Joe's Gameday Recap: Redskins 17, Bears 14

Well it certainly didn't feel like either team won this game, does it? After all the turnovers, penalties, drops, and missed assignments, this fugly-fest mercifully ended with a 17-14 loss to the Washington Redskins. I feel dirty.

Chicago's offense was about as bad as bad can be in the first quarter, notching an incredibly pitiful negative five yards and giving up several sacks of Cutler. Luckily a D.J. Moore interception off an Israel Idonije deflection put the Bears on the board, giving them the early lead. From there it was a game to forget, as the Bears scored only one offensive touchdown on a solid drive to end the first half on which they actually threw short, quick passes. In the second half, it appeared for the longest time as if neither team wanted to win, putting the ball on the ground or throwing it to the opposing jersey on every possible occasion.

US Presswire 

Mike Martz's vaunted offense turned it over six times in the second half of Sunday's contest, at one point turning it over on five straight possessions. Cutler made poor decisions, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox quit on pass routes and Matt Forte continued his fumbling problem. DeAngelo Hall was the beneficiary of Cutler's errant throws, racking up all four interceptions. Johnny Knox has a case of the drops after a decent start, killing Bear drives.

Early in the second quarter, a 50-yard bomb from Cutler to Early Bennet put the ball at the one. Lovie challenged the call on the field, thinking the throw was a touchdown. His cal signaled his complete lack of confidence in his short-yardage offense. On the next play after the failed challenge, Jay Cutler appeared to break the plane of the end zone on a rare QB sneak, but the ball was knocked loose after he stretched it out. Lovie chose not to challenge that call, costing the Bears seven points. Whoever advises Lovie on possible challenges needs to be replaced immediately by a monkey and a coin-flipping machine.

Here are the results of Chicago's fourteen offensive drives: 7 punts, 2 fumbles, 4 interceptions, one touchdown. So... ouch. The defense played superb, giving up only ten points and forcing three turnovers. In today's NFL, that should be a recipe for success. Instead it's a three point loss. if Martz can't reign in this offense and limit the erratic mistakes, the Bears could maintain their lead in the NFC North. Instead the Vikings or Packers will be nipping at their heels during the upcoming bye week after which the Bears will take on a Bills team that isn't a guaranteed win.

Happy Jay Cutler Day. I need a shower.