The Chicago Bears: Mice of the Midway

The Monsters of the Midway made their moniker on defense.

The Monsters of the Midway aren't afraid to tackle a mediocre kickoff returner with seven seconds left in the game.

The Monsters of the Midway come to play, they don't play not to lose.

The Mice of the Midway meekly squib kick. The Monsters of the Midway kick deep, then attack and crack the return wedge. Then they attack the QB.

Bears go down with a roar, not a whimper.

How did monsters became mice?

Was it losing a 17-3 lead against the Carolina Panthers by switching to a conservative offense and prevent defense?

Was it that sad, slow, 4th-and-1 late fourth quarter conservative dive to the Bears' seldom-used FB that ended the Panther game with a pitiful loss? A Bear meow not a Bear growl?

Or was it dumbly, numbly pulling back the attack and putting in the soft tent prevent to protect the lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bear washout Brian Griese?  

Combine the prevent defense with the sudden Bear snore, not roar Ron Turner sleepy slow offense, and the Bears suddenly lose fangs and claws.

The attacking razor-fanged Bears are replaced in the fourth quarter with blunt toothed, bad news Bears.

Attack, attack, attack, then curl up and hope the clock runs out.

Why do Lovie Smith and his coordinators lose their aggression when winning? Why pull back when a savage thrust could shatter the opponent? Perhaps it's something better suited to a Freudian fearful football column that examines sudden aggression loss after success.

Bears don't have shells, so why do these Bears hide under their shells late in games? It takes away the team's aggression and makes the players look around uneasily, awaiting the next losing stroke to strike their success down.

Seven-second squibbing was the ultimate non aggressive, safe mode play. Seven seconds? And the Atlanta Falcons don't have Devon Hester returning kicks, but they do have a rookie at QB not adept at NFL seven-second drills.

Why lose the aggression? Why go suddenly fetal? Fetal football is not Bear football.

Let's hope Lovie has not tamed the Bears and turned them from grizzlies to wethers.

At least lose like Bears. Let the defense go out on its shields. Fall during an attack, not curling up and meekly hoping the clock somehow saves you or the Football Gods have mercy.

Go out like Bears, not bunnies.

Play like monsters, not mice.