Come To Think of It...Despite Win, Bears Peformance Embarrassing Against Lions

If ever a win in a football game can be called "embarrassing," this was it.

I mean, this current Detroit Lions team is the worst team in professional football, and might be one of the worst of all time. And while the Chicago Bears managed to beat them, 27-23 on Sunday at Soldier Field, it was downright ugly.

The Lions led by 10 points at halftime, 23-13. The Bears' defense made Lions QB Dan Orlovsky actually look like a competent NFL QB. He was 28-of-47 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.

The Lions controlled the clock as well, winning the time of possession battle, 32:09 to 27:51. But two interceptions and a fumble did them in.

Of more immediate concern to the Bears is the injured ankle of QB Kyle Orton. Current estimates have him missing at least a month with a high-ankle sprain. To expect incumbent QB Rex Grossman to enjoy the same kind of success that Orton had in this system is unrealistic.

Grossman throws too many picks, won't step up in the pocket, is easily rattled, is too short, and has bad mechanics. And that's on a good day.

Maybe this might open up the long passing game, however. Perhaps the Bears will actually try some long fly patterns to Devin Hester for a change. After all, isn't he in there because of his speed? Yet they seem to be using Hester as a possession receiver.

And speaking of Hester, when is he going to start flashing that burst of speed and instinctive running that made him so great in the punt and kick return game the last two seasons? He looks slower, hesitant, and isn't getting the job done. He also lost a fumble.

And where is Brian Urlacher? I suppose the coaches will award him with more plays after they review films, but at first glance, the overrated middle linebacker had only three tackles and no assists on the day.

Well, thank God for Matt Forte, who ran for 126 years on 22 carries. It was his first 100-yard game since the Bears' season opener.

Oh, and by the way, here's a shocker: Safety Mike Brown was injured. During the week, Brown had promised to pick up his game, saying the coaches were playing him very cautiously, recognizing his fragile history. So, he played more aggressively this week and now he's back to his usual position, watching on the sidelines. 

There are only three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and Mike Brown getting injured every season.

All in all, despite the win, it was an embarrassing performance by the Bears against the 0-8 Lions. Still, at 5-3, the Bears moved ahead of Green Bay to take sole possession of the NFC North lead.

First place is first place, come to think of it, even if your face is red.