The Bears' Sky Isn't Falling. Yet.

by Kev H on Oct 7, 2010 3:55 PM CDT in Notes

You might think it was, though.

Coming off what is, at best, a terrible offensive performance in prime-time against the Giants, it may seem like all hope for the 2010 Chicago Bears is gone.

The offensive linemen are "turnstiles". "The Matadors of the Midway" JC6 was batted around like a toy in Sid's bedroom. He's roughed up so bad that he can't make the start against the Carolina Panthers. Lifetime back up Todd Collins makes his first start in a very long time.

So it may seem like things are over, after a 3-1 record. But let's take a quick glance forward to see that doom and gloom need not necessarily be the automatic outcome.

As it's been mentioned, there's little chance that they can truly be as bad on offense as they were on Monday night. Changes are already being made to see if there are tweaks. With Webb at RT, we could see a little bit of a different dynamic. Additionally, they don't have to face anything quite like the Giants' front four for a while, so there's still 12+ games to sort some of those items out.

Additionally... this team still has a defense that can make some plays. As bad as the game with the Giants was, this team was still in the game in the fourth quarter. It's asking a lot of the defense to do that all season, but the offense has already shown that when it sparks, there's the potential for fireworks.

Looking into the future:

Carolina Panthers 0-4- Struggling to establish an identity on offense, missing their star WR.

Ranked 18th in yards allowed per game.
Ranked 30th in offensive yards per game.

Seattle Seahawks 2-2 - Playing somewhat solid if unspectacular ball in a sucktacular division, in a three way tie for first. Got a new toy at RB, but still inherently beatable.

Ranked 25th in yards allowed per game.
Ranked 28th in offensive yards per game.

Washington Redskins 2-2 - They look good, then they look bad. Still working to establish their own footprint. Could cause some matchup problems, but I'd expect Cutler to be back and fully ready to go, along with Williams.

Ranked 31st in yards allowed per game.
Ranked 17th in offensive yards per game.

Buffalo Bills 0-4 - This team is going nowhere, and they're doing it in spectacular fashion. Currently ranked 27th in yards allowed.

Ranked 27th in yards allowed per game.
Ranked 32nd in offensive yards per game.

--All rankings courtesy of nfl.com, as of Oct. 7th, 2010

So what does that say? The next quarter of the season is very favorable. The Bears will be playing four teams with a combined four wins. Even with Cutler out, a split at 2-2 coming out of this stretch is very easy to comprehend. Quite possibly, it will be 3-1 or better coming out of it.

There's still an amazing amount of football left...don't let the Debbie Downers ruin it for you.

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Comments

Breaking it down into quarters... Kev?? Lovie?

You’re absolutely correct, no need to panic.

We have all the same problems we’ve all been grousing about on WCG since January. We are a better team than last year, and we have tremendous upside.

The OL is still the glaring deficiency. I don’t see that being solved without a talent upgrade.

Our D is rock solid, will keep us in games, but they can;t win EVERY game by themselves.

If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.

by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Oct 7, 2010 4:08 PM CDT reply actions

You ask...

So what does that say?

It says Da Bears!!! Pour me a cup o’ the Kool Aid

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 7, 2010 4:10 PM CDT reply actions

So instead of beating the Panthers 46-0...

it will be something like 35-0? ;)

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by Jaxon on Oct 7, 2010 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

35 to -7

Good luck figuring out how you guys go negative.

If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?

Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Oct 7, 2010 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

It will probably have something to do with

Ed Hochuli, a Lovie challenge, and Tim Donaghy.

by Dane Noble on Oct 7, 2010 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

perhaps a craig krenzel sighting?

by Bear Lovin 21 on Oct 7, 2010 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Less ice - mo' Kool Aid please.

If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.

by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Oct 7, 2010 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

If we don't finish this segment 6-2 or better...

…we have approximately zero chance of making the playoffs. 9 wins is generally borderline, 10 wins should make it in. I see only 1 more autowin on our schedule, 1 game we should win but it’s in doubt, 3 tough divisional games (home team wins), and 3 games that we really shouldn’t even be close in if both teams are playing at full strength. So I’ve got us at 9-7 if they finish this stretch 6-2.

9 wins is borderline.

8 won’t make it.

We need to be 6 wins or better heading into Queen week, or we have approximately zero shot at making the playoffs.

by Doshi on Oct 7, 2010 4:19 PM CDT reply actions

I don't think you can make that judgment now.

I mean, there’s four games before that. The landscape of the NFC can have dramatically changed by that point.

If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?

Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Oct 7, 2010 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I am terrified

Of our LAST 4 games.

Patriots
@Vikings
Jets
@Packers

by Brendan Hess on Oct 8, 2010 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Related FanShot on the right sidebar of this page:

Pop.

by Dane Noble on Oct 7, 2010 4:24 PM CDT reply actions

Keep in mind, too.

The Bears bye week comes before Buffalo. So coming into that game, they should be plenty rested and ready to go on a charge over the last 9 games.

If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?

Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Oct 7, 2010 4:35 PM CDT reply actions

but you also have to keep in mind that gives Lovie two weeks to prepare....

how did that work out for us last year?

by BearFan611 on Oct 7, 2010 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Argh.

by Dane Noble on Oct 8, 2010 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Ummm yeah.

We suck coming off of byes…

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.

by Just Dave on Oct 8, 2010 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I have one question...

where did you get the picture of John Clayton wearing a Bears jersey?

by BearFan611 on Oct 7, 2010 4:36 PM CDT reply actions

I hang out with an ESPN producer

He’s really good at looking in people’s windows.

If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?

Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Oct 7, 2010 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I've been saying this quite a bit

But I believe that Peppers will dominate the Carolina game and may demand triple teams.

by DaHamsta on Oct 7, 2010 4:39 PM CDT reply actions

Leaving an opening for Izzy

yeah, yeah, we get it.

If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?

Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Oct 7, 2010 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

But what about Wolfe?

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Oct 7, 2010 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice Toy Story reference.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 7, 2010 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

+ Infinity and Beyond.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Oct 7, 2010 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I caught that too.

Made me smile. :]

"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton

Editor/Writer for WindyCityGridiron.com

by Ashley Czuba on Oct 7, 2010 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I ain't scurred

Bears 12-4 North Champs baby.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Oct 7, 2010 5:35 PM CDT reply actions

The truth.

Speak it brother.

by Dane Noble on Oct 8, 2010 7:12 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Todd Collins at QB and the defense against a struggling Panthers offense

should be enough to pull out a win. We should have Cutler back for the Seattle game at home, so we should be in good shape going forward.

by Dominique Blanton on Oct 7, 2010 5:59 PM CDT reply actions

4 cupcakes will help...

because, as much as the o-line suffers from a ‘talent’ issue. it suffers from an experience issue. 4 games of teams with meh defenses will help gel, gain experience, confidence and… prevent debacles like that?

Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...

by awfullyquiet on Oct 7, 2010 7:55 PM CDT reply actions

stay positive

we’ll get better. no team peeks at week 4 or 5,and might i also say, go bears

Bill Swerski: Alright, alright! Now, let me shift gears here for a moment. What is God's role in this? Obviously, he's rooting for Da Bears.

by LightsOutVegas on Oct 7, 2010 9:41 PM CDT reply actions

and imma raise you a

GO BEARS

by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Oct 9, 2010 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

KEV H

yes. an article where people are not believing our season is doomed… I 100% agree that we can still come out of this without being far behind if behind at all to the Packers.

The biggest threat we have so far comes from the redskins in the form of orakpo and db’s that rival our wr’s footwork

seattle’s running game is less than stellar
carolina is carolina
and the buffalo bills have some guy named fitzpatrick as their qb… the same guy who lost the qb battle in training camp to trent edwards… who got cut

@Doshi i predicted the bears to go between 10-6 and 12-4 this season so im sure its going to happen… if it doesnt expect 90 degree weather for xmas and snowstorms for 4th of july

by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Oct 9, 2010 9:55 AM CDT reply actions