Chicago Bears Week Whatever: Who Cares What We Learned?
Published by Christopher Murphy on December 2, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
I began writing this segment hoping the Bears would actually learn something from themselves and show some progress in the season toward, not necessarily the Super Bowl as genius Sports Illustrated predicted, but at least competing. However, all we’ve truly learned from them is a football team cannot change with one player.
Chicago Bears, meet a good team, the Minnesota Vikings. They combine an offense with weapons everywhere anchored by a good quarterback, who rarely gets touched by defenders, along with a defense who gets to the quarterback and stops the run.
The Bears have none of that accept maybe the good quarterback part, which could be why they’ve lost six out of seven games and are currently on a four-game losing streak.
Offensive
The Vikings showed why they are 10-1 and the Bears are 4-7.
The Vikings had 537 total yards to the Bears 169, 31 first downs to the Bears eight, and 83 offensive plays to the Bears 38. This, of course, leads to the Vikings’ time of possession of 40:55 as opposed to the Bears 19:05.
Simply unbelievable.
The only time the Bears offense got going was when Cutler operated in the no-huddle. He completed five of six passes for 54 yards on the TD drive, and then led the Bears to the Minnesota 23. His nemesis, the interception, however, ended the second drive as he threw into the endzone.
Cutler added a second interception on a clear pass interference call two minutes later. He now has a career-high 20 interceptions and leads the NFL. Welcome to Chicago, Jay.
What does this say about the offensive coaching staff if the only time the Bears’ offense goes anywhere is in the no-huddle or when we see Cutler drawing up plays on the sidelines?
The Bears’ offense this season was summed up perfectly in their first drive of the second half. Johnny Knox made up for a fumble earlier in the game by taking the opening kickoff 77 yards to the Minnesota eight where Forte had a run for no gain, Orlando Pace had a false start, and Cutler was sacked on back-to-back plays.
If you haven’t puked up Thanksgiving left-overs yet, the Bears were out-gained 225-2 in the second half.
Don’t forget to hold your hair back.
And finally, in case you’re having the dry heaves, the Bears have two touchdowns in their last three games.
Adrian Who?
The Bears actually held Adrian Peterson in check, and by check I mean gave up 85 yards rushing, which for the Bears is a Christmas miracle. Hunter Hillenmeyer also caused two Peterson fumbles.
But don’t go thinking the Bears actually stopped the running game of the Vikings. Percy Harvin and Chester Taylor had 78 yards on six carries. The Vikings averaged 4.7 yards per carry.
The secondary was picked apart as they have been all year by good offenses. Brett Favre completed 32 of 48 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bears helped Favre by only sacking him once on a safety blitz. Another stellar performance by the Bears’ defensive line, which management and the coaching staff has put so much stock and draft picks into.
The Revolving Linebacker Door
The Bears have signed Cato June to a one-year contract after Lance Briggs left the Minnesota game early and made it official that all three starting linebackers for the Bears this season have now been hurt.
June has appeared in 88 games with 73 starts in six NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2003-06) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007-08). He has 498 tackles, 12 interceptions, one sack, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
He applied to the job opening at ChicagoBears.com that said, “Looking for defensive player who doesn’t get hurt on every play nor cares about losing…a lot.”
The extent of Brigg’s injury is not known, but it should not be season-ending, although, that would be the best news Bears fans have had all season. This would assure them Briggs would not get a career-ending injury this season considering he currently makes every tackle on defense.
Nevermind, the Bears don’t really have a future considering they have no draft picks as their first-round pick went to the Broncos for Cutler and their second-round pick went to the Buccaneers for Gaines Adams.
Free agency in the NFL is not where you want to fix your team. The Bears know that firsthand.
The Bears should also think about benching Jay Cutler and Matt Forte if they want them to live to see Christmas.
Someone ask Santa for an offensive line, a defensive line, a secondary, a couple receivers, and a brand new coaching staff.
Who am I kidding? Even Santa couldn’t fix the Bears.
Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com
