Brutal Effort by Bears in 45-10 Thrashing

Bengals 45, Bears 10. It was 45-3 before the Bears finally got into the end zone, but the game had long been over at that point. It was one of those games that makes you wonder -- were the Bengals that good or the Bears that bad? As is usually the case when you ask that question, it was a combination of both. You have to give the Bengals credit, especially Carson Palmer for his precision passing. Well, really, the entire team deserves loads of credit.

Still, this game was more about how pathetic the Bears played. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that was a simply despicable attempt at playing football on nearly every front. More games like that, and the playoffs won't even be a possibility come late November.

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The offensive line is awful, just downright atrocious. Jay Cutler has about two seconds to throw before being hit, and this was against a team who just lost its best pass rusher. Matt Forte has maybe six inches of running room on any given play. And make no mistake about it, Cutler made some awful passes, while Forte is running like he's planning on living off his rookie reputation for the rest of his career. Receivers are playing volleyball (Cutler's second pick was batted upward by his intended receiver before being intercepted) and losing fumbles (Devin Hester, though he otherwise had a nice stat-line).

The defense was an absolute sieve. Palmer had more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (four), which sounds like a video game stat. Chad Ochocinco schooled Charles Tillman, just like he said he would. Cedric Benson proved his point, I guess (don't even get me started on him, he's still a joke of a man -- even if he's a good running back now). The defense as a whole misses tackles with alarming frequency, mostly due to trying to rip out the football instead of simply making the tackle (which is Lovie-ball -- he wants takeaways, after all). There was no pass rush.

The stats look pretty bad as well, not surprisingly. The Bears were outgained by 169 yards, earned only half as many first downs as Cincy did and turned it over four times. They allowed the Bengals to convert on eight of 12 third downs. And they can't run, rushing for just 35 yards.

Did the team not know they had a game Sunday? Were they unprepared? Were they satisfied with only losing to the Falcons by seven the previous week?

Whatever the reason, that wasn't a playoff-caliber team Sunday. Lovie Smith was outcoached, the offense sucked and the defense sucked. That wasn't even the work of a six-win team. Beating the Browns at home next week won't mean things are all of a sudden better, either. The Bears have some serious work to do in order to live up to expectations.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-25-2009 @ 11:00PM

Gary said...

FIRE LOVIE.

This team is never well-prepared, and for Marvin Lewis to outcoach Lovie is an abomination. Marvin Lewis rides on the back of Carson Palmer. Without Carson, Marvin would be coaching peewees.

Remember when the Bears and Rex lost to the Packers at the end of the season a few years ago? And Rex confessed he wasn't prepared? And we were all embarassed? NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

Lovie-ball is LOSER BALL.

10-25-2009 @ 11:36PM

Pat said...

Well, they did do a good job of breaking the huddle today...and looking ahead they should be able to play with the Browns next week...and although in December the Rams will have a break out game against them, they have a good chance at winning that one and then they get to play the Lions again in January...thats a chance to win 3 more games this season.

10-26-2009 @ 1:20AM

Woody said...

I agree. Lovie has to go! I'm tired of hearing Lovie say. "I didn't have my team ready." Really? You didn't have them ready last week either. So, when are you going to have them ready? I'd like to know. I went to the game and it was down right pathetic!

10-26-2009 @ 7:55AM

barefoottrims said...

Tillman is a nice man, but too old to play well enough to cover young ends. His experience can't make up for his lack of speed anymore. He's a weak link and they can't win with him when a team goes after him.

10-26-2009 @ 9:53AM

barry said...

And they just agreed to pay Cutler another $20 million? Sounds like they need a new General Manager.

10-26-2009 @ 11:18AM

rosematt said...

Maybe Cutler should be studying game films instead of trash talking with Ochocinco. Once again he proves that in spite of all his talent, he still has a habit of not only throwing ill-timed int's, but also of not showing the type of leadership that it takes to run a winning team. His body language and attitude are typical. I have to wonder how many of the poor, misguided fans in Chicago are thinking he is the savior now. Granted, the problems in Chicago go far deeper than Cutler, but he certainly won't help with his juvenile attitude.

10-26-2009 @ 11:25AM

Beautys2love said...

What a disaster and I was all hyped up to watch Da Bears! Bring back Iron Mike. Such poor coaching, send Lovie and his coaching staff off to grammar school. That guy in the sky box who calls the offensive plays for the Bears doesn't know how to run a team either, now he has a better QB and it still is like last year with Orton at QB. McCastey should clean up the organization and get some intelligent coaches. Olin Krutz is so overrated he can't even block, they have no defensive backs who can think straight as they go the wrong direction and yet no good receivers for Cutler. Help for the sinking Bears is needed, second from the last this year in the standings if the Lions don't get better.

10-26-2009 @ 11:42AM

Ed Fielding said...

It certainly was not all of Jay Cutler's fault, but he really contributed to the loss. Cutler is a loser and a punk. Always has been and always will be. Punks don't win. Same problem with San Diego. Philip Rivers, like Cutler, both have mad skills, incredible skills, but they are both punks. Quarterbacks need to be leaders, and people will not follow punks. It is that simple.

10-26-2009 @ 11:47AM

broncoboy7 said...

Ive, been telling you guys in chicago that Baby Jay can do everything but win. He had a line in Denver but it didn't make a difference. He continues to make lousy plays. He can do alot between the 20's but can't score to save his life. Chicago could see the same game films as Mckid but still couldn't see what kind of QB the pouting one is. You just gave him 20 mill and many draft choices. You will never win a championship with Baby Jay. I'm sorry you sent us your winning QB and your future for the next couple of years. If you think he stinks now, just wait till it gets cold.

10-26-2009 @ 3:38PM

Jim said...

Anybody bitching about Cutler wasn't watching the same game I was. The offensive line sucks so bad you couldn't tell the difference between them and the Lions. Their tackling is totally lacking. Lovie is out of his mind if he thinks cover2 defense will work anymore. People got wise to that crappy defense years ago. The play calling has no imagination and doesn't fool anybody. Also Da Bears have one of the smallest offensive lines since the turn of the century. But, still a fan, always a fan. Just a harder drinking one.

10-26-2009 @ 3:58PM

Welcome Ransapp said...

Thats what you Bears fans dont get. Winning is everything And leadership helps make it happen. Cutler is not a leader.
And in the NFL improvement is a big deal. Kyle Orton seems to have improved from his days in Chicago. And cutler is well, the same old Cutler. Mopping and whinning. For the Bears to win he must have some kind of fire in him like Cedric Benson and Kyle Orton has. If you got traded, come out and start proving yourself.

He always gave me a headache every sunday in Denver.

I recall Bears fans saying that the Denver wide recievers are nothing without Jay Cutler?
And now Cry baby Jay dont have a good enough recievers?

Maybe Jay thought McDaniels was going to trade that great Broncos offensive line along with him when he demanded a trade.

Team work wins championship Bears fans. You cant win on a strong arm only.

Face it Bears fans, Bitching Cutler is not that good.

10-26-2009 @ 4:00PM

trshaf6 said...

Well the teddy bears got there usally woop ass again .How bout them Bengals. WHO DEY baby, LOL
Better luck next time chumps.

10-26-2009 @ 5:13PM

Tony said...

Looking at the rest of the Bears schedule this team will finish 6-10.Quit BITCHIN about Cutler he is only real player on this team. Hate to say it but this team needs to striped down and rebuilt from the ground up, Get rid of Jerry Ahole and Lovie.

10-26-2009 @ 9:12PM

The only real player on the team? A golden arm is worth nothing with a tin brain. Check and see how many more red zone INt's he has. 5 times more than any QB playing last year. I see he is still up to his old tricks. By the time you see for yourself it will be too late (it already is). I think it's funny because every time you lose we get a higher draft pick. Keep em coming

10-26-2009 @ 9:51PM

dxtrsdhrbmyrlski said...

Fire Lovie?!!! HAH....you guys got sucked in to a sorry ass QB deal---talk about desperate....good luck with that loser and no draft picks.....if Forte had a line.....you could just draft.....oh yeah, you can't because you gave it away to Denver..HAH!!!! Bears suck!!!!

10-27-2009 @ 11:34AM

jpjgamas said...

The sad fact about Lovie's Bears team is that there isn't enough water in Lake Michigan to wash the Bears' stink out of Chicago!
Fire Lovie the Bears need another Ditka to kick their butts into action. The players are too complacent with their big salaries and uninterested in giving the fans a good game.

10-27-2009 @ 3:31PM

Favorite said...

I am by no means a Bears fan, but by association with several friends, I watch the Bears on a regular basis.

This team does have talent, but in a large part do to injuries, which are unpredictable, and terrible drafting, Chicago has been an average to slightly above average team for years.

Fact is, to win in this league you have to draft well, and the Bears simply have not done that.

Ask Washington, picking up free agents or conducting trades does not result in long term success.

Point being, the Bears need a shakeup in the front office in order to rebuild the team through the draft.

10-27-2009 @ 4:02PM

Sekinu2 said...

Its just so upsetting that that our Bears fans are so much smarter then our coaches and our front office..I really liked Orton and thought he was coming into hgis own and real happy he is getting it done in Denver as he deserves it as he did every single thing asked of him while surrounded by garbage. Its obvious Lovie has to go if he cant figure out the cover 2 is a situational only defense in which you have to have players built for it then no place for him. We do not have the players for that wioe open defense.. I would think by now he would know this. He has to change the defense scheme to fit the players we have you cant make the players fit the scheme.This team is done for awhile now and it sucks as there was no point in grabbing Cutler when by the time this is fixed his career will over here. He is sacked 1 in 15 touches now way he will survive the season. then you have this complete idiot Turner who doesnt have a clue how to run an offense. Reminds me of shoop. 3 and 14 and he is calling 5 yard slants behind the line?? We have no draft picks, no O line, No corners, No safties, mediocre recievers, we lost the best returner in history due to stupidity...How do you fix needing 20 players? Forte I think is still a good back but no where to run and I do believe he is worn out already from last year.. Why didnt we grab Dominc Rhodes and Marvin harrison on 1 year contracts? Peterson is a great back up and runs for what 5.8 yards a carry but Lovie must think he slept with his wife as he refuses to use him granted now he has been on injured list.We went with Jones as a number 2 and almost cut Peterson that alon lets you know from the top to bottom the Bears cvan not judge talent... The Lovie Years are over... Hurry and bring in Cowhar before he is gone. Fire from the GM on down and each one of those OLINE guys should give thier game checks back for not showing up....I for the first time in my life am ashamed Im a Bears fan and that included Wannstat and Jauren teams

10-29-2009 @ 6:08PM

gregduke13 said...

I bought me giant Bears flag to put in my front yard for every Sunday's game and had to take it down before halftime so nobody would see I was a Bear fan. That is the worst game I have ever seen the bears play. I really do think it is time for Lovie Smith to go. I have waited twenty some years for the Bears to get a QB and look who we get Dingdong Culter ! couldn't think of a better word that decribes Culter. I live in Wisconsin and maybe its time I become a Green Bay fan. How long does this have to continue.