Chiefs vs Bears: 9 Things We Learned from Chicago's 10-3 Loss

Watching this Bears game was like taking a sharp stick to the eye. The loss to the Chiefs was not only embarrassing, but you may as well cancel any playoff plans for Chicago.

It was a boring game played by two teams who were bad at football today, and of the two backup quarterbacks, the Chiefs Tyler Palko outplayed the Bears Caleb Hanie.

It was also a very costly game for the Bears in other ways. They may have lost Matt Forte for the season to a knee injury that could be a torn ACL, and Major Wright left with a right shoulder problem.

You will have to excuse me, as this game has made me physically ill. So I will just get right to the lessons learned.

That $14 Million Guaranteed Must Be Looking Good to Matt Forte Now

Matt Forte was injured early in the game, on what appeared to be a helmet to his right knee. Although he walked off under his own power, he missed the rest of the game and has to be thinking about that offer from the Bears right about now.

For everyone who has been clamoring for the Bears to "Pay the Man!", this is why guaranteed money is so risky in the NFL.

Players are always one play away from a career-ending injury. I'm certainly not suggesting that's what this is, but the point is the Bears did make a contract extension offer to Forte but he turned it down.

We won't know the severity of Forte's injury until probably this evening or tomorrow, but it does not look good. Certainly, his value will be less if he's seriously hurt.

The point is, it's a short career in the NFL and a very dangerous game. When teams offer you guaranteed money, you had better think long and hard about it.

Now, all of this may blow over, and Forte could be back on the field next week and still get his payday with the franchise tag. But you know what they say about a bird in the hand...

Marion Barber Carries the Load but Not the Way We Were Hoping

Early on, I was yelling for the Bears to get Marion Barber out there. However, an injury to Forte was not the way I wanted this to happen.

Still, it seemed to me after watching Barber's performance last Sunday in Oakland, that this is a guy I'd like to see more of.

Sure, Forte has the most yards from scrimmage in the NFL, but Barber's downhill running style offers a nice contrast to the cutting style of Forte.

Plus, with the Bears blocking scheme it seemed that Barber might actually be more effective, as he hits the hole and runs through defenders.

However, with the way Hanie was playing, and with the Bears playing from behind, the running game probably wasn't going to be very effective today even if Forte hadn't gotten hurt.

Prior to the injury, Forte carried the ball five times for just 12 yards.

Barber ended up with 44 yards on 14 carries, for a 3.1 average.

Kahlil Bell saw his first action of the season, rushing the ball four times for 34 yards, 26 coming on one play.

Caleb Hanie Is Not the Answer at QB

Early on, it was apparent that Hanie was taking too long to make decisions out on the field. If the primary target isn't open, check down quickly.

His progressions have to be quicker—and he has to be willing to dump it off if the deep shot isn't there.

As the game went on, I started to realize that this guy just isn't any good. He is not accurate and doesn't trust his receivers. He doesn't get the ball out.

Other than those things, he is the next Tom Brady.

But having said that, where was the screen pass today? Why can't Mike Martz ever figure out how to utilize what he has on offense until there is a disaster?

The Bears finished with 78 yards passing, and Hanie had no touchdowns but two interceptions on the day.

His QB rating was 28.3.

Playoffs?! You Must Be Joking

Shades of Jim Mora, circa 2001. "Playoffs...you kidding me? I just hope we can win a game."

Well, that's pretty much where things stand for the Chicago Bears after losing at home to the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was embarrassing and even if the Bears do somehow back into the playoffs, without Jay Cutler they won't win a game anyway.

Blink and You Missed the Kyle Orton Era in Kansas City

Early on, the Bears were aggressively getting after the Chiefs quarterbacks. When an ineffective Palko was replaced by Kyle Orton, he dropped back to throw one pass and it resulted in a dislocated finger.

Thus ended the Kyle Orton Era in Kansas City. And it happened on a flea flicker.

But as the game went on, it was disgusting to see that they couldn't even stop a bad QB like Palko.

This is a Chiefs team that had scored just one TD in their last four games...COMBINED. Yet the Bears allowed Palko to march down the field on consecutive 79 and 86 yard drives in the second half.

Mike Martz May Have Checked out Already

There was plenty of speculation prior to the game, with reports suggesting that Martz will not return to the Bears after this season. Well, if you ask me, he was not here mentally for this game.

The screen pass was completely forgotten, and they didn't use Barber until they were forced to by Forte's injury.

The offensive line blocked poorly, and yet Martz kept calling for stupid high/low crossing pass plays. It's as if Martz knows his time in Chicago is over, so he has lost interest.

On the day, the Bears were 0-for-11 on third down. They had 88 yards passing. Not all of that was Mad Mike's fault, but he consistently proves that he will not change his ways unless there is a real problem or someone forces him to.

A genius? I say not. He had a great offense in St. Louis a long time ago that was mostly the result of some great offensive players. Since then, he has an offensive scheme that requires terrific receivers, and a solid offensive line.

Well, he has neither of those things in Chicago, so shame on Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo for bringing him here.

Hanie is not a good QB and that is not Martz's fault. Still, he had to almost get Cutler killed before he started letting him roll out and use some max protect.

Martz has stubbornly clung to his long drops and multiple receiver sets unless Lovie Smith forces him to adjust.

Bears Lost the Turnover Battle

I won't go into the statistics, it has been talked about to death. But we all know that the Bears need to get turnovers for this defense to truly be effective.

They got one on a punt coverage mistake by the Chiefs, though replays were inconclusive as to whether or not the Chiefs actually touched that ball.

But no interceptions, despite several good chances. And no forced fumbles.

Meanwhile, the Bears committed three turnovers. And bad things usually happen when the Bears fail to be opportunistic.

Just Cut Roy Williams NOW!

The Roy Williams experiment has been a huge bust and following another dropped ball, which led to an interception in the end zone, he needs to go.

The guy drops balls but won't take accountability for any of it. It's as if it's someone else is wearing his jersey when that happens.

If Williams catches that ball for a score in the fourth quarter, the game is tied and maybe we're talking differently about Caleb Hanie. As it is, that one drop (he had no catches again on the afternoon) sealed the win for the Chiefs.

Bears 0-for-11 on Third Down and Hanie Sacked 7 Times

The offensive line was awful on Sunday. Coming into the game, the Chiefs had only 13 sacks on the entire seasons. Yet on Sunday alone, they sacked the Bears quarterback seven times.

The Bears really need to draft or sign a left tackle for next season, as J'Marcus Webb just can't cut it as an every-down LT in this league.

Frank Omiyale stinks, and cannot possibly be allowed back on the team next year.

Yes, Hanie is a bad QB and some of this (okay, much of this) was his fault. But the line didn't help.