Bears in must-win situation

Win? Playoffs still realistic. Lose? Plan for the draft. David Haugh On the Bears 10:01 AM CDT, September 27, 2008 If you haven't already out of habit, ignore Bears coach Lovie Smith when he places Sunday ...

[Randy]

Really good column today. Puts matters in the correct perspective. Nicely done.

[Tim]

In a move of wild, likely unrealistic optimism the Giants started 0-4 last year?!?!

*laughs self off the internet*

[BBB]

I disgree, this game is not a must win. I've got them going 10-6 even with a loss to the Eagles. After this game they will go between 8-4 and 10-2. I predict 9-3. Need a win? Sure, just like every week. Must win? No, not yet.

[DDD]

BBB wrote:

I disgree, this game is not a must win. I've got them going 10-6 even with a loss to the Eagles. After this game they will go between 8-4 and 10-2. I predict 9-3. Need a win? Sure, just like every week. Must win? No, not yet.

I disagree, this game is not a must win. I've got them going 6-10 even with a win over the Eagles. After this game they will go betwee 4-8 and 2-10.

They're just not very good this year. The defense is running out of gas in the 4th quarter because they're getting older, and because too much is being expected of them, in terms of carrying the game.

I still can't decide whether the reason Kyle Orton seems incapable of completing a pass for more than 8 yards is because Ron Turner has no confidence in him or has an unimaginative offensive plan or because Kyle really can't see farther down the field than that or because his receivers are almost always covered. It doesn't really matter. No, I don't think Rex Grossman would be doing any better.

This team is going nowhere, least of all the second round of the playoffs.

[Rocket Man]

After Sunday night, 1-3 it will be. At least I won't have to stay up late to watch them lose late in the game. They will never be in the game. Philly 38 Bears 10.

[Dino]

Lots of fellow Bears fans from Washington on the forum here so good to see!

This game is not even close to a must win. The Bears have had a really, really tough first quarter of the season. The schedule will soften up a bit after this game and those games are must wins.

[David Ciasto]

1-3 would not be good, but 3-3 would not be the end of the world. It kind of depends how the Packers do. If the Bears beat them twice and they both end up on top of the Central at 9-7, then the Bears would be in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, so far this season has been off to a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" start.

[BearFanRick]

The defense has no heart. Just a bunch of well-paid, disgruntled Bear employees. They hate their own team, don't care about winning...just get paid. Tommie Harris...where are you? Just sit your a#$ down if you ain't healthy. Babich needs to go, then again...so does Lovey, Turner, and Angelo...Forte is a Real football player. Maybe he can teach Urlacher how to be one too. Where YOU been Urlacher, HUH??! Make a damn play, would ya?

[Dave]

Next up (right behind Tommie Harris) in line for the excuse of the month.... Brian Urlacher's bad back, closely followed by an eventual Mike Brown season ending injury. Then let the parade of excuses begin as we continue to forgive Bob Babich for not knowing how to coordinate a defense for 4 quarters, Lovie for not knowing how to get a team in shape, and Ron Turner for not making half time adjustments. Actually, truth be told, I think the Bears have a shot at being a decent team in a bad division, but for anyone thinking beyond a shot at a wild card, don't put the cart in front of the horse.

[Wooly Bully]

Classic Bears organization in total disarray. Just like the past 20+ years. Quarterback issues, drafting issues, age issues, etc. What a poorly run organization from top to bottom.

By the way, does anybody else wonder what is really going on with T. Harris? He is the linchpin of the entire Bear defense. Without him being double teamed, the rest of the defensive line - as well as the inebackers - is much weaker. Is he really done for the season and the Bears are just hiding it from the press?

[CentrILMark]

David Haugh's piece accurately reflects the state of the Bears in general. However, Dave also said that the Bear's shouldn't draft a QB because what good would he do without an offensive line that couldn't block. This was so wrong. Orton sucks. Anyone who throws the ball awway right into the hands of a defensive player standing right in front of him sucks. He is not mobile in the pocket or elusive. He throws too many straightline passes ala Tomzack that scream for knockdowns or interceptions. He's been lucky so far, but the picks will begin to mount up and so will his incompletion rate. And Grossman, he sucks worse than Tomzack err.. Orton. The Bears should have drafted a QB or two this year. In fact, since no team entertains or wins consistently without a good QB, I would say the Bears should draft at least one QB every year until they finally get lucky(law of averages) pick one. Other than McMahon who was injured much of the time, they have never had an excellent QB, snd under the current McCaskey/Angelo regime probably never will. By the way, is there anyone out there who really doesn't think Ron Turner and Babich suck. Lovie's the only guy I like, and he even he doesn't appear the best appraiser of talent.

[Mgray]

4 the Bears 2 beat the Eagles they must have an effective game plan, be able 2 make adjustments and do some actual coaching on the field Sunday night. They will miss the boat on all 3 accounts. This team is unprepared from the coaching on down. Very sad.

[ron]

who cares they're gonna loose anyway and why bother watching tese lazy ass team,i mean just look at the coach

[rapier]

Great players are self made but the bulk of players are made through development. The Bears traditionally don't successfully develop their players. The dismal attrition rate of high draft picks is not so much a talent issue but a development one. Successful development of good reliable players is something which goes beyond just coaching. It's done through the entire organization.
If that sounds all too vague and touchy feely I'll just say that the most successful NFL teams which consistently develop good players are driven by people at the top who have a large degree of ruthlessness. Then there is Virginia.

[OKCBearsFan]

I am hoping that Dusty D. will be huge in tonight's game. The brats will be ready for gametime, and the Eagles will be grilled by the end of the night.

Bear Down Bears!!!!

[Florida Jim]

Lovie, some pregame advice:
1] please talk to your players about not causing any penalties today, they are bad for you!
2] tell your players not to respond to taunting or retaliating, it may be on purpose knowing the Bear players are quite childish.
3] tell your kickoff returners do not catch the ball inside the 10 yard line let it go into the end zone.
4] Tell Orton to try quick opening passes, similar to what Griese did last week.
5] let Forte carry the ball in short-yardage must-make situations.
6] Lovie both praise and criticize the players during the game so the good plays continue and the dumb plays cease.
7] this game is important and the players must play 60 minutes, not 48.
Play hard, have fun, WIN!

[Jas]

If they bring the same defense they brought to Pittsburg last week, Orton is in for a long night.

[Rich W]

I don’t see this as a must win game, however I do see it as a must show up game. If there is a MUST win game it is next week against the Lions a struggling division team. The Lions game starts what could be looked at as the soft part of the schedule, balancing the first four games that could be seen as the hardest part of the schedule. With the Lions twice, Falcons and Vikings the Bears could set themselves up for a second half run no matter win or lose against the Eagles.

I am withholding criticism of the offense collectively and individually until after the next four games as the first 4 teams generally considered strong defensively. The defense I would be a little more critical of as we faced those teams a bit weakened at the offensive side of the ball. Manning perhaps not as sharp as he will be in his first game after his injury, the Panthers best receiver suspended and the Buc’s without their best receiver. Now the Eagles may also have problems with key offensive injuries.

I think that most reasonable fans at the start of the season would have accepted 1-2 with the schedule to be faced. The problem is we now see how easy it could have been 3-0. The thing we need to focus on is the division and with 3 division games in the next 4 there is your season. If the Bears can go 5-1 or as I believe they can 6-0 in the division it can be a great season yet.

I believe if the defense shows up tonight then it will be a big win and a springboard to the division championship. GO BEARS!!!

[Ditka]

DA Bears, where QBs and WRs go to die, and bad GMs and coaches go to mail it in and coast.

[Stratmaster]

Packers and vikings both lose... It may not take much to win this division.