Hmmm, they don't look that intimidating...

My preseason prediction figured the Bears to lose a close one tonight, and after looking at all of the data, it’s still hard to argue against that informed opinion.  The Eagles simply have more talent, but as they have shown earlier in the season, talent doesn’t always equate to victories.  Here’s hoping the Bears to sneak one by the lovers of cheesesteaks.  Now for my unwarranted, more detailed predictions hopefully to be proven incorrect by a more positive final score:

• both teams will score a special teams TD
• Cromartie will intercept at least one Jay Cutler pass
• it will be McCoy, not Vick, who will prove to hurt Chicago the most

Final predicted score, Philly 24, Bears 20.  Prove me wrong Chicago, and you’ll be (gasp!) in position to make the playoffs!

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, a destiny that the Bears could have thrown a wrench in with a little more offense in the last regular season game, sending the Pack home without a playoff berth.  It wasn’t meant to be, however, and as these things seem to go, destiny came back and defeated Chicago at home as the Bears were left watching their hated rival hoist the Lombardi trophy once again.  I stop short of suggesting it was karma because the Bears DID play to win on that last day of the season: they simply weren’t good enough, which they proved once again several weeks later.

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The end result was another Super Bowl victory by a team with a quarterback capable of being a team leader on the field.  There are always exceptions (Trent Dilfer), but most often, the Super Bowl champ possesses a QB that the team can rely on when everything else isn’t working right.  Off the field stuff seems irrelevant, as QBs as different as Roethlisberger and Drew Brees have won titles recently, but the similarities they have is the take over attitude on the field.  Aaron Rodgers is no different.  Despite numerous drops by his receivers in the Super Bowl, Rodgers remained calm and confident and helped put enough points on the scoreboard against one of the best defenses in the league to win a Super Bowl.

The question Bears fans need to ask is whether Jay Cutler is that type of field leader.  When the chips are down (and I’m not talking about injuries), will Cutler make the players around him better, or will he sulk and let a negative play or two determine the outcome?  What does Cutler bring to the table besides a strong arm and some potential?  If you truly aren’t confident that Cutler is the answer, then maybe it’s time to rethink the overall future for the Bears.

Sprained MCL for Cutler

According to several reports, it sounds like it’s official: Jay Cutler suffered a sprained MCL in the game yesterday.  Knowing that now, should he have continued playing?

My thoughts: I’m glad he didn’t, because the offense functioned better when Hanie was in the game, so questioning a player’s toughness is irrelevant and not worth fighting over.  Having seen the beating Cutler has taken this year, it’s hard to question the toughness of a player who has been working toward a goal only to get hurt.  Giving Cutler the benefit, I assume that if he felt he could play, he would have.  As for his performance, read the post below.

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Neil Hayes from the Chicago Sun-Times provided the ultimate in overanalysis by responding to readers on the accuracy of Jay Cutler’s throws in OTAs. You can read it here. You can find more questions from the Sun-Times story here.

If you want to dive deep into the mind of Chicago’s starting quarterback, check out Jay Cutler’s tweets on Twitter @JayCutler6.  There have hardly been any updates since the season ended, but I’m assuming that’s because Jay has been hard at work getting himself into elite shape and working daily with his receivers in the offseason, flying them in to work with them personally.  Right?

While Jay continues his offseason doing whatever it is he does, we are only a half a year away from football and such intriguing tweets as “Good win last night. Lions on Sunday.”  Sigh.

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote an article today about Ron Jaworski analyzing all 26 of Jay Cutler’s interceptions this past season.  Read the article, but pay more attention to the reader’s comments at the bottom – they really give it to Jensen for failing to actually read what Jaworski wrote about each interception.

Read the article here.

Trade ME?! You can't ditch double nickels!

Half of the comments on this site are from Broncos fans thanking Chicago for taking a QB with a losing record on a mediocre team and exchanging him for a QB with a winning record on a mediocre team along with a couple first round draft picks.  After the trade, the tide has turned for the teams but the story is the same for the quarterbacks.

The other comments are from Chicago fans calling me stupid.  I’m fine with that (I never claimed to be smart), but for the record, it’s “loser,” not “looser.”  Some comments are very well written, and the gist of many of them is “you can’t blame one guy (Cutler) for a team’s demise.” 

I don’t blame ONLY Cutler.  I agree – offensive line?  Bad.  Receivers?  Bad.  Coaching?  Bad.  Defense?  Bad.  Quarterback?  Also bad.  BUT, the only way to get better without draft picks is to trade a valuable commodity for more depth, more talent, more anything!  Who do the Bears have on the roster that would bring any trade value?  Linemen?  No.  Receivers?  Heck no.  Quarterback?  N-…   wait a minute, there’s your guy.  Cutler is arguably the only guy with decent trade value given his perceived talent level (I still don’t think he’s as good as you do) and contract except for Lance Briggs.  Do you want to trade Lance Briggs?  www.TradeLanceBriggs.com is available.

First of all, sandwiched between some of the less than stellar “you guys are loosers” (sic) comments are some very insightful thoughts by guys that took a lot of time to write them.  Check ‘em out – they’re worth a read.  Now on to yesterday’s game.

Jay Cutler did his best Kyle Orton impression yesterday, wowing no one but playing mistake free and coming out with an ugly victory.  Throwing the ball only 17 times, Lovie Smith made the decision to “get off the bus running,” and despite a 3.2 yards/carry average, Smith kept ordering for the run.  Smith also decided to try a fake field goal against one of the worst teams in football where any points on the board should be golden.  Did I mention only having 10 players on the field in a punting situation deep in Chicago’s own zone, forcing a timeout to be called?  If you want to sound off on those problems, there’s always www.FireLovieSmith.com for that.  No, it’s not my website.

Despite giving the ball to St. Louis at midfield or better a handful of times, the Rams couldn’t get in the endzone.  It’s fairly obvious that this 1-11 team has Steven Jackson and nothing more.  Still, the Bears couldn’t capitalize on their chances, including converting the occasional 3rd down to ice the clock, and suddenly the lowly Rams were driving the field with a chance to tie the game with under a minute left.  The defense finally put an end to the drive, sealing the Bears’ 5th win of the season.

As bad as it’s been, keep this in mind: Chicago is currently only one game worse than New England and Pittsburgh.  What this game showed once again, however, is the complete lack of talent around Jay Cutler.  As I have said time and time again, THAT is why the Bears need to trade him.  Chicago needs help in so many areas that having a Pro Bowl quarterback behind center with no good draft picks in sight will only delay future success.  More to come this week.  Sound off!