Full analysis tomorrow via podcast but I feel compelled to write something tonight - for my own sanity.
I can't deny or hide the emotions that the Bears bring out in me. I wanted the Bears to win as much as anyone. I wanted Jay Cutler to prove all the critics wrong. I was perplexed and angry when I saw Cutler sitting on the sidelines. However, after a few hours to decompress, a long walk with Latke, and a drive home, I feel bad for Jay and I feel a little embarrassed at the fallout from his injury. We are not privy to his injury and we have no idea what the conversation was like between Jay and the Bears' trainer. We also have zero evidence to suggest that Jay was not crushed that he couldn't go back in. We do however have plenty of evidence to suggest that Jay is a tough S.O.B. Anyone remember the Giants' game, or the fact that no quarterback was sacked more than Cutler? He missed one game after his head was smashed into the Giants stadium turf. His sidelines behavior and facial expression leave a bit to be desired but Jay is a damn good quarterback...when he's upright. Is he a top 5 qb? Maybe not. But it's tough to assess when he's running for his life half the game. Ok. that's enough. I hope once people get over their initial frustration they'll be able to step back and realize we have a tough QB.
Bri. Totally agree with your post. I don't think that I'll be listening to The Score, even Boers & Bernstein (who probably agree with you and I) for a while. The knee jerk reaction is to vilify the guy, and I can't listen to caller after caller do that and clamor for Orton. Besides that, here's what I saw as key moments from the game:
ReplyDelete1) Electing to defer. You've got the crowd going bonkers from the National Anthem, why not get the ball and maybe a long return to keep all of that momentum at the beginning of the game.
2) Rogers tackling Urlacher on his interception, not sure if he makes it all the way for a TD, but it sure looked like open grass ahead of him. Huge play by Rogers.
3) Lovie passing up the 49 yd FG, needed points there
4) The last series by the Bears. You called a good play on 3rd down, that would've gotten you the first down, but called timeout. Then came out of that to run an End Around. Then you don't call timeout before the 4th down play that ended the season. Tough there.
Also, the Packers punter was their MVP. How many times did he pin the Bears? Hester was completely taken out of the game. The Bears do not win without special teams and turnovers.
Oh well, now we can focus on the Bulls...
As an outsider but undoubtedly cheering for the Bears, here are a couple of thoughts.
ReplyDelete1. Anthony I think deferring was the right call. The Bears strength is their defense and they are at home. And when the defense is out there the place will be going crazy as opposed to when the offense has the ball and it tends to be quieter. I think you want tobe on defense there cuz it continues the buzz from pregame, anthem, etc. Just because they scored on the opening drive really had no bearing on the outcome. The Bears still had ample opportunity to make scoring drives of their own but couldnt come up with anything.
2. What strikes me most isnt the Chicago fan base going after Cutler, but what other current and former NFL players are saying. Granted they arent inside the locker room but they were ruthless in questioning his toughness. Now whether that is from their strong dislike for a guy that is known to be arrogant, or for his appparent lack of interest on the sidelines after being pulled its hard to tell. But I dont recall the backlash against someone who got hurt(twitter being relatively new has something to do with it).
3. Take a look at the stats as well. The packers had less 3 and outs(3 vs 7), less turnovers(2 vs 3), less penalties(6 vs 9), more yards rushing(120 vs 83), more yards per rush(3.8 vs 3.5), more passing yards(236 vs 218), more yards per pass(7.9 vs 5.7), more time of possession(34:04 vs 25:56), and of course the only defensive TD. If you knew this going in you would have guessed the Packers would win no question. Just wasnt the Bears day and I think the better team won.
Go Steelers!
All the tweets from around the league are unprecedented and pretty cruel.
ReplyDeleteDoes the "clearly better team" let its opponent, who's relying on a 3rd string QB, come within 30 yards of tying the game? The Packers seem pretty one-dimensional. Also, for the all the talk about Cutler, it sure looked like Rodgers got rattled and wasn't the same player after the ONE hit he took from Peppers (Remember, the bull shit unnecessary rougness?)
I don't doubt Cutler was hurt physically - I think it just showed his lack of mental toughness. No way he comes out of that game if they are down 28-21 and he's thrown 3 Tds. But, being shutout and playing poorly, he gave in to an injury he could have played through.
ReplyDeletewait a minute....If the guy can't plant his leg then what is he supposed to do? There's no way you, me, or Maurice Jones-Drew can possibly know to what extent his injury prevented him from playing. Knee injuries, as you know Dale, are not all the same. To guess is mere speculation prejudiced on a personal pre-conceived opinion of Cutler. Further, when people like Philip Rivers brag about playing on a torn ACL, in my opinion that proves stupidity and not heart. Also, Cutler DID try to play on it, as seen by the last drive of the first half and first drive of the second half. So if Cutler only stood on the sidelines with crutches and ice bags then we'd all feel sorry for him? The guy got battered endlessly most of the year and popped up again and again. The only mildly reasonable issue is his less than obvious encouragement of Hanie.
ReplyDeleteReverse with our slowest receive on 3rd and 4???