Well it was a team effort today. It took all the Bears collectively failing in order to lose this in the fashion they did to Tyler Palko. The blame starts with the offensive play-calling, then shifts to the crappy play Caleb Hanie, veers towards horrible injuries and finishes with a pathetic showing from the offensive line. As much as you don’t need to be reminded, here’s the analysis of today’s clusterf*ck.
(7-5) Chicago Bears 3
After seeing Matt Forte fail to get up following a hit to the knee and was declared out of the game, I knew the Bears were going to fall. Sure, Marion Barber came in and played pretty well, but he’s not enough to keep this offense going for four quarters. Hanie’s three interceptions (I do include the final toss-up) were too costly for a team missing their top two offensive talents.
The game’s only touchdown came on a Hail Mary throw at the end of the first half, which hit the hands of Urlacher (who looked to be trying to knock it down) and was also knocked down by Chris Conte… right towards the tiny Dexter McCluster, who was certainly playing the deflection. It was one miscue for a Bear defense that held tough for four quarters. If they had gotten any help from the offense whatsoever, it wouldn’t have been such a deathknell.
Chicago missed plenty of grand opportunities to get in the end zone, which completely cost them this game. Following a recovery on a punt, Chicago’s offense started with tremendous field position but sputtered when Hanie missed a throw on fourth and one, a questionable call at best. An illegal formation penalty in the second quarter negated a wide-open Marion Barber touchdown grab, forcing Chicago to settle for a field goal. A streaking Earl Bennett was overthrown by Hanie in the second as the receiver was headed right for a score with no defenders in front of him. A crisp fourth quarter pass from Hanie tipped off the waiting hands of Roy Williams in the end zone and into the arms of Chief Jon McGraw. (More evidence as to why Williams won’t be back next year.) It was simply too much to overcome.
I’d like to give a ton of credit to the Chief defense, which I was try to remind friends of before this game took place. They held up against the pass and came up with a whopping seven sacks of Caleb Hanie, including two on the Bears’ second-to-last drive. Chicago’s final three drives ended in two interceptions and a turnover on downs on 4th and 17. Not exactly clutch.
Other Notes of Note:-Well, we did get a glimpse of Kyle Orton today. Tyler Palko was benched at the end of the first quarter for Orton, who, during a flea-flicker, hit his hand on the helmet of a charging Major Wright. A dislocated index finger later, Palko was back in the game. Super hilarious.
-Word is semi-out on Matt Forte’s injury, which is reported to be a MCL sprain. This is the same injury Jay suffered in the NFC title game last year. So depending on the severity, we could be looking at 2-4 weeks of recovery.
-I still don’t want Donovan McNabb. Question that if you must.
Normally I’d tell you all about the silver-lining after a game like that, but there isn’t a lot to discuss. Hanie played poorly and wasn’t protected well. Key injuries struck at inopportune times. A strong defensive effort from the Bears was utterly wasted thanks to a fluke Hail Mary. Thanks to losses from some of their competitors, Chicago didn’t lose a playoff spot… for this week. I’m not sure what to expect from this team going forward. All I know is we need Jay Cutler and Matt Forte.
Bear Down and Happy Jay Cutler Day!
