Gabriel: Bears-Lions Review
By Greg Gabriel--
(CBS) After the Bears' late come-from-behind win against the Chiefs in Week 5, I wrote that the main reason for the win was because of the strength of the new coaching staff. In Sunday's overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, the blame for the Bears' 37-34 overtime loss also goes on the coaching staff.
Sure, you can say that the Bears' inability to get touchdowns instead of field goals when in the red zone played in to the loss. You can also say that there were some questionable calls by the referees. But the bottom line was that in the final minutes of regulation, this game was there for the taking and the Bears didn't do what was necessary to win.
The Lions took the lead with 21 seconds left in regulation on a 6-yard scoring pass from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson. The Bears then needed to get into position for a tying field goal.
On first down from their own 20-yard line, Jay Cutler hit Alshon Jeffery on a deep go route for 25 yards. On the following play, Cutler again hit Jeffery on basically the same play for 24 yards. A pass interference call on Detroit followed, and Robbie Gould was able to kick a chip shot 29-yard field goal to tie the game.
On every possession the Bears had in overtime, that aggressive play-calling was puzzlingly nowhere to be found. Instead, the Bears called conservative running plays and short passes. This got the Bears nowhere, as they picked up a total of 12 yards in their two overtime possessions. That's no way to win a game that was there for the taking.
The same point could be made for a third-and-4 call with about two-and-a-half minutes left in regulation, when a simple running play to Matt Forte went nowhere. With the Bears leading 31-27 at the time, a first down would've all but iced the game, and Fox and Co. chose not to let Cutler make a play with his arm.
Struggling football teams have to have an aggressive nature in order to win. With a win, the Bears would have gone in to the bye with a 3-3 record, and the outlook would look bright going into the second half of the season.
The overtime loss to a previously winless team put Chicago in a negative frame of mind, and now it has to regain the confidence it was building.
As sour as this game was, there was a few bright spots. In his first action since opening week, Jeffery had eight receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. His presence will make the passing game that much more effective.
While Eddie Royal was still not 100 percent healthy, we also got see how he can be used as a complementary receiver to Jeffery. Third-year receiver Marquess Wilson also continued his strong play of late.
Following the bye, the Chicago's next four games come at home against an improved Minnesota team, at San Diego, at St. Louis and home against a Denver team that's undefeated but struggling mightily offensively. There's no reason the Bears can't spit those four games or perhaps win three of the four.
Going into the season, I felt the Bears (2-4) could win seven or eight games. After six games and even following Sunday's disappointing loss, I still feel the same way. In order for that to happen, the Bears still have to continue to show improvement each week, and the coaching staff has to be more aggressive in trying to won those games.
Greg Gabriel is a former NFL talent evaluator who is an on-air contributor for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @greggabe.
