The 2008 Season Reviewed - Losses
by ChiFan13 on Feb 20, 2009 1:33 PM CST
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PrintGeauxBears and yours truly will be reviewing the 2008 Bears season. We’ll start out with the depressing losses (me), and then end on a high note with the wins (GB).
Before I start, I need to give some credit: I stole the formatting for this series from PB at Burnt Orange Nation, the SB Nation home for the Texas Longhorns. Thanks again, PB.
Loss #1: @ Carolina, 17-20
Lead up to game - We were all pretty pumped about our season-opening win against the Colts. We also knew Carolina would be tough, but Matt Forte looked oh-so-good. I was excited about going into Carolina and making a statement
Performance - Well, we started out well enough. Then Lance Briggs made a legitimate tackle on Jake Delhomme (who can't take a hit), and all the momentum swung over there. Greg Olsen had two key fumbles, Kyle Orton drastically overthrew receivers, and Hester left with a rib injury. Oh, and Ron Turner pulled out the fullback dive, which Jason McKie (of course) failed to run for a 1st. And the rest is history
Post-game feeling in 10 words: Disappointed and frustrated at the Bears lack of closing out.
Loss #2: Tampa Bay, 24-27 (OT)
Lead up to game - I was furious about the Carolina game, but I was looking forward to a motivated comeback against Tampa Bay.
Performance - Again, we started off well enough. We blew a 14 point lead at Carolina; at least this time it was only ten points. Up 24-14 in the 4th, TB came back and tied it up, and we fell apart in overtime. Rashied Davis dropped a 3rd down pass (surprise), Peanut had a costly unnecessary roughness penalty, and Nathan Vasher gave up a big pass to Antonio Bryant. Did I mention Griese threw for 407 yards against us? Yikes.
Post-game feeling in 10 words: Stupid penalties + not closing games = Forecasting the 2008 Bears season.
Loss #3: @ Atlanta, 20-22
Lead up to game - After a huge win against Philadelphia (in which we actually closed out a game) and a pushover against Detroit, things were finally shaping up. Matt Ryan was impressive, but I hoped our defense would pressure him and rattle him a little bit.
Performance - Ya know, I can't even put this one into words. I'll let ESPN do the talking: "In the last 8 minutes, there was a goal-line stand by the Falcons, an 85-yard kickoff return by Atlanta's Jerious Norwood, Elam's first missed field goal in 31 attempts, a gutty drive by the Bears that culminated with Kyle Orton's touchdown pass to Rashied Davis with 11 seconds remaining and, finally, Elam's winning kick after Ryan hooked up with Michael Jenkins on a 26-yard completion."
Post-game feeling in 10 words: Only the Chicago Bears could lose a game like this.
Loss #4: Tennessee, 14-21
Lead up to game - Well, we beat Minnesota, had a bye week, and beat Detroit. By this point, we were all inoculated as to what these Bears could do (or not do). Tennessee was undefeated at this point; a win here could have been huge into turning our season around.
Performance - Should have known. Sexy Rexy was at the helm, and he was who we thought he was. To be fair, this game wasn't his fault. Our run defense shut down Chris Johnson and LenDale "I eat for a living" White to 20 yards. Our pass defense? We gave up 289 yards to Kerry Collins, which was his season high.
Post-game feeling in 10 words: Our secondary was terrible and Rex was our QB. Surprised?
Loss #5: @ Green Bay, 3-37
Lead up to game - We played well enough against Tennessee, and although it is a rivalry game, I at least thought we could beat Green Bay. Oh, how I was wrong
Performance - Uh, this one will be short. Aaron Rodgers threw for 227 yards with 2 TD's and an INT and Ryan Grant ran for 145 yards and a TD. Our run defense (which we desperately needed) didn't show up. It was just a terrible performance.
Post-game feeling in 10 words: I sent Lovie a letter. Does that tell you enough?
Loss #6: @ Minnesota, 14-34
Lead up to game - After getting beat down by the Packers, depression started to sink in. We crushed the Rams (surprise), and it was onto Minnesota.
Performance - Again, we started off well. We were up 7-0 and 11 inches from another TD when Matt Forte ran into the Williams boys. One 99-yard toss to Berrian and an extremely blown coverage later, all the momentum swung over to Minnesota's side. We were doomed from that point on. On the bright side, WCG members saw the classy side of Minnesota fans. Oops....I may have lied about the last part.
Post-game feeling in 10 words: What was Tillman thinking? What was Turner thinking? Hugely disappointing.
Loss #7: @ Houston, 24-31
Lead up to game - After the Minnesota debacle, we cranked out three wins in a row (two in OT) to keep us in the thick of the NFC North hunt. All we had to do is win and hope that Minnesota keeps doing what they do, and we had an NFC North championship.
Performance - This is going to sound strange, but we came out firing with a 10-0 lead. And then Andre Johnson decided he'd gain 148 yards against us. Forte didn't run well, our defense didn't really show up, and our season was over.
Post-game feeling in 10 words: Frustrated, but hopeful that Babich and Turner got pink slips.
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Ugh
Some of those losses were stupid and heart breaking wrenching. I felt so good going into Houston, I felt good about Orton after that Davis TD catch. The Green Bay game almost literally made me sick and the second Minnesota game blew. Tough, tough times.
When you read through the seven losses two thoughts come to mind: 1) How did we win 9 games and 2) Did we really think we could make the playoffs and be successful?
by Sam Householder on Feb 20, 2009 2:27 PM CST reply actions
I can answer the 2nd one
No. I thought we could make the playoffs (due to our situation and how it played out). I didn’t think we would be successful. Making the playoffs is still an honor, regardless of how crappy our team was last year.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
You never know what will happen in the playoffs
Before they started, I would have given us better chances than the Cardinals. Maybe the Eagles, too. And look how that turned out.
You gotta get in first. Once you’re there, lots of things can happen.
As for the first question…the total failure of some of these losses tends to overshadow the view of the season. The Bears were a decent to good team this year. They earned 9 wins.
You Guys are both right
But at the same time, looking only at the losses you think it was a lot worse than it was. Another thing too, if we have so many holes to fill (WR, RT, maybe a G, 2nd RB, DT?, S, CB?) How did we win 9 games? The coaching (Lovie that is) can’t be as bad as some think, right?
by Sam Householder on Feb 20, 2009 8:11 PM CST up reply actions
the rest of the schedule was poor
that is how they won 9 games.
no way
when you look at arizona, you see terrific offensive potential, when you look at the bears, you don’t see that on either side of the ball. “to make a run” you should have some potential somewhere. the bears were decent at best. only a homer would consider them a good team.
easiest schedule in the league
look we played detroit twice and saint louis, with a schedule like that we out to be able to be better than 9 – 7. This year we’ve gotta face pitt and ariz, we got beat by gb 37-3! what an unbelievable ass showing…what an embarrassment. bears weren’t even decent, every week I was sure we’d get back on track… only to have teams crushed the entire game, have breakdowns of sorts, and pull out 4th quarter losses… or in the last 11 sec!!!
I Think this will be a very tough year
Have a little hope will ya, snap out of it.
“the Bears are in there man!”
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
by Haightminow on Feb 21, 2009 11:49 AM CST up reply actions
No matter what else...
You should never use ‘GB’ to abbreviate GeauxBears again.
I shuddered seeing that.
The carolina & Tampa Bay losses were very disapointing.
The Atlanta loss almost sent me over the edge. I’m convinced that if Orton was healthy we would have beat the Titans. It was incredible how poorly Grossman played (minus the first drive) that we still had a chance in the end. The loss to the Vikings was our opportunity to take control of the division and our own destiny and that loss finally convinced me that we would have no post season. And by miraculous divine intervention the Red Sea is parted for us and all we have to do is win in Texas? F**K!
Nice post but this is like reliving a slow and painful death.
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
it's nowhere near as bad as tampa
we had an opportunity to get the ball back in OT and peanut screwed it all up. i can still remember seeing him fly into the pile like a tough guy. initial reaction: IDIOT!!
OH! STEWIE!! GET OUT THE WAY BOY! GET OUT THE WAY!
-Stacey King
by ifuwannacrownem on Feb 20, 2009 3:32 PM CST up reply actions
Let us not forget
that Brian Griese had 62 dropback and the Bears registered ZERO sacks!
If John Paxson were a Greek hero he would be known as Sans Testicles
Two Ints right through the hands of Briggs and Vasher?
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
once the atlanta collapse occurred
you knew what this team was. should have been obvious after the tampa game. poorly motivated, coached, and unable to step up consistently.
That Tampa game still drives me nuts.
How we melted down and got forced to OT, kills me.
Grumble.
I'm not a diaper, so don't try to change me.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Feb 21, 2009 10:23 PM CST reply actions
I'd rather eat nails then review the Bears losses.
1. Tampa Bay
2. Atlanta
3. Carolina
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
I'd put Atlanta first....that was terrible
but yeah, I’d do the same in a heartbeat.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
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