Bears Down But Not Out

The Chicago Bears lost more than a football game on Sunday, they lost two starting defensive players. Mike Brown and Dusty Dvoracek were placed on injured reserve on Monday. Mike Brown not Brian Urlacher has been called the “heart and soul of the Bears Defense”, If this be true the Bears heart and soul have been missing for most of the last three years.

Mike Brown is simply amazing, I love watching him play, and is a play-maker…..problem is he can’t stay on the field. I believe it is finally time for the Bears and Mike Brown to stop teasing us with his presence in the secondary and allow him to coach and call it a career on the field. Thanks Mike for all the excitement you provided and here’s hoping you can coach up D.

Manning and Payne for another Super Bowl run. Dvoracek, in his first year was a physical presence on the line and played with a mean streak, but there isn’t a position more deep and talented than the bears defensive line. The Bears D line will not miss a beat. Darwin Walker is a fantastic run stuffer and pass rusher and Anthony Adams will rotate in.

The Bears secondary took a hit with the loss of Mike Brown. But they are deep and solid in the secondary as well, and with the addition of Adam Archuletta are more experienced and better able to absorb the loss of Mike Brown this year.

Sunday’s game against the Charger’s was not nearly as lopsided as it looked on paper. Two fumbles were given up on two of Chicago’s longest drives, one was on Chicago’s 29, putting the Chargers in Field Goal range and the other near midfield. Rex Grossman threw an interception in San Diego’s red zone giving up a guaranteed three points.

Brandon McGowan’s muffed punt gave the Charger’s the ball on Chicago’s 29 yard line, again in scoring range. These error’s caused: stalled drives, lost scoring opportunities, put the defense at a disadvantage, and gave hope to a Chargers offense that was inept most of the day. That said the Bears were unable to score when they needed to.

The good news is that this is only one game in a long season. If the Bears defense plays half as good the rest of the year as it did on Sunday, they may be headed to Phoenix for another crack at the Lombardi trophy. I fully believe the offense and special teams will turn it around against the Chiefs and not look back.

Maybe, Running backs coach Tim Spencer and Offensive coordinator Ron Turner should quote John Heisman all week in practice; “Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football” I can hear His voice echoing across Soldier field, can you Mr. Benson and Mr. Peterson?