adam

I really think the Bears liked how the dual back situation played out later in the season with TJ getting about 80 yards a game and Benson getting 60+. I don't know how the salary situation will play out, but I think for injury concerns and for staying fresh, this is a great concept. It may even be the new way teams play (Colts, Saints, Pats, etc all have two solid backs). What do you all think? Can TJ and Benson co-exist or do the Bears just need on feature back with someone like Peterson in the backup role?

Thats pretty funny. You don't get to the Super Bowl with an overrated team. Hell the Bears had a 14-6 lead and were only down by two to the best team in the world at halftime. The whole team just did not play up to their ability. They handed the game to the Colts. The Bears will be a much better team next year, with Harris and Brown back, and hopefully one or two more productive draft picks and an impact FA, the Bears will be primed for another postseason run.

At that point I was so pissed and disappointed, it didn't really matter. I think Lovie did that because Dungy just ran the ball on 4th down and gave the ball back to the Bears. However, it would have been nice to try get a Hail Mary or other trick play that scores, then you try an onside kick. If you get it, you might have a play or two to win the game. The funny thing was, the Colts defense on that last Bears drive looked like the Bears defense the entire game.

I agree that losing Benson sucked because it took the Bears out of their gameplan, but Benson did fumble on his first carry, so who knows how effective he would have been the rest of the way.

I know one player does not lose the game for the team, but Grossman as the QB, the most important position on the offense played a huge part in this loss. If Manning is our QB we win by 20. Hell if Harrington is our QB we win by 3. Grossman has zero pocket presence, throws off his back foot every freakin time, and cannot audible at the line of scrimmage to save his ass. He was probably the worst player on the field. The Bears Defense was on the field forever. I don't know what people expect them to do in those situations. They also are not able to rotate players because the Colts came to the line so quick. This made the matters even worse. Now that I have had time to think about everything, the biggest problems for the Bears was coaching and gameplan. The Bears got outcoached and outschemed. They played something like a Prevent Cover 2 almost the whole game allowing the underneath throws to Addai, and because they were on the field so long, they started to miss tackles. You could see the players were upset with the passive defense. When they attacked the Bears got better results. The offensive game plan was even worse, I don't remember a single slant pass, WR screen or RB screen. Where was the 3 step drop, read, and pass? Also, on the runs, where were the OL pulls and chip blocks by the TE in motion. I think they only did that once or twice. Jones only got to the DBs on one or two runs.

Yeah, the one play by Hester was nice, but it was only one play. Otherwise the coverage teams sucked, and when Hester didn't get the ball, the others did nothing or worse (see Reid). So in that case, the Colts won every phase of the game. You could also throw coaching into the equation, since the Bears were clearly outcoached and outplayed yesterday which makes the loss that much worse.

I say the priority order should be: 1. OL 2. DB (LB if Briggs bolts) 3. TE 4. DL 5. LB There are not that many glaring holes on the team. An OL upgrade is needed, but this may be addressed in FA.

The Colts were 8-18 on 3rd downs, which isn't that bad for a Defense that was on the field that much. There is only so much you can do. I thought 22 points against would have been enough for the win. The Colts D was probably the best unit on the field all night. Besides for the last garbage time drive and the one prior that was a turnover on downs, the Bears only had one drive longer than 19 yards, and that was due to TJs long run. Think about it, here were the drives: 7yds- Punt, 57yds (TJ's long run)-TD, 8yds-Fumble, 8yds-Punt, 6yds-Punt, 9yds-Punt, 0yds-Fumble, 12yds-Punt, 14yds-FG, 18yds-INT, 19yds-INT, 39yds-TOOD, 48yds-End of game 2 scoring drives, 5 punts, 2 fumbles, 2 INTs, 1 TOOD, and the end of the game. Only one pass longer than 20 yards and only 11 First Downs.

I saw that too. Should have worn a Grossman jersey.

The problem with Grossman is when the pressure was on he folded like a cardboard box. He had multiple turnovers that turned into instant Indy points or put the defense right back on the field. Eventually the defense is going to suck in those conditions. The defense let up 22 points, which is not bad vs Indy. The problem is the offense only scored 10 points and one of those TDs was a direct result of a long run by TJ. Blame for loss: Grossman 40% Turner 25% O-Line 20% D-Line 10% Rest of Defense 5%

I still cannot believe we lost after a Hester TD and Manning INT within the first few minutes of the game. If the Bears score on that first drive and don't go 3 and out, the Bears win.

Yeah the dagger was even worse because the defense was making stops; and Berrian was open and he under threw him like he always does for the INT. He is not the sole reason why the Bears lost tonight, but he was probably the biggest reason.

Thanks to everyone in the community. The forum definitely made this ride more enjoyable. It was a bittersweet ride and I wish it turned out a little better with one last win, but I guess an NFC Championship is better than a first round playoff loss. Beat Green Bay - Check Win Division - Check Win NFC - Check Win SuperBowl - Maybe next year....... Next up for the Bears - Pro Bowl and the draft.

I like TJ and I hope they keep both him and Benson. They both bring something different. The fumble by Benson and the subsequent injury was horrible though.

I think that happens when you have the biggest loss possible. On the biggest stage with the weather and field conditions in your favor. You are spotted 7 points (Hester TD) and an INT and you lose. That is really hard to do.

If the Bears win, I think he would hang around, but with the loss, he has more reason to bolt for more cash. This was probably the best chance at winning a SB most of these guys will have and they blew it. Moose 0-2 in Superbowls. That has to hurt even though he did all he could.

Yeah yeah, but the way we played it was a hollow victory. The Bears lost.. Congrats to Lovie Smith for being the first black coach to lose a Super Bowl, and for losing one after having a 14-6 lead.

Yeah, the schedule is a lot tougher next year. Just making the playoffs would be huge.

^^^^^^

Not having Harris and Brown really hurt, but the offense starts with the QB and he too inconsistent.

I really believe he is hesitant because of all his injuries. He needs to go. Nothing against him personally, the Bears have always had problems at QB. Yeah, Addai or Rhodes should have gotten it. This makes me even sicker.

12 days, I cannot wait. The Bears really disappointed me here.

I honestly think his inability to move around in the pocket is a huge downside. He has a great arm, but thats it. He cannot read defenses and he folds under pressure. Leftwich and Garcia are both available.

Ok, it is not completely Rex's fault, he is not out there missing tackles, but he is the leader of the Offense, and he did nothing to help the defense. How long was the defense on the field? Eventually you are going to tire and miss tackles.

Rex did not get us here. Come on, the defense and Hester carried this team all year. Grossman got easy yards and easy TDs. Benson would have helped, but he would not have been the difference.