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Bears Mon Dec 01 2008
It's Not Over for Bears, But...
Lovie Smith is sort of like the Bluto Blutarsky of the NFL. Nothing is over until HE says it's over.
Nevermind that the Bears are a very weak 6-6 in the NFC North and have been thumped once again by Minnesota Vikings, this time getting punked 34-14 on national television. Nevermind that as impressive as their running game has been this season (thanks mostly to the emergence of Matt Forte), it will always be choked to death by confounding play-calling. Nevermind that when faced with teams who aren't the Detroit Lions or the St. Louis Rams, the Bears look like, well, the Detroit Lions or the St. Louis Rams. Nope, despite all of that, Lovie Blutarsky thinks the Bears still have a shot, even if that shot is a chance to look like crap in the playoffs and execute a quick one-and-done.
After their 37-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers a few weeks ago, Smith declared the start of a "new" five-game season, giving "It's never over..." a new time-bending twist. They are now 1-1 in that new five-game season.
I suppose Smith has to keep his chin up. You can't really pack in the season, even thought a lot of guys on the team might look like they already have. But even he acknowledges that he's only going to get by with a little help from his "friends".
We controlled our destiny before (Sunday night)," Smith said. "Now we need a little bit of help. ... No time to feel sorry for ourselves."
Wrong, there's plenty of time to feel sorry for not being able to score from the one and turning right around and giving up a 99-yard scoring play, for making stupid penalties (Yo, Peanut Tillman...), for creating a defense that focuses on Adrian Peterson and STILL not be able to stop him.
You say it's not over because they're in second place in their division. Big deal. The Packers are breathing down their neck and finish up the season against patsies Houston, Jacksonville and Detroit. Oh, and the Bears. The Bears also have Jacksonville and Houston on their schedule, but also face their fellow 6-6ers the New Orleans Saints and the Packers. Not the best of scenarios.
So now they're sitting around Lake Forest hoping that some sort of NFL magic happens, maybe an upset here and there that can help them stumble into the playoffs. And they insist it's not over.
No, it's not over, but you can see "over" from here.
Brian Lauvray / December 1, 2008 3:46 PM
Actually it is over. Bears only shot at getting into playoffs is hoping that the Vikes fold like a card table. Chicago won't be getting a wild card slot so, pray, that their season ends mercifully before an inevitable road playoff blowout.