What Day Off Meant: Bears in NFC North Basement

November 3, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: The good news for the Chicago Bears (and, of course, their fans) is the team did not lose a game Sunday. Mostly because it was a bye week. The bad news is the Bears ended the day in last place in the NFC North. Mostly because the Minnesota Vikings defeated Washington and improved their record to 4-5 to the Bears’ 3-5. Meaning the Bears’ two games with Minnesota in the second half of the season loom large in the team’s march toward mediocrity.

Video below of Jenell Hendrix. What a way to start the week.

* On the bright (?) side for the Bears, they do play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night at Lambeau Field. Meaning the Bears’ 0-3 home record will remain intact. If it’s any consolation to Bears fans (and the guess here is that it is not), the Bears have the best record of any team without a home victory this season. The others: Oakland (0-4 home, 0-4 road) and Tampa Bay (0-4 home, 1-3 road). Meaning the Bears have a chance for a Soldier Field victory vs. the Buccaneers and former coach Lovie Smith on Nov. 23.

* Speaking of the Bears and numbers and all that, the New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos 43-21 Sunday and defeated the Bears the previous Sunday 51-23. Does that mean Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is more productive than Denver’s Peyton Manning? The statistical-analysis department had Sunday off, but offhand we are fairly certain there is no comparison between Manning and Cutler. Well, other than they both play the same position and both have been Broncos quarterbacks.

* Speaking of Tampa Bay (we were a paragraph or so ago), former Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon is to be introduced as manager of the Chicago Cubs on Monday. If nothing else, his presence in the dugout — or anywhere he happens to be — will provide a diversion from any shortcomings the ballclub might have on the field in 2015. Of course, the expectation is the Cubs will improve in 2015. After all, Maddon has a proven track record as a winner. Well, compared to the Cubs. Maddon’s 2014 Rays went 77-85, which might not be considered great. Or even good. Unless you want to compare it to the 2014 Cubs, who went 73-89.

* Speaking of Maddon (who replaced a manager under contract in Rick Renteria), Maddon’s agent Alan Nero told MLB Network Radio: “Joe would have stayed if they had stepped up.” Which slightly alters the narrative of Maddon being intent on taking the Cubs job. Like many people, Maddon seemingly was intent on taking the money — regardless of location (geographically or in the standings).

* Highlight of Sunday’s sports viewing was Comcast SportsNet’s airing of Lauren Hill’s college basketball debut for Mount St. Joseph against Hiram College. She scored a layup for the first basket of the game at Xaxier University in Cincinnati and exited to the bench. Back on the court in the final 30 seconds of the game, she also scored the last basket in a 66-55 MSJ victory. Lauren who? She will be a household name long after her death. Suffering from terminal brain cancer, Hill had a goal of playing college basketball. With the efforts of many, she achieved it. The telecast, which CSN picked up from Fox Sports Ohio, was exemplary. Among those attending the contest was Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky, who was interviewed briefly on the telecast. What could have been maudlin was made memorable. If there ever is a repeat telecast, you might want to see it. Be advised to have tissues nearby.

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