Richard Kagan's Chicago Bears fan blog

The Chicago Bears have allowed the Seattle Seahawks take a commanding 24-14 lead late in 3rd quarter at Soldier Field.

The Bears are about to be buried for this season.  No Cutlers, No Forte, No Wright, No Johnny Knox, who left the game in an ambulance and was taken to a local hospital.  Unfortunately, Caleb Hanie, who looked so good against the Packers in the NFC game and looked mediocre at best, and simply not-ready-for-prime-time.  He lacks the skills that Cutler has.

The Bears didn't count on losing Cutler and Forte, and without adequate replacements, or an ablity to adjust on the fly, the season is spiralling downward.  The Bears are about to lose their 4th straight game and move to 7-7.  Wtih two away games left.  There is nothing pretty about this game.  The Bears had a 14-7 lead but Seattle stormed back and took a 21-14 lead.  A FG only prolonged the inevitable.  The Bears have been out-personneled and out hustled. 

Continue reading "Kiss This Season Goobye"

This loss to Denver will be difficult to get over.  The Bears practically handed the Broncos this game gift-wrapped.  They made so many mistakes in the late minutes of the 4th quarter and OT, it is safe to say this was one of the worst defeats I've seen in recent years.  There was a lot riding on this game, it occured in December, when losses are magnified, and it gave Tim Tebow who played poorly, opportunities to steal this one away from Chicago.  Tebow played well when it mattered and willed his team to the victory.  The Bears were huffing and puffing due to the frenetic pace and the altitude. Heck I was affected by the altitude and I watched the game on TV in New York City.

There's an old saying, "The game ain't over till the Fat Lady sings."  Well, she sung.

Continue reading "What A Bad Game in Denver"

Honestly, you had to see this game to believe it.  The Bears radio announcer sounded like a relative had died, when announcing this one.  You have to laugh, at the stupidity of the Bears schemes, and the execution of plays in the final closing minutes of the 4th quarter and in OT, to let The Tebow mysitque grow.  I thought the Bears would win this game, but when they had Hanie hand off for 8 consecutive plays in their last two possessions, I knew this team was in trouble.

Of course, Denver scored a Td late, to make it close, 10-7.  They tried an on-sides kick that The Bears recovered.  So, you think just run out the clock with 2:00 to play.  No, Marion Barber ran out of bounds and stopped the clock on a 2nd down run.  The Bears couldn't convert on 3rd down and then punted to Denver.  It's hard to imagine why Barber would run out of bounds.  That is play one learns in pee-wee football.  When that happened, I knew the Bears were in serious trouble.

Continue reading "Bears Squander Lead, Fall in OT, 13-10."

Chicago Bears Defense had the Broncos pinned in a 3rd down and 15 and Tim Tebow picked up 16 yards for the first down, early in the second quarter in a 0-0 game at Mile High Stadium.  At least it is 0-0. Because the Bears offense looks virtually non-existant.  Marion Barber is doing the running for the Bears and picked up a few first downs, but QB Caleb Hanie looks befuddeled and bewildered.  This is not a good sign if the Bears want to win this game.

Continue reading "Tebow On the Run"

I'm getting worked up here, waiting for this darn Bear-Broncos game.  I don't know.  The Bears practically had a playoff berth wrapped up and then two injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte have derailed the Bears run to post-seasn.  But, its not over till it's over.  I'd like to see The Bears surprise the experts and pickers and the League, and pull off the upset.  Can you imagine, beating Tim Tebow an upset?  Here is a guy who several weeks ago, completed 2 or 3 passes in a game, and the Broncos still won.  Now, if the Bears D is worth anything, if Urlacher and Co. have a pulse, they willl kick some serious butt, I don't care what the altitude is.  Urlacher and Hanie played in the Rockies, or the Mountain time zone, (I don't care if there are Mountains out there).  They were close to the Mountains.  Christmas wish: let Hanie make some plays.  Smart plays.

Continue reading "Win One For Larry Morris"

Just read a blog saying that Lance Briggs would be "freakin" pissed" if the Bears lost the Denver and Tebow-mania.

I don't know if that is so smart to give Broncos any quotes or fodder now.  After all, the Bears have to fly in and play way over sea level, as in Rocky Mountain high.  In Chicago, the land is flat as a pancake.  This is going to be a big climate change.  Like going to 3 time zones.  So, keep the lips buttoned down and take the anger out on the field.  It is time to put up or shut up.  The NFL can be about playing through adversity.  This is an adverse situation.  You have to play through it.  The question is how can the Bears be competitive without Cutler or Forte on offense?  I'll say this, good teams find ways to win.  Let's see if the Bears are a good team.

Continue reading "Just Hit Hard and Play"

There was a time when John Elway, the great QB for the Denver Broncos could make a Bears fan feel anxious about coming into Denver.  Now, a rather wild hot streak with Tim Tebow calling the signals, has Denver tied atop the AFC West, and in playoff consideration.  Just a few weeks ago, the Bears were sitting pretty after a win that got them to 7-3 for the year.  But a broken thumb to QB Jay Cutler and a sprained knee to starting back Matt Forte, has sidelined both players, Cutler most likely out for the season. 

The question is, if Matt Forte returns this season, will the Bears be in contention for a Wild Card.  It doesn't look good.  The Bears need to rely upon Marion Barber and Kahlil Bell to fill in for Forte, who accounted for 38% of total offense for the Bears.  If people didn't think he was so valuable, let's see what they think after the game in Denver or the home game vs. Seattle?  It was looking like the rest of the schedule was going to be meaningful for the fans of the Bears.  Now, it looks like a survivors' guide to avoiding disaster. 

Continue reading "Bears vs. Denver and Tebow"

Boy, it's come to this.  Brett Favre would be willing to listen to an offer from the Bears.  What is this football world coming to?

I say let Hanie sink or swm.  He lead a good drive that Roy Williams snuffed out when he didn't hold onto the ball, which was then intecepted at the 1 yard line.  That wasn't Hanie's fault.  People are reporting that he threw 3 interceptions.  He gets the blame for a receiver's miscue. He threw 2 ill-timed passes.  I say give Hanie a shot vs. Denver.  If he doesn't have a good game, then sign someone else.  But, don't look to Favre to save the Bears.  He's a Bears killer.  I don't think it is a good idea.  If Johnny Unitas were in Favre's situation, I'd say, take a look.  He used to kill the Bears too.  That guy could thorw the ball.  Favre could easlily throw two intercepts in a Lance Briggs moment.

Continue reading "Don't Sign Favre, Jerry"

The Chicago Bears lost a game and perhaps their start running back, Matt Forte, to a knee injury that took him out most of the game.  Caleb Hanie, had a good drive going, late in the game, and Roy Williams couldn't control the ball at the goalline, where a Chief's defender caught it before the ball hit the ground.  Heck, the Chiefs scored a TD on a desperate hail-mary pass that went through Brian Urlacher's hands before the first half-ended. 

This was a tough, lousy loss.  All the more compounded by the injury to Forte.  Major Wright also left the game with an injury and his status is not known.  If the Bears don't have Forte, you can wrap up the season.  They can't compete with both the starting QB, and tailback, who accounts for 38% of the team's offense.  Forte, has done things so well, and is quiet about his talents.  You don't hear about him, or see him on camera.  He is in the middle of a contract dispute with the Bears as he is playing his last year on his current contract.  The Bears want to offer him a lot of money, $6million per year.  He thinks he deserves more.  I wouldn't argue about $ 6million a year.  That would change my lifestyle.

Continue reading "Bad Loss To Chiefs, 10-3, Forte Hurt"

Ndamokung Suh will miss two football games for his over the top roughness on defense for the Lions.  His appeal was denied by Art Shell, former NFL great.  Suh was plain dirty and finally got called on the carpet.  I saw him during the recent Bears-Lions game and he gave a late shot to Cutler.  The announcers at the tiime were soft on him, saying, "he has a reputation"  and his play may punctuate that.  The reason he has a "reputation" is he has been a chronic borderline offender who never got caught.  Well, two games later, he did.  It took a point blank unsportsmanlike penalty like stomping on a player fallen on the field to move the League to do something. 

This has been long overdue.  I don't see Brian Urlacher getting fined for his hits.  And, he is pretty tough out there.  Because talented guys play the game straight up.  You have the ball, we hit you.  The tackles are clean and at times brutal but that's football in the NFL.  This isn't ballet.  But Suh throws in some Pro-wrestling moves which frankly, are not classy.

Continue reading "Suh Deserves Suspension"