Bears Marshall at a Loss, But Not for Words

October 20, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: In the aftermath of the Chicago Bears’ 27-14 loss Sunday to the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field, Bears receiver Brandon Marshall said the defeat was unacceptable. He said it more than a dozen times. OK, assuming the Bears accept that the loss is unacceptable, what does that mean and what do they do about? Other than talk about it, that is.

The Bears’ next opponent is New England. The Patriots’ quarterback is Tom Brady whose wife is model Gisele Bundchen. Which explains this photo.

* Speaking of mere words, there were loud ones emanating from the Bears locker room after the game. Marshall reportedly called out quarterback Jay Cutler, his good buddy. As if that’s good to cut down on Cutler’s interceptions or improve the team’s passing game? Well, at least Marshall presumably cares.

* Speaking of being upset, for those upset with the Bears’ offense, there is some consolation in that the unit was on the field for a mere 22:38 against Miami. OK, no consolation at all.

* Speaking of consolation, if it’s any consolation to Bears fans (and the guess here is that it most certainly is not), a top-tier QB of a Super Bowl champion team threw a late interception that allowed the opposing team to rally for a victory. The QB? Drew Brees — decidedly better than Cutler — of the New Orleans Saints. It is of little consolation that the throw came against the Detroit Lions, who overcame a 23-10 deficit for a 24-23 victory that left them tied with Green Bay atop the NFC North with a 5-2 record.

* For what it’s worth (and that’s probably not much), the Bears do play the Lions twice and the Saints once in the second half of the season.

* Speaking of the Lions, Matthew Stafford had some plays that made him look like a franchise QB rather than a disenfranchised one. And he did it with star receiver Calvin Johnson on the sidelines. Something says Johnson will be in the lineup when the Bears face the Lions.

* Speaking of the Packers (we were a little while ago, trust me), that’s the team the Bears play in Week 10 after they play at New England in Week 8 (bold prediction here: Bears will not lose in Week 9 — yes, you guess it; that’s their bye week). Meaning the Bears could improve to 5-4 vs. the Pack (all they have to do is beat the Patriots, after all). Or the Bears could fall to 3-6 if they lose both games. In which case the Bears would seem unlikely postseason contenders. Heck, they’d be considered unlikely contenders for a .500 season. Or the Bears could go 1-1 the next two weeks and be 4-5. Where else can you find such probing analysis like this. OK, other than perhaps an elementary school arithmetic class?

* Too early to be thinking about the 2015 NFL draft?

* Bears offensive guard Kyle Long took offense at fans booing at Soldier Field. Well, that’s certainly one way to become a fan favorite, isn’t it?

* Speaking of NFL players named Kyle, former Bears QB Kyle Orton threw a two-yard touchdown pass with one second left for a 17-16 Buffalo Bills victory. If it’s any consolation to Bears fans, the victory came against the Minnesota Viking (last-place team in the NFC North). The Bears play the Vikings twice in the second half of the season. Yes, we go to extraordinary lengths around here to find glimmers — or glimmer — of hope.

* Speaking of hope, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center, as Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich had 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting (2-of-4 three-pointers) in a team-high 32 minutes. Derrick Rose had 17 points in 28 minutes, including his first fourth-quarter minutes of the exhibition season. The next Bulls game at the United Center will be Oct. 31 in their home opener of the regular season. Coach Tom Thibodeau is hoping that contest will be more treat than trick.

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