You might say the Bears experienced their fair share of adversity during Sunday night's season-opening game at Green Bay.
Quarterback Jay Cutler threw a career-worst four interceptions. Starting linebackers Brian Urlacher (wrist) and Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) and tight end Desmond Clark (back) left the game with injuries. Running back Matt Forte rushed for just 55 yards on 25 carries. An ill-advised fake punt on their own half of the field failed and handed Green Bay three points in the fourth quarter. Gack.
But through all that, the Bears still had a 15-13 lead with less than two minutes to go. It was their game to lose, and they lost it. As we've seen all too often the last two years, the Bears defense couldn't get a key stop when it needed one. Cornerback Nathan Vasher broke down. He got beat in single coverage by Green Bay's Greg Jennings (pictured), whose 50-yard TD reception with 1:11 left lifted the Packers to a 21-15 victory.
It would be real easy to throw the blame for this loss at Cutler's feet. He had a poor first half, during which he threw three interceptions. And after decades of incompetence from Bears signal-callers, Chicagoans are conditioned to blame quarterbacks for everything. For members of the media, it's easy to write a column excoriating the quarterback for his poor play. You won't get that from me.
I thought Cutler did a helluva job of rallying the Bears from a 10-2 halftime deficit. It would have been easy for him to crumble after throwing three early interceptions. Instead, he took his team down the field for three second-half scoring drives. The Bears took the lead on a 21-yard Robbie Gould field goal with 2:35 left. At that point, Cutler had done his job and the responsibility shifted to the defense.
While the Bears might have played good defense for the majority of this game, the definition of a great unit is one that can make a big stop with outcome hanging in the balance. Didn't happen. Vasher slipped up. He allowed a big play that cost the Bears the game.
At one point in time, people called Vasher "The Interceptor." After all, he had 17 picks in his collegiate career at Texas, and he has 18 in his career with the Bears. However, only two of those have come since 2006. Vasher looks nothing like the player who went to the Pro Bowl in 2005. As we can see from the photo, Vasher got no help from safety Kevin Payne, who was also left in Jennings' dust.
"The Interceptor" is now "Burnt Toast," and the Bears are 0-1.
Don't worry about your quarterback, Bears fans. Jay Cutler is a good player. He IS the long-term answer you've all been waiting for. The problem is this aging, injury-prone, overpaid defense that just cannot make a stand when the game is on the line. It's going to be even tougher now that Urlacher is lost for the season with a dislocated wrist.
Cross your fingers and hope Cutler can find a better chemistry with his receivers. The Bears are going to need to score a lot of points to overcome their issues on defense.
What do you know? Another homerish blog entry by our blogger. Man I am so glad I don't show up here anymore. Compare to whitesox901 and you, I can't ever imagine who drinks the Kool-Aid even more when it comes to Chicago sports.
Get this through your head, JB, and this goes to the rest of the Bears zealots.
Jay Cutler is O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D!
I kept saying this when Cutler was acquired, and I will say it again. Cutler is not going to do much for Da Bears this year or beyond.
This guy is prone to get sacked often, and he is a gunslinger aka interception waiting to happen. I am not sure why folks like this guy.
There was a reason why Josh McDaniels had reservations of having Cutler as a quarterback, and it's the points I kept harping on. Cutler does not have any leadership abilities, and his arm strength is nothing to write home about, and it showed in this game.
Great quarterbacks should find a way to overcome their struggles, and Cutler had that opportunity in the final play, but what does he do? HE THROWS AN INTERCEPTION.
That final play defined his night, and that's why Da Bears lost.
Aaron Rodgers was not great either, but you know what. He performed when it mattered while Cuter shrinked from his struggled. That's all you need to know who is the better quarterback.
Also, why I am at it, can the national media stop slobbering over Da Bears? Da Bears are not even a special team. They are a mediocre team at best. They have a lousy coaching staff, an overrated quarterback and an aging defense. Matt Forte is overrated, and their wide receiving corps are underwhelming.
I will be damned if they make the playoffs.
The Packers looked mighty good on Sunday night. They played great defense all night, and their offense figured it out.
The Packers coaches outsmarted "LOVIE" all night too.
Best of luck on Sunday against Pittsburgh, a team Da Bears wish they are.
My names Timberwolf and I talk out of my ass
Timberwolf Wrote: "Aaron Rodgers was not great either, but you know what. He performed when it mattered while Cuter shrinked from his struggled. That's all you need to know who is the better quarterback."
Performing when it matters means that a player is playing in the clutch, coming through for their team when the game is on the line as time is quickly ticking away. Rodgers did not have to perform "when it mattered," because he had NOTHING to do with Green Bay's last TD.
Rodgers really isn't anything special.
Cutler's play was very good in the fourth quarter against the Steelers. Bears win 17-14 in come-from-behind fashion. Did Cutler "shrinked from his struggled" again?
Let me start off by thanking HeatherFromChicago for figuring out I am Timberwolf. I did not think she was smart, but in this case, I give her due.
For anyone that wants to know the nickname of CabbagePatchKid that was bestowed upon me, it started when I trolled on JaytheJoke.com (Pat Dahl's website) years ago and one of the posters nicknamed CabbagePatchKid since I look like one of those CabbagePatchKids dolls. Go "Google" CabbagePatchKid on JaytheJoke, and you will see the results. Those folks still talk about me all the time, and I love the nickname to be honest with you.
As for the game on Sunday, I saw the game. As usual, Da Bears got their usual special treatment call when they did not get the penalties while the Steelers did. I saw some calls that did not make sense, and Da Bears benefit from it.
HEATHERINCHICAGO: Rodgers made the play down the stretch hence why the Packers won that game.
"Performing when it matters means that a player is playing in the clutch, coming through for their team when the game is on the line as time is quickly ticking away. Rodgers did not have to perform "when it mattered," because he had NOTHING to do with Green Bay's last TD."
YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME. THIS MUST BE A JOKE.
I remembered watching that game since I was rooting for the Packers that night, and I did saw Rogers move the ball around that set the last touchdown. I don't know what game you were watching, but then again, you should be staying in the kitchen not watching sports, HEATHERFROMCHICAGO.
BTW, if you want to know the history of CabbagePatchKid at JaytheJoke, you should clear our your PMs at Motown Sports, and I will be happy to tell you why I was called CabbagePatchKid at JaytheJoke.com. There was a nice thread about that three years ago.
Wow, Timberwolf is a sexist? Should of figured an idiot like him would be. Heather, I apologize on this idiots behalf.
And arnt you called CabbagePatchIdiot because of that pic of you were your wearing the black sunglasses and you look like you weigh 400 lbs?
Yes, it was me hanging out at a park with my blonde hair and my sunglasses. Why don't you go display the picture of me for everyone to look at? Why don't you go bring the folks at JaytheJoke to oome here since you are too lazy to post there?
I'm not going to post pictures of people on the internet, sorry. As much as I think your a total idiot, I'm not going to totally bully or humiliate someone online, which could cause suicide and other not fun things.