Talk about winning ugly. I guess if you are going to have a bad game do it against a 1-5 team. In a lot of ways this game mirrored the Lions game in reverse. In the Lions game, it felt as if the Bears were always in control, but the score never reflected it. In this game it felt as though the Bears kept trying to give this game away, but the score never reflected it.
For most of the 1st Quarter, it looked like the Bears were going to run away with this game, literally.
Running game was gashing the Panthers early on with a lot of nice runs. Most of them seemed like sweeps to the outside. Even though the Bears first drive ended in an interception of an under thrown Jay Cutler pass, the offense seemed to move at will. After the Bears scored on a Matt Forte run, where he pretty much walked into the end zone, you just had the feeling this was going to be a rout.
Then came the sacks and the fumbles and the Bears ended up with 3 first half turnovers and negative passing yardage. Meanwhile, the Bears defense was letting up too many points. The Panthers had 3 consecutive scoring drives in the first half, but to the defenses credit, the score remained a reachable 13-7. Throughout the game, the defense seemed to do just enough to keep the game within reach. I want to give this group the benefit of the doubt and I'll blame the amount of scoring on the Panthers ability to slowly break down this older Bears defense, due to the offense's lack of ability to give the defense any rest on the sideline.
The offense was completely ineffective most of the game until the last couple drives. The turning point was the Panthers punt of 6 yards. After the punt went out of bounds, I just kept staring at the ref who kept on moving up the field until he got to the Panthers 38. Speaking of special teams, the Panthers made an effort to avoid Hester, and it finally backfired for them on this drive. For most of the game, Carolina kickoffs limited any return and were more effective when coupled with a Bears offense which couldn't move the ball. Carolina was more cautious this year than last year when Hester returned a punt on them. On the Bears side of the ball, Podlesh had a few good punts which pinned the Panthers pretty far into their own territory. This was important as the Bears were not doing much to change field position throughout the game.
Back to the end of the 4th quarter. Cutler was able to engineer a drive which started on the Panthers 38 and ended with a 12 yard pass to Kellen Davis for a Touchdown. Cutler was mostly in the shotgun on this drive. On the next Panthers possession, Cam Newton passed it to a wide open Tim Jennings for an interception return. I couldn't believe it when it happened. You have to remember, I'm seeing the game at a bar in Somerville, which is playing the Patriots game so I'm listening to Patriot game audio. At the time, nothing was really happening in the Patriots game so for such a swing to happen was shocking. I remember thinking, "Wait, we are up now?" On the play, Steve Smith slipped and fell, leaving Tim Jennings an open interception and route to the end zone. Better lucky than good.
The drama wasn't over as the Bears went for two and Cutler was intercepted. I didn't know the NFL rule about converting 2 points and thought that the Panthers had just taken a two point lead on us, until someone at the bar said don't worry about it. Remember, I can't hear the audio so it wasn't clear what had happened when they went to commercial. The Panthers on the ensuing possession were able to drive down the field and kick a field goal to retake the lead. In my mind, this was the biggest disappointment as I had hoped the Bears defense would be able to stop the Panthers in the clutch. But once again, maybe they were just gassed.
When the Bears got the ball back I had a bad feeling. I thought of multiple games in 2009, especially the Green Bay game and the Atlanta game, where Cutler had the opportunity to complete the two minute drill and put in the game winning score, in both cases the Bears lost. A lot of time has passed since then but the memory remains. I previously have doubted the offense's ability to win games. This seems like a front running offense good with the lead, questionable without it. But Cutler and the offense proved me wrong and came through in the end of a game which the Bears should not have won.
Last week, I said, "I don't think we'll learn much more against the 1-5 Panthers. We'll hopefully only learn that the Bears are a veteran team that will take care of the games they are supposed to win." That was mostly true, but if we did learn something out of this stinker, it is that the offense can win a game in the end. In the greater scheme of the game, the offense did not win the game, in fact it merely saved a game it almost threw away, but the offense, led by Cutler, was able to muster the necessary points in the 4th quarter; first with a TD then with Robbie Gould's game winning field goal as time expired.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Bears v. Lions
I should be happier about a win, but I just can seem to get over the fact that we now know what kind of team this is. It's as if the Lions game confirmed everything I suspected about this team. This is a team that will be limited by its offense and defined by its defense. Its a team that is led by defense and supported by offense. In the spirit, but not the quote, of a former Cardinals/Vikings coach, "They are who we thought they weren't, and they almost had us hooked". I feel like a broken record, but the expectations for this team were supposed to be blossoming offense and a defense which is holding the dam together. Instead, the offense struggles with consistency and the defense has nearly proven the Lovie Smith "Bend, but not break" theory of sound defense.
296 yards against the Lions isn't bad and with a solid run game of the 171 yards on the ground, the Bears did enough to win the time of possession battle 34:25 to 25:25. It would be nice to see Cutler have more than 150 yards passing. Right now this is a team that will beat you, but it won't stomp on you. The reason for that is an offense which can't throw the final punch. The defense provided plenty of opportunities for the offense to put it a way with a TD, but the Bears had to settle for Robbie Gould field goals instead. I get the feeling like the this team is underperforming when it comes to putting points on the board.
I don't think we'll learn much more against the 1-5 Panthers. We'll hopefully only learn that the Bears are a veteran team that will take care of the games they are supposed to win. The Bears just need to focus and put this one in the win column so we can take a commanding lead in the NFC North
Bears Defense
Let's face it, this defense is good. Currently, the Bears lead the league in points per game (13.9), takeaways (21), defensive TDs (5), and rushing defense (71 yards per game). 7 points and 4 turnovers, pretty much tell the story, but the Bears still gave up 340 yards (see Bend, not break theory). In first quarter the Bears dominated on both sides of the ball. For the rest of the game, they were able to stop the Lions on defense whenever ever they got close to the endzone. One time literally at the endzone. The defense played spectacular bend, but not break, however it would have been a different story if the Lions weren't so fumble happy and were able to put in a few field goals to make it more interesting at the end of the game.Bears Offense
Let's just call it enough at this point. The Bears are decent in the run game, but underperforming in scoring. It seems like they can move the ball by running, but tend to falter before the end zone or Gould-kicking zone.296 yards against the Lions isn't bad and with a solid run game of the 171 yards on the ground, the Bears did enough to win the time of possession battle 34:25 to 25:25. It would be nice to see Cutler have more than 150 yards passing. Right now this is a team that will beat you, but it won't stomp on you. The reason for that is an offense which can't throw the final punch. The defense provided plenty of opportunities for the offense to put it a way with a TD, but the Bears had to settle for Robbie Gould field goals instead. I get the feeling like the this team is underperforming when it comes to putting points on the board.
I don't think we'll learn much more against the 1-5 Panthers. We'll hopefully only learn that the Bears are a veteran team that will take care of the games they are supposed to win. The Bears just need to focus and put this one in the win column so we can take a commanding lead in the NFC North
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
2001 Bears
One of my favorite Bears teams was the 2001 Bears. The 2001 season was a magical season where everything seemed to bounce the Bears way. The most memorable moments are the Mike Brown games where Brown returned inceptions for touchdowns in consecutive overtime games against the 49ers and Browns at Soldier Field. There's more on these comeback games later on at the bottom of the post and check down there, because these clips are even more remarkable when watched in the context of the rest of the game. I posted the following video last week, but the best thing is to watch the fans. I can only imagine how great it would have been to be there and how much the old Soldier Field was rockin'.
There was also the Keith "Tractor" Traylor interception return, which was a pretty funny play, but also an extremely smart, athletic play by Traylor. First, he recognizes the screen. Then, he has the ability to tip the ball and catch it, while falling backwards. Next, he breaks two tackles and the rest, well is not too athletic, and probably is the slowest interception return in history.
After looking closer and trying to remember those games, it's clear 2001 was a season of change. The 2001 season was the last season in front of the colonnades, before the spaceship landed in the middle of the current Soldier Field. 2001 was also the last season of the old NFC Central and the loss of the Buccaneers as a division rival. 2001 was the beginning of the current Patriots dynasty, with Tom Brady taking over for an injured Drew Bledsoe. He would lead the underdog Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl and past the heavily (extremely heavily) favored Rams. 2001, of course, was also when 9-11 happened, which set a different tone for the entire country and delayed Week 2 games.
2001 was a season of change inside the Bears too. Personnel director Mark Hatley left and Bears President Ted Philips hired Jerry Angelo, who would remake the team. In 2000, the Bears offense featured Cade McNown at QB, James Allen and Curtis Enis at running back, and Marcus Robinson at wide receiver. Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown were promising rookies. In 2001, the Bears offense featured the QB tandem of Shane Mathews and Jim Miller, the Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas (a Hatley pick), and a new deep threat in Marty Booker who had 100 catches after only 47 the year before. The defense was literally anchored by Ted Washington and Keith Traylor. The immovable wall, listed at 365 and 340 respectively, shut down the inside of the line and allowed linebackers Brian Urlacher (90 tackles), Roosevelt Colvin (10.5 sacks), and Warrick Holdman (95 tackles) to move unblocked throughout the field.
The previous season, the Bears had trudged through a 5-11 season and most people didn't expect much better out of this team. But the 2001 Bears, somehow finished 13-3, behind a remarkable defense, a rookie running back (A-Train 1183 yards), a new offensive threat in Miller to Booker, and a never give up attitude. Here's a good recap from I assume NFL Films. It's long, but a good trip down memory lane.
Improbable Comebacks:
Below are clips from ESPN from each of the comeback games. It's notable both games started with an sack/fumble recovery by the 49ers/Browns for a TD and ends with a Mike Brown TD in overtime. Be sure to watch the Browns game which is truly remarkable. The Bears pull off a miracle after being down 21-7 with under a minute left in the game. The Bears came back with a Marty Booker touchdown with 33 seconds left, a onside recovery, and a Shane Matthews Hail Mary to James Allen which is caught after being tipped. Of course, in overtime Mike Brown would return an interception for a touchdown.
San Francisco Game (It's great watching TO miss the ball fearing an Urlacher hit, which results in Brown's interception)
After looking closer and trying to remember those games, it's clear 2001 was a season of change. The 2001 season was the last season in front of the colonnades, before the spaceship landed in the middle of the current Soldier Field. 2001 was also the last season of the old NFC Central and the loss of the Buccaneers as a division rival. 2001 was the beginning of the current Patriots dynasty, with Tom Brady taking over for an injured Drew Bledsoe. He would lead the underdog Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl and past the heavily (extremely heavily) favored Rams. 2001, of course, was also when 9-11 happened, which set a different tone for the entire country and delayed Week 2 games.
2001 was a season of change inside the Bears too. Personnel director Mark Hatley left and Bears President Ted Philips hired Jerry Angelo, who would remake the team. In 2000, the Bears offense featured Cade McNown at QB, James Allen and Curtis Enis at running back, and Marcus Robinson at wide receiver. Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown were promising rookies. In 2001, the Bears offense featured the QB tandem of Shane Mathews and Jim Miller, the Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas (a Hatley pick), and a new deep threat in Marty Booker who had 100 catches after only 47 the year before. The defense was literally anchored by Ted Washington and Keith Traylor. The immovable wall, listed at 365 and 340 respectively, shut down the inside of the line and allowed linebackers Brian Urlacher (90 tackles), Roosevelt Colvin (10.5 sacks), and Warrick Holdman (95 tackles) to move unblocked throughout the field.
The previous season, the Bears had trudged through a 5-11 season and most people didn't expect much better out of this team. But the 2001 Bears, somehow finished 13-3, behind a remarkable defense, a rookie running back (A-Train 1183 yards), a new offensive threat in Miller to Booker, and a never give up attitude. Here's a good recap from I assume NFL Films. It's long, but a good trip down memory lane.
Improbable Comebacks:
Below are clips from ESPN from each of the comeback games. It's notable both games started with an sack/fumble recovery by the 49ers/Browns for a TD and ends with a Mike Brown TD in overtime. Be sure to watch the Browns game which is truly remarkable. The Bears pull off a miracle after being down 21-7 with under a minute left in the game. The Bears came back with a Marty Booker touchdown with 33 seconds left, a onside recovery, and a Shane Matthews Hail Mary to James Allen which is caught after being tipped. Of course, in overtime Mike Brown would return an interception for a touchdown.
San Francisco Game (It's great watching TO miss the ball fearing an Urlacher hit, which results in Brown's interception)
Cleveland Game
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Bears v. Jaguars
I didn't see most of the Cowboys game and I only caught the last ten minutes or so because I was traveling back to Boston, so I didn't write a review last week.
I saw all of the Jaguars game on Sunday and it looked like Bears outplayed the Jaguars for 3 of 4 quarters. The 1st Quarter the Bears seemed to be the more dominate team, but the score just didn't show it. They were able go on a 6-minute drive to the Jacksonville 14, but could only manage a Robbie Gould field goal. At the end of the 1st Quarter and in the 2nd Quarter, the Jaguars had some success driving the ball and were able to get into Bears territory twice. One ended up in a field goal, the 2nd time was saved by a Corey Wootton forced fumble. (I was thinking the bend not break worked again). At the end of the first half, I gave 1st Quarter to the Bears and the 2nd Quarter to the Jags. The offense seemed to able to run the ball well and Cutler was finding an open Kellen Davis in a couple key situations, but the offense seemed unable to finish any drive. The defense seemed to be giving up too much yardage, and it didn't seem like they could get off the field in 3rd Down situations. In the two long drives the Jaguars had in the 1st Half, Jacksonville went 5 for 6 on 3rd Down. That being said the score at halftime was still 3-3.
The tone was set by the offense on the first drive which lasted 9 minutes, 17 plays, and only resulted in a field goal, but had to take some toll on the Jaguars' defense in the 100 degree heat (which is hard to imagine this time of year). At the time a 6-3 lead seemed tenuous, especially since MJD had gone off for a couple nice runs in the 1st half. Charles Tillman changed that with a repeat performance, taking a QB-WR miscued interception to the end zone. It was disastrous beginning to the 2nd half as the Jaguars' first two possessions consisted of 2 penalties, 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 incompletion, and 1 completion for 5 yards.
After the Tillman pick, the tide had clearly turned. The Bears, after another uninspired Jags drive, were able to ram it down the field behind Michael Bush and ended up with Alshon Jeffrey TD. The next Bears possession, it was Forte's turn as he nearly single-handedly drove the Bears down the field for a Brandon Marshall TD. At this point, it was pretty much game over, but Lance Briggs put an exclamation mark on it by returning another interception for a TD. It was the first time in NFL history where teammates return TDs in consecutive weeks. Of course, I was thinking Mike Brown from 2001 in consecutive weeks.
Of course, that was a lot more exciting because of how and when it happened. After the Briggs TD, the only highlights left was the Armando Allen TD.
I saw all of the Jaguars game on Sunday and it looked like Bears outplayed the Jaguars for 3 of 4 quarters. The 1st Quarter the Bears seemed to be the more dominate team, but the score just didn't show it. They were able go on a 6-minute drive to the Jacksonville 14, but could only manage a Robbie Gould field goal. At the end of the 1st Quarter and in the 2nd Quarter, the Jaguars had some success driving the ball and were able to get into Bears territory twice. One ended up in a field goal, the 2nd time was saved by a Corey Wootton forced fumble. (I was thinking the bend not break worked again). At the end of the first half, I gave 1st Quarter to the Bears and the 2nd Quarter to the Jags. The offense seemed to able to run the ball well and Cutler was finding an open Kellen Davis in a couple key situations, but the offense seemed unable to finish any drive. The defense seemed to be giving up too much yardage, and it didn't seem like they could get off the field in 3rd Down situations. In the two long drives the Jaguars had in the 1st Half, Jacksonville went 5 for 6 on 3rd Down. That being said the score at halftime was still 3-3.
The tone was set by the offense on the first drive which lasted 9 minutes, 17 plays, and only resulted in a field goal, but had to take some toll on the Jaguars' defense in the 100 degree heat (which is hard to imagine this time of year). At the time a 6-3 lead seemed tenuous, especially since MJD had gone off for a couple nice runs in the 1st half. Charles Tillman changed that with a repeat performance, taking a QB-WR miscued interception to the end zone. It was disastrous beginning to the 2nd half as the Jaguars' first two possessions consisted of 2 penalties, 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 incompletion, and 1 completion for 5 yards.
After the Tillman pick, the tide had clearly turned. The Bears, after another uninspired Jags drive, were able to ram it down the field behind Michael Bush and ended up with Alshon Jeffrey TD. The next Bears possession, it was Forte's turn as he nearly single-handedly drove the Bears down the field for a Brandon Marshall TD. At this point, it was pretty much game over, but Lance Briggs put an exclamation mark on it by returning another interception for a TD. It was the first time in NFL history where teammates return TDs in consecutive weeks. Of course, I was thinking Mike Brown from 2001 in consecutive weeks.
Of course, that was a lot more exciting because of how and when it happened. After the Briggs TD, the only highlights left was the Armando Allen TD.
Bears Defense
Obviously, the defense came up big again only letting up 3 points, 189 yards, and with 2 TDs of their own. Anytime your defense outscores your opponent's offense its going to be a pretty good day. If I am to nitpick, the defense probably would have wanted to get to Gabbert more often during the game and improve on their 3rd Down percentage in the first half.
The defense also provided momentum changing plays. The first was the sack-fumble by Wootton. At the time the Jaguars were driving, well into field goal range, on the Bear 21. It was their 2nd drive of the half that they had come the length of the field. With only 2 minutes left, the Bears faced the possibility of going into halftime down 6-3 after a made field goal. Corey Wootton made sure it didn't happen.
In the 2nd half, after a Bears field goal making the score 6-3, Tillman comes up big with a pick-6, making the score 13-3, and beginning the rout.
Bears Offense
As in past games, the Bears running game was effective, setting the stage for later success through the air. Forte rushed for 107 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, while Michael Bush rushed for 26 yards on 4 carries. Brandon Marshall had huge day with 12 receptions for 144 yards and 1 TD. Cutler went to Kellen Davis early in the game, but didn't connect after that. Alshon Jeffery had a nice TD reception late in the game on a slant where Jeffery got the inside position by sealing the corner from the ball and making the TD a slam dunk. The offensive line performed well, opening up holes for Forte and Bush, while also providing sufficient pass protection. Carimi seemed to have a bad game however, getting called for multiple penalties and giving up a sack.
My one thought on the offense, is that they don't seem to be able to carry the team. In the past two weeks, the offense has been unable to capture the lead until the defense has provided the momentum shift. After the Bears have captured the lead, it seems that the offense gets on track and everything starts clicking. This is a front running offense, we saw last week against Dallas. In St. Louis, it was a 13-6 game until a Major Wright interception blew it wide open. It would be nice, and it would greatly improve my confidence in this team, to see the offense take the lead without the defense providing the game changing lift.
Next week's a bye, but I might have an idea for a Bears post next week.
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