are required and Cutler needs to constantly be put in motion because both offensive tackles, Chris Williams and Frank Omiyale, are completely useless.

Cutler, however, was able to buy time and make smart decisions, which didn’t seem would be the case after he threw an early interception into triple coverage, which had the smell of last year’s turnover barrage.

Running On Empty

Matt Forte had just 50 yards on 17 carries as holes just did not seem to open, proven in the fact the Bears could not punch the ball in on first-and-goal from inside the Lions 1-yard line on three rushing attempts, which will spark some more questions about Lovie Smith.

With over just over 10 minutes remaining and the Bears down by one, the Bears were given another gift as Lance Briggs forced a fumble inside the Lions’ 1-yard line. Two stuffs and an incomplete pass later and it was 4th-and-1 with just under nine minutes remaining.

Rather than take the field goal and the lead against a Lions offense that hadn’t had a first down since losing Stafford, the Bears went for it and were promptly stuffed.

No excuse can justify not getting the ball in the endzone on four plays within the opponents 1-yard line, but then again, taking the lead late against an offense that isn’t moving would probably be the more intelligent move. I’d take the field goal if it were my Madden team, but thousands of people aren’t judging my moves on Madden…yet, at least

Forte more than made up for the run game with his production through the air, hauling in seven receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Chester Taylor had a pretty nice debut, rushing for 29 yards on nine carries and hauling in three catches for 44 yards.

Add to the offensive line stats, four penalties costing the Bears 35 yards, but considering the Bears had 9 penalties, costing the team 100 yards, the offensive line may have just given into peer pressure. 

Excuse Me, You Dropped This

Besides the mass amount of penalties, the Bears supplied the Lions with turnovers on the wrong part of the field as well.

Cutler’s interception was on 3rd-and-20 on the Bears’ 44. It was a bonehead throw into triple coverage, but wasn’t exactly a killer, although the Lions did score off the turnover.

Greg Olsen fumbled on the Lions’ 12 after picking up a first down, which cost the Bears at least three points.

On a drive in which Cutler had completed a pass for 21 yards, 15 yards and what seemed to be more than 13 yards, entering the Lions’ 43, Forte fumbled on the latter, taking away all momentum. Forte would fumble later in the game, but the ball was recovered.

Cutler would fumble on a sack with little over four minutes remaining in the third, which put the Lions on the Bears’ 39.

However, the Bears had some big turnovers of their own. The turnover that had the biggest effect on the game was the fumble Julius Peppers caused after sacking Stafford. Not only did it lead to a Bears field goal right before the half, but Stafford would not return. 

After Cutler fumbled on the sack mentioned above, the Lions had third down from the Bears 37, but Charles Tillman intercepted Shaun Hill on the Bears’ 7-yard line to keep it a one-point game.

And, of course, there was the Briggs sack and fumble recovery inside the Lions’ 1, which the Bears found a way not to score on.

Defense Played Well, But Against Who?

I understand you can’t control who you play, but let’s just say it would be bigger news if the Bears didn’t stop the Lions offense rather than if they did.

The Bears did, however, give fans some reason to have confidence.

Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs combined for 18 tackles. The Bears defense caused three turnovers and five three-and-outs after going down 14-3 before the Lions final drive.

Although the Bears had only two sacks, only one of which came from the defensive line, they held the Lions rushing attack to just 20 total yards.

All of this requires an asterisk. Stafford was 11-for-15 for 89 yards before getting hurt and led the Lions to a 14-3 lead. After he went down, the Lions did not get a first down until the final drive.

Nothing happened on the final drive, right?

Saved By the Whistle

Although so much happens in a football game, we tend to pin everything on the final drive of a close one. 

This game would be no different.

Starting from their own 17-yard line with 1:27 remaining, the Lions moved down the field quite easily, getting to the Bears 25 in just four plays and 56 seconds.

The Lions appeared to take the lead on a 25-yard pass to Calvin Johnson, and the Bears relaxed defense, as he won the jump ball against Zackary Bowman and got two feet in bounds with 24 seconds remaining.

Everything was clear. Johnson caught the ball, had two feet in bounds and even touched the ball to the ground. It was a touchdown.

Not so fast. Whether Johnson spun the ball in celebration or just lost it, the ball squirted out.

The rule is in order for a catch to be completed, the receiver has to maintain of the ball throughout the entire process of the catch.

Whatever that means.

Apparently you can cross the plane of the endzone with the ball then drop it while running, but if you catch the ball clearly in the endzone, you have to make sure you hold onto it forever.

It’s a dumb rule, but it was the right call.

I would feel remorse for the Lions, but if Johnson simply stands up and hands the ball to the ref or just stands up with the ball at all, rather than seemingly spinning the ball in celebration, there would be no controversy.

So as we can see, rather than win, the Bears escaped. It was a team with a bad offense without their quarterback for half of the game and the Bears won by five.

What the Bears did face was a good defensive line and could not stop them.

Arguably, the Bears lose with Stafford playing the whole game.

Certainly, the Bears lose and deserve to lose if not for a rulebook loophole, even without Stafford.

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