No Thanks for Bears’ Effort in Thanksgiving Loss

November 28, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

With a 34-17 loss to the Lions on Thursday in Detroit, the Chicago Bears unquestionably took a step backward as well as closer to the 2015 season. The question becomes who — if anyone — took a step closer to the exit door for being around next season.

Unrelated to the Bears loss, video below of Russian model Svetlana Bilyalova.

* Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was 31-of-48 for 280 yards with two first-quarter touchdowns and two fourth-quarter interceptions. Lions QB Matthew Stafford was 22-of-26 for 275 yards and two touchdowns; oh, wait, those are Stafford’s first-half numbers. He actually was 34-for-45 for 390 yards with no interceptions. In case you were wondering who might have had the better day. On the bright (?) side, Cutler was sacked only three times.

* Lions receiver Calvin Johnson became the receiver to reach 10,000 yards in the fewest games (115) with 114 yards on 11 catches vs. the Bears. In case anyone was wondering what a top-flight NFL receiver looks like.

* The Bears rushed eight times for 13 yards against the NFL’s No. 1 run defense. The Bears recorded the fewest rushing yards in a Thanksgiving game. Some will questions Bears coach Marc Trestman’s use — OK, lack thereof — of running back Matt Forte. Forte ran the ball five times for six yards with a long run of three yards. So you have to think there might have been some merit to not running.

* On the bright (?) side for the Bears, they do have a chance to be a .500 team — for Thursday games. They play the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4 at Soldier Field at night. If it’s any consolation to Bears fan (and the guess here is that it is highly unlikely), the Cowboys lost at home 33-10 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving. Then again, the Cowboys are 3-4 at home and 5-0 on the road. They are the only team in the NFL with a perfect road record.

* Speaking of the Cowboys, quarterback Tony Romo was 18-of-29 for 199 yards with two interceptions. Too late to orchestrate a Cutler-for-Romo trade? Not that that ever would happen. But you have two teams whose fan base would love to see a change.

* Barring a blowout Sunday by the contenders, the Bears will lead the NFL in points allowed. Meaning there’s plenty of blame to go around. Either the players, the coaches or the front office is the problem. OK, some combination of the aforementioned seems likely. Much more likely than the Bears (5-7) entertaining any dreams of a postseason — even if they are mathematically alive.

* The true bright side of the Bears losing on Thanksgiving means their fans can do something productive this Sunday. Something says some of the fans will spend some of that time shopping. Something also says some of the fans will find a way to watch the New England Patriots play at the Green Bay Packers. A Packers loss would leave them 8-4, same record as the Lions. Meaning time would be better spent doing something other than rooting against the Packers for three hours or so.

* If one person no longer with the Bears next season, is the better choice Cutler or Trestman? Something says the Bears’ answer would be Cutler — mainly because you can’t trade a coach and obtain something of value in return. Even if that value is minimal.

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