Emma: Bears Show Their Worst In Listless Loss
By Chris Emma—
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) -- Rather triumphantly, the Bears had vowed they would be better than their ugly effort Sunday.
Leaving little doubt, coach John Fox and his team leaders stood before the media this past week and said they were playing for pride, for each other, for their livelihoods and everything else. Two home losses to the 49ers and Washington weren't going to crush them, they said.
Then, the Bears did this. They allowed the Vikings to run up and down the field in a 38-17 win at TCF Bank Stadium, making Teddy Bridgewater look like a Hall of Fame quarterback and the Minnesota defense look like the "Purple People Eaters" of old.
"They kicked our ass today," Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery said.
If Sunday was supposed to reveal the Bears' character, it offered an ugly reflection. While the previous 13 games – most of which provided spirited football – serve as a true showing of this team's fighting spirit, this one-game sample size left a poor look of what this team has left. At 5-9 and officially eliminated from the playoff picture, it's fair to wonder what's the motivation for the Bears.
Certainly, a ticked off locker room showed the frustration that exists.
"Very high," Bears tackle Kyle Long said of the disappointment.
Deonte Thompson took the opening kickoff 49 yards into Vikings territory. It seemed to be an ideal start for the visiting team. Then, Hroniss Grasu was called for holding on the first play from scrimmage, negating a 35-yard Matt Forte run. After Jay Cutler was sacked for the first of five times on the game, the Bears had taken more than two steps back after a step forward.
Of course, that's kind of how this season has gone in Chicago. The Bears inspire momentary confidence, then implode.
The Bears offense was in disarray for much of the game. The offensive line faltered against Vikings coach Mike Zimmer's aggressive blitz schemes, and Cutler spent much of the afternoon scrambling for his life.
"It doesn't matter who we played today, we weren't going to win playing that kind of offensive football," Cutler said.
Defensively, the Bears were even worse. Lamarr Houston lined up offsides twice, the second time giving Minnesota new life on third down. Bridgewater made them pay with a touchdown. The best way to summarize the day came when cornerback Alan Ball got dragged five yards to the end zone by receiver Stefon Diggs.
Effort was surely lacking on both sides of the ball, as shown by some terrible tackling efforts and head-scratching penalties. The Bears made far too many mistakes. That's what sunk in for the team after the game.
Few players held back honesty in light of the loss.
"I just think that other teams want it more than we want it," Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee said. "And that's the end of the story. I mean, when you want something, you go take it. And right now, nobody is really trying to take it.
"It's sad, it's s--t. I ain't never felt like this."
In the back corner of the locker room, Jeffery was visibly frustrated. Held to just one catch, a second-quarter touchdown, he was largely contained – "They didn't do nothing special" – before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.
Jeffery is one of countless Bears in the locker room who's playing for his future. If healthy, he's an elite receiver, but health has been a big if this season. He was quite irritated after the game.
"I'll tell you one thing," Jeffery said. "Next year, it won't be nothing like this – I can tell you that."
A year ago, the Bears came to Minnesota in the final game for coach Marc Trestman, general manager Phil Emery and their entire regime. In a sluggish, sloppy game, the Bears still were more competitive than they were on Sunday.
What the Bears showed was especially disappointing when considering how high the effort has been this season. Fox made his message loud and clear to the team after the game. Jobs must be earned for 2016.
"You will find out what we have in the locker room," Cutler said. "Who's going to fight and who's going to try to finish this out the right way in these next two games?"
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
