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How do the Chicago Bears allow a catch like that? How do they allow Michael Jenkins to get out of bounds?
How do the Bears call a FB dive on a 3rd-and-1 with eight minutes to go?
How do they squib kick it with 11 seconds to go?
Those are the questions many Bears fans are asking right now after a 22-20 stunning loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
We all know what happened.
Jason Elam kicked a 48-yard field goal with one second remaining on the clock.
The playcalling was awful for most of the game.
Kyle Orton ran the offense to perfection in two important drives in the second half.
Jason McKie is not the answer on a 3rd-and-1, either give it to Forte or run a QB sneak.
Ron Turner should be ashamed of himself.
The squib kick was really dumb because if you simply kicked it to Norwood, that would have been the last play of the game and it was unlikely he would of taken it to the house.
Lovie and all the coaches are to blame for this loss.
Players of the Game
1) Corey Graham played a great game filling in for Nathan Vasher.
2) Kyle Orton ran the offense perfectly.
3) Rashied Davis's TD catch was unbelievable.
4) Devin Hester really is a wide receiver.
Disappointments of the Game:
1) Brian Urlacher was invisible the whole game.
2) Special Teams.
3) Marcus Hamilton on the last play of the game.
What Now?
The Bears better hope they get either Nathan Vasher or Charles Tillman back soon, because they were getting beat all day by Falcons QB Matt Ryan.
They have a must-win game against the Vikings at Soldier Field next week.
What Disappointed Me the Most
The Bears didn't record one sack today.
They allowed the Falcons to get down the field through the entire game.
They allowed Jerious Norwood to return it into their own territory at the end of the game and got lucky that Jason Elam missed a 38-yard field goal.
Good Stuff
They run defense allowed only 57 yards from RB Michael Turner.
Bad Stuff
The linebackers were almost invisible today, with an exception of Hunter Hillenmeyer.
Other Stuff
The Bears' receivers played very well today.
The Alex Brown fumble that was overturned in the first half was an iffy call, and the Tommie Harris recovered fumble was very confusing.
Tommie Harris had to hear a whistle for him to get rid of the ball, but I don't know.
The Bears' secondary is really banged up.
Daniel Manning, Trumaine McBride, and Peanut Tillman all left the game with injuries.
My uncle Tivo'd the game and told me that the referees didn't start the play clock until Matt Ryan threw the ball.
If this game were in Chicago, the Bears would have won, because the referees would have started the clock when the ball was snapped.
Quote of the day
DT Dusty Dvoraceck said, "We usually never allow so many third-down conversions to be successful. That is our specialty and we didn't perform today. We couldn't get off the field."
What Now, pt. two?
The Bears are now in a bad spot.
If the Packers win, they will be tied with the Vikings and Bears for first place.
Next week is a must-win before the bye week for the Bears.
Did You Know?
The Lions had a pass-interference penalty called on the them at the end of the game, which set up a game-winning field goal by the Vikings.
The referees gave the Vikings that game.
Where the Bears Should Be?
Fans and sportscasters came into this season expecting the Bears to not be very good this season.
They have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL.
I knew they would be a good team, and they know they should be 6-0.
Instead, they're 3-3, and they have lost three games by a combined eight points.
They need to learn how to finish games.
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about 1 month ago
I can't believe what I just saw!
about 1 month ago
good recap. I just returned from the game, and really the Bears should not have even had a chance for the win. The Falcons playing for the FG with a couple of minutes to go... was frustrating for Falcons fans. We should have at least tried to get Norwood to the edge to get one first down.
Matt Ryan is the real deal folks!! He has been good all year, and today he was awesome.
The Falcons almost had this one ripped away.... Glad that didn't happen. The Falcons outplayed the Bears all day and deserved to win.
Urlacher was invisible, I agree. I expected more from the Bears D.
about 1 month ago
thanks GeorgiaDawg for the comment. Matt Ryan is amazing but the Bears blew this game even though they shouldnt be in it.
from about 1 month ago
Great article Jake! The Bears communtiy has the Best writers on BR. Here is what I have to say to all the Atlanta fans though:
"Well the Falcons are not back, its not like they were a great team in recent years. Also you cant be a good team if you lose all your division games. 0-2 so far in the NFC South. In those two losses Ryan has a 45.2 QB rating, no TD's, 2 INT's, and was sacked 6 times. Joey Harrington could have thrown for over 300 yards against the Bears D, who were missing starters Tillman and Vasher. Yes I am a Bears fan and it was a horrible loss for us and a great win for you, but Matt Ryan has not proven anything yet."
I think my next article will be something like this, seeing how the Falcons fans are reacting to this game. They have nothing to celebrate yet except for being 3rd and 0-2 in their division.
about 1 month ago
im not a falcons fan but the falcons deserved to win the game period
from about 1 month ago
Thats like saying the Cardinals deserved to win the game three seasons ago. Who ever plays for 60 minutes and wins, wins. People need to stop saying that a team deserved to win! It is simple and striaght forward. Niether team started strong, both finished strong, but the Bears did not play 60 minutes. They played 59 minutes and 49 seconds. Thats why they lost. None of this "a team deserved to win". You could say that because Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher are not in it doesnt happen.
about 1 month ago
no way the Bears had it won until whatever that was at the end
about 1 month ago
What an absolute joke. What is it about this team's inability to close out games against the NFC South? This team is too damn good to miss the playoffs and yet I can't see them getting in at this point. This game was like spending months searching for buried treasure, then getting hit by a bus just seconds (11 seconds to be exact) after finding it.
from about 1 month ago
THE BUS YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET HIT BY IS THE FACT THAT THE BEARS DEFENSE HAS NOT BEEN PLAYING ANYWHERE UP TO THEIR EXPECTATIONS - SOME OF THESE GUYS "GOT THEIRS" [54] AND HAVENT REALLY BEEN HEARD FROM SINCE - THIS GUY IS A ROOKIE QB PLAYING ON A DECENT TEAM AT BEST - SECONDARY ALL GOT BOO-BOOS? BOO HOO FOR THEM - THE "FIERCE" PASS RUSH OF THE MOM WAS HANDLED BY AN AVERAGE O LINE AT THEIR BEST - SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEMS EVERYONE WAS WORRIED ABOUT [OFFENSE] ARENT AS BIG A PROBLEM AS WE THOUGHT - IF YOU LOOK OVER THE LAST FEW GAMES WHEN THE OTHER TEAM NEEDED A BIG PLAY OR LONG DRIVE THEY DID IT - THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THE DEFENSE HAS TO LOOK AS GOOD ON THE FIELD AS THEY DO IN THE PRESS
about 1 month ago
Had the WSCR postgame on for a bit afterwards. Obranivich was right, even if the officials got the clock wrong the Bears still didn't take care of business at the end.
In reality they were lucky to even be in it. If Atlanta finishes off any one of those deep drives in the first half the end plays are moot.
from about 1 month ago
But also if the Bears came away with points on the drive they went for the TD on 4th and 1 from the 1 yard line, Atlanta would have needed a TD to win, so it goes both ways. You can't say a team should not be in it, or like some are saying the Falcons deserved to win. Those are the stupidiest statements I ever hear.
from about 1 month ago
Tom, SORRY you think our statements are stupid.... but the point is that the Falcons OUTPLAYED the Bears for 3 1/2 quarters. Ryan picked the Bears secondary apart all day.... IF the Falcons had not played for a stupid FG at the end, it would have been a 2 possesion game, and it was over.
The Falcons let the Bears back in it with poor play calling at the end. The Bears to their credit after trailing ALL DAY, did take the lead with 11 seconds to go. It would have been a win they stole.... but thanks to the squib kick and the pass to Jenkins the Falcons were in the position to pull it back out....
If you trail ALL DAY, and then take the lead with 11 seconds to go, you are fortunate.
from about 1 month ago
calm down SouthernHound, we must remember that while we post the stupidest comments Tom has ever heard, that he writes the stupidest articles we've ever read so it kind of balances out!
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about 1 month ago
Lovie Smith is a horrible coach. Ive never liked him or the way he runs the team. The cover 2 is a joke. Teams eat the bear 2 up. Lets see, the Falcons need to go deep, and what do we do, give them plenty of room to do so. Squib kick??? Im sorry, was Devin Hester returning kicks for Atlanta?? Jason Mckie running on the goal line, 3rd down?? hes the lead blocker. Whos blocking for him? You run your #1 RB, and if he doesnt get it on 3rd down, you do it again with him.
Why is Tommy Harris playing? hes still not healthy, he missed 2 games. Marcus Harrison was playing really well in his absence. He should have been starting. Lovie likes to say that the best players will start, but he doesnt mean it.
This loss was on the coaching staff.
about 1 month ago
Lovie Smith should be fired if we lose some more games. He never has anything to say after a win or loss. The coaching was aweful and i personally think this team is better than they were two seasons ago. With Forte and the emergence of both Hester and Orton they have so much potential.
about 1 month ago
the bears have the lead in the NfC north come down bear fans
about 1 month ago
Sad day for the Bears, thought they had that game in their back pocket...oh well. Life goes on.
about 1 month ago
Good article. With a short, squibb kick, coaches need to realize the potential of putting the opposition in good enough field position to run one good deep route play in 5 seconds. But the Bears have been snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory often so far this season. Chicago needs to learn how to wn games in the 4th quarter. By the way, I like what I've seen of Kyle Orton so far this season: constant, consistent, stable, and most importantly - he takes care of the ball. Lovie Smith and his staff should evaluate themselves and their in-game strategies.
about 1 month ago
Gould needs to figure out what the hell a squib kick is. The point is to burn some time off the clock with 15 seconds left. However, it should be kicked hard enough to roll/bounce to the 15 and not the 33.
Asides from the defense not being in condition to play 4 quarters (Lovie's fault), the play calling sucked. McKee's not the fridge and both TE's as well as Forte can work a not so f'ing obvious play action. Minimally, give the ball to Forte all 3 times.
Thank god Cedric alleviated himself of all Bears duties or we would not have seen Forte until the 10th game of the season.
about 1 month ago
hey GeorgiaDawg, you should reread this comment you left.
Tom, SORRY you think our statements are stupid.... but the point is that the Falcons OUTPLAYED the Bears for 3 1/2 quarters. Ryan picked the Bears secondary apart all day.... IF the Falcons had not played for a stupid FG at the end, it would have been a 2 possesion game, and it was over.
The Falcons let the Bears back in it with poor play calling at the end. The Bears to their credit after trailing ALL DAY, did take the lead with 11 seconds to go. It would have been a win they stole.... but thanks to the squib kick and the pass to Jenkins the Falcons were in the position to pull it back out....
If you trail ALL DAY, and then take the lead with 11 seconds to go, you are fortunate.
yeah the falcons may have outplayed the bears, but the bears did in fact come back. no matter what they came back. another fact is they blew it in the end and the falcons capitalized. neither team deserves a loss or a win. like tom said the game is played and there is a winner and a loser. i see where tom is coming fro, there are no deserves in sports.
but yeah matt ryan is good, glad to see the vick fiasco isnt killing the falcons.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the support blake, you just earned another fan.
from about 1 month ago
blake, i agree with your deserve comment.
a win is a win.
things happen in games and momentum and tides are turned. injuries, blocked kicks, missed kicks, bad play-calling, etc.
tom mentioned before on my article, if tillman and vasher had been in the game, it would have looked different. quite possibly so. but that's not how it went down.
no one deserves anything. you win it or you lose it.
about 1 month ago
no if u watch the highlights the clock didnt start until Ryan through the ball. The Bears were cheated.
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