Bears Rally for Victory, Spoil 49ers’ Stadium Debut

September 15, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: For about three quarters of the Chicago Bears-San Francisco 49ers game, it appeared the highlight for Sunday — at least for some of us — was going to be having mowed the front yard. Or putting in some solar-powered lights along the front steps. Yes, it was that incredible a day in the world of home improvement. And then came something even more incredible: the fourth quarter of the Bears game where they showed road improvement by scoring three touchdowns to rally from an early 17-point deficit for a 28-20 victory in the first game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Video below of Jayden Ashley Robinson to start the week.

* On the bright (?) side regarding Bears-49ers game, I was able to tune in to see Miss America crowned (Miss New York for the third year in a row). Didn’t miss any scoring plays. May have missed a penalty flag or two or three or … Yes, there were that many penalties in the game, especially early and often.

* To his credit, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler threw for four touchdowns. He amassed a meager 176 yards on 23-of-34 passes. The Bears were at a statistical disadvantage in most categories. One exception being turnovers where they had none and the 49ers had four. That disparity generally leads to the team with the fewest turnovers winning.

* And so, the Bears have lost a home game they were expected to win (the season opener vs. Buffalo) and won a road game they were expected to lose. So where does that leave them? Tied for first with all the other teams in the NFC North after two weeks.

* Speaking of one of the Bears’ division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings lost at home to New England. THey did so without star running back Adrian Peterson, whom the team deactivated because of a grand jury indictment on child-abuse charges that sparked a public outcry. Not that Peterson lost all of his fans. If you’re a Vikings fan who wore a Peterson jersey to Sunday’s game, was the appropriate accessory a switch? Or does the jersey that basically states “I support child abuse” say enough?

* Speaking of deactivated players, the Carolina Panthers deactivated defensive end Greg Hardy, who has been convicted of assaulting and threatening his former girlfriend but is appealing the case, shortly before Sunday’s game. Panthers coach Ron Rivera (the former Bears linebacker) said the decision was his. Something says the decision was his after folks higher up the team’s totem pole provided reason to deactivate Hardy. Anyone wanting to commend the Panthers should feel free to do so. Some of us, however, will wonder what took so long. Not only in the days leading up to the game but in the grander scheme of things with Hardy having been convicted in July.

* And lastly, Ravens running back Ray Rice reportedly will appeal his “indefinite” suspension that commissioner Roger Goodell handed down last week after video surfaced of Rice punching out his then-fiancee. OK. Fine. Make the suspension definite. How about 10 years. Five. Pick a number. And while the NFL is at it, how about a zero tolerance policy against domestic violence and child abuse? Oh, wait. America is a land of second chances. And such a policy isn’t fair. Guess what. Life is not fair. Get used to it — whether you’re an NFL player or otherwise.

***

Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the extended efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):