Muller: Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!? Not This Year Bears Fans
By Shawn Muller-
(CBS) Impersonating Jim Mora in writing doesn't do that classic quote any justice, but if you are one of those Bears fans that is still hoping for a second straight NFC North Division title this season — or even a spot in the NFC playoffs in general -- forget it.
Not gonna happen.
After falling to the Detroit Lions 24-13 last night at Ford Field in the Motor City, Chicago has now lost to both the Lions and the Packers — with one left on the schedule against each -- and is currently sitting three games behind the two undefeated division rivals after just five weeks of play. Optimists will say there is still a lot of season left, and a lot can still happen between now and Week 17, but I don't want to hear that nonsense.
This team is not going to the post season.
The Bears just aren't that good.
I was guilty of thinking that last season was not fluke. Heck, I picked the Bears to make the playoffs over these same Lions when the season began five weeks ago. But man, I don't think I am alone in thinking that this edition of the Chicago Bears team is nowhere near as good as they were last season.
Too many question marks with this team right now.
The defense (which is normally the bread-and-butter of all Chicago teams) has performed below-average thus far. The Bears can't stop the run to save their lives. They were giving up over five yards per carry heading into last night, and Lions running back Jahvid Best didn't help those stats one bit. Best torched the Bears defense for 163 yards rushing (for an average of 13.6 ypc), and the Lions averaged over nine yards per carry as a team. That can't happen if you want to make the playoffs. No serious contender is going to allow over five yards per carry.
Also, when is Devin Hester going to become a "go-to" receiver for Jay Cutler? Or any receiver for that matter?
We all know about Hester's status as a return man, but as a receiver, he just can't seem to get over the hump and become the play-maker we all know he has the potential to become. He drops way too many passes, and dropped a sure-fire touchdown pass from Jay Cutler in the second quarter last night. But I can't just lay all the blame on Hester. The rest of the receiving core is performing at a level just below-average -- and that is putting it nicely.
Notice a trend here? The defense isn't very good. Hester and the receiving core aren't getting the job done, and the offensive line is as soft as Charmin.
Let's see, did I miss anyone?
Of course! How could I forget Jerry Angelo?
He is the worst General Manager in all of professional football and he is the one who built this team.
One of the few bright spots for the Bears all season long has been the play of running back Matt Forte. Heading into last night, Forte was the only player in the National Football League with more than 300 yards rushing (324) and 300 receiving (310), and once again, he didn't disappoint against Detroit.
Forte ran for 116 yards against the Lions, bringing his season total to 440 yards on the ground—good for sixth in the NFL and third in the NFC-- but prior to the game, Angelo said nothing had changed between the Bears front office and Mr. Forte in the contract talks.
Angelo can say that nothing has happened in terms of a deal yet because the organization is focused on the season all he wants, but if I were him, I would be doing anything and everything in my power to make sure I had the lone bright spot on an otherwise pedestrian offense signed on for the long-term.
Maybe I am just overreacting after a bad loss to a quality team on the road in my rant, but after watching this team over the past five weeks, I just don't see any reason to believe the Bears can turn things around over the next 11 game. Nobody in the NFC North is going to touch the Green Bay Packers, and I am beginning to feel the same way about the Detroit Lions.
The schedule for the Lions sets up very nicely down the stretch, with the biggest obstacles being the two games against the Packers, and a date with the Saints in New Orleans on Dec. 4. Chicago has had one of the toughest schedules in the NFL to date—and it does get easier towards the end of the season—but as of today, I don't see any reason to believe the Bears can make up enough ground in the standings down the stretch -- especially with Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia all poised to turn their seasons around as well.
I guess we shall see….
Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24. Read more of his blogs here.
