Post-game Thoughts

Without Cutler, the Bears suffered again. Caleb Hanie and the offensive line both struggled in this game. Hanie hasn't been good in his two starts with the Bears. Despite playing pretty well last year in the NFC Championship game, he has not shown that same level of play this year in his two starts. Granted, his chance for a touchdown in the 4th quarter was turned into an interception because Roy Williams couldn't catch a pass that hit his hands. This, however, was not the worst of the news following the game.

Matt Forte left the game early and it is now confirmed that he has a grade 2 MCL sprain. It usually takes about 3 weeks for this sprain to heal, so he'll probably be back for the Minnesota game. In my opinion, it won't matter by then.

Immediately after the Cutler injury, I wasn't worried. I figured that Hanie would be able to beat the Chiefs, Broncos, and Vikings and that some luck would help the Bears get into the playoffs. After losing two in a row and heading up against Tebow who doesn't look like he can lose, I don't think the Bears can make the playoffs. Hanie can't produce like I expected him to and now the Bears have basically lost their running game. Bell and Barber can't perform like Forte can perform. Also, the offensive line is much less confident when Hanie is behind them compared to when Cutler is behind them.

Nothing is going right for the Bears this season. Injuries have killed them. Gabe Carimi, Chris Williams, Jay Cutler, and now Matt Forte. There's no way the Bears can win with those players gone.

I think that next year is the final year the Bears can try to win the Super Bowl. Cutler should be back and hopefully he can be even better than he was this year. Forte should be back too and hopefully has a good season. Chris Williams and Gabe Carimi will be back and a year older and Tice should be able to help them become even better than they already were this season. The defense won't be too old and maybe the Bears can help themselves in the draft. In my opinion, the Bears have a pretty good chance next year.

Finally, the last thing I want to comment on is that this will be Mike Martz's last season with the Bears. According to Adam Schefter, he won't be back next year. First, this kills the Bears because they have spent so much time trying to fit in with his system and now he's leaving. Second, this makes the Olsen trade pretty pointless. Third, Jay Cutler now needs to talk to Lovie and help build an offense that is designed around him so that Cutler can be even better than he already has been.