Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

For a week, glass is half full 

A NEW HOPE? | Win over horrible team keeps critics at bay


December 7, 2009

BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan@suntimes.com

Scoff if you must at the Bears' victory against the St. Louis Rams as just another happy accident compliments of the NFL schedule-makers. So what if beating the Rams was like beating the Cleveland Browns on the first day of November, the last time the Bears awoke to a ''Victory Monday''? Such wins might reflect a change in culture or fortune. Or are they just fleeting moments doomed to wither and die like the turf at Soldier Field?

There is nothing wrong with an accidental breakthrough. History is filled with such glorious moments that have bettered mankind. Could the Bears' victory against the Rams turn out to be the football equivalent of penicillin, cellophane, cornflakes or dynamite, all innovations blessed by serendipity?

We'll know better come next Sunday, when the Green Bay Packers show up at Soldier Field coming off a short week after tonight's game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers' loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday dropped the Steelers to 6-6 and means the Bears have not beaten a winning team. The Bears are 5-7 with the next three against winning teams, the Packers, Ravens and Minnesota Vikings, before the finale at the hopeless Detroit Lions.

Can the Bears beat one winning team before the season is done? If they can't, what does that tell you?

''Sometimes things don't work out according to plan,'' Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said on the Bears' pregame show on WBBM-AM (780). ''Doesn't mean the plan was bad. The plan was solid. It just didn't work. We'll re-visit the things that didn't work, fix the things that didn't work, and when you do that, you will be better for it. Can I tell you exactly what? I can't do that. There will be time to do it.''

Forte's take: 'It's a start'


A rare victory allowed the Bears to spurn the usual loser's cliches and gave the fan base and media a respite -- short as it might turn out to be -- from blaming everyone in sight for the miserable failures of a wretched season. Not that anyone in the locker room felt the Bears had done more than keep the critics at bay for more than a week.

''I don't [believe this will quiet the critics],'' middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer said. ''We beat a team we should have beaten and it was a close game. It will be exactly the same.''

Unless the Bears can beat the Packers. Not that some players didn't attempt to cling to the idea that winning a single game can right a failed season. Running back Matt Forte called the game ''a start of better things to come.''

''We had not been playing good ball, but we got a win and ran pretty well. It's a start,'' Forte said.

Cornerback Zackary Bowman said the Bears close ranks in the locker room and try to shut out the outside world, but everyone was aware the pressure was hitting a breaking point outside the building.

''We knew we weren't winning, and in the NFL, that's not going to cut it, so this was a good start,'' Bowman said.

Sadly, there are no restarts within a season, and winning against an inferior opponent proves virtually nothing if you can't play with the big boys.

It has been a season of navigating from one failure to the next. Remember, Kevin Payne and Nathan Vasher both lost starting jobs following the season opener at Green Bay when the two were blamed for the 50-yard touchdown pass that ruined Jay Cutler's debut. Well, that and his four picks that night. Nonetheless, the Bears led in that game despite the mistakes until blown assignments on that late touchdown.

''That game is over with,'' said Payne, who was back in the starting lineup for the first time against the Rams, presumably because he's a better run defender than Danieal Manning. ''I took all responsibility, right or wrong as you said. That game is over. We just want to play with good technique and be disciplined and make more big plays than they do.''

Payne, Williams step up


Payne was credited with eight tackles against the Rams, an impressive number until you consider Jamar Williams was credited with 18 by the guys keeping track of such things in the press box. Alex Brown joked that number would increase by Wednesday or Thursday when the coaches were done reviewing tape.

''Yeah, the Urlacher Rule,'' Williams said with a laugh in reference to the inflated statistics of the injured middle linebacker.

Williams downplayed his success, saying the position he played, weak-side linebacker in place of Lance Briggs, allowed him to flow to the ball. Remember, that's the spot Derrick Brooks played in the old Tampa-2 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Briggs' Pro Bowl campaign.

Maybe some accidents aren't as lucky as they look.

Mike Mulligan and Sun-Times colleague Brian Hanley host ''The Mully and Hanley Show'' from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WSCR-AM (670).


UserPostedImage
Yerko
15 years ago
Seriously, if anyone in Bears nation...fan, player, or coach is content with what the Bears did against the Rams Sunday I am speechless. I watched the game because there is no other football on in Chicago when the Bears are on and it was VERY hard to watch.

The Bears have another thing coming if they think they will beat the Packers next week (I will be at the game too!)
UserPostedImage
IronMan
15 years ago


The Bears have another thing coming if they think they will beat the Packers next week (I will be at the game too!)

"AKamp74" wrote:



Sweet! Hopefully you can improve your record to 3-0.
Gravedigga
15 years ago
UserPostedImage
--------------------------------------------
UserPostedImage


A wise man once said
---------------------------------------------
You are weak, pathetic and immature..............I would have d
Fan Shout
dfosterf (4h) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (5h) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (5h) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (5h) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (5h) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (6h) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (6h) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (6h) : *years
Mucky Tundra (6h) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (6h) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (6h) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (6h) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (6h) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (7h) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (7h) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (9h) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (9h) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (10h) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
6h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

6h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

13h / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

21h / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.