Their big lead in the NFC North now a memory, the Chicago Bears continue a free-fall similar to last season's -- this time without the convenient excuse of losing quarterback Jay Cutler to injury.
Their offense displayed no rhyme or reason all game long, while the defense looked like it forgot the starting time of Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The offensive line managed to get Cutler's neck injured, although from the way he threw passes it looked much of the day like his eyesight needed to be checked, too.
Defensively, they handled the loss of linebacker Brian Urlacher well the final three quarters, but the first drive when they seemed to think it was a flag football game set a tone for the entire contest.
The chances of this group making a stand and beating Green Bay look no better than their chances of holding off the charging Washington Redskins in a race for the last wild card spot. From 7-1 to out of the playoffs seems to be the fate awaiting the Bears.
Offense: F
This was a study in how stats can be misleading. The 438 net yards represented their second-highest total of the season, but none of it had meaning. The receivers played like they were trying to field passes in the raging snowstorm going on outside the Metrodome, as balls caromed off the hands of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Kellen Davis and Devin Hester. Although Jeffery's return seemed to help open up the deeper pass, Cutler was wild-high much of the day in one of his worst efforts since coming to the team. The offensive line received the benefit of maximum protection in the passing game, but offered minimum productivity when it came to run blocking. The 118 rushing yards were skewed by one 36-yard Matt Forte run and by 24 yards rushing from the QBs when the line couldn't do its job. Previous grade: C+
Defense: D
After talking all week about stopping Adrian Peterson, the Bears looked surprised during the first series at how much faster he is getting out of his stance and making his first cut on artificial turf than he was back on bad sod in Chicago. Hel-lo, welcome to football -- he's only the best running back in the league. Nick Roach adjusted after the first quarter to playing Brian Urlacher's position, but one quarter was all it took for a disaster this day when there was no offensive support. Geno Hayes seemed out of position much of the game playing strong side. The pass defense held up, which should cause no celebrations because Christian Ponder could be the worst quarterback in the league. Previous grade: F
Special teams: C
It started with warmups, when Robbie Gould somehow strained a left calf muscle and couldn't kick longer than 40-45 yards. He couldn't kick off and punter Adam Podlesh probably deserved a game ball for kicking off and punting well enough to let the Bears lose the battle of starting field position by only about 5 yards. Zack Bowman's inspired play on coverage units continued, but four kick returns by Eric Weems for a meager 14.8-yard average made it look like the Bears had already decided the commissioner's new plan to do away with kickoffs was in place. Previous grade: C+
Coaching: D
Mike Tice's ability to game plan and adjust apparently doesn't exist. In comments to the media after the game, the Vikings wondered why the Bears didn't go to four- and five-receiver sets, as well as spread out the field earlier because their own pass defense has been terrible stopping this approach. Of course, it would have given Jared Allen one-on-one time with J'Marcus Webb, so it would have been a race to whether Cutler could pass it and burn the Vikings faster than Allen could knock him to the turf. Defensively, they looked unprepared at the outset, but did adjust and held Peterson to 50 yards rushing over the last three quarters. They also took away the bootleg pass effectively, which had been a problem the previous game. Previous grade: F
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.
Their offense displayed no rhyme or reason all game long, while the defense looked like it forgot the starting time of Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The offensive line managed to get Cutler's neck injured, although from the way he threw passes it looked much of the day like his eyesight needed to be checked, too.
Defensively, they handled the loss of linebacker Brian Urlacher well the final three quarters, but the first drive when they seemed to think it was a flag football game set a tone for the entire contest.
The chances of this group making a stand and beating Green Bay look no better than their chances of holding off the charging Washington Redskins in a race for the last wild card spot. From 7-1 to out of the playoffs seems to be the fate awaiting the Bears.
Offense: F
This was a study in how stats can be misleading. The 438 net yards represented their second-highest total of the season, but none of it had meaning. The receivers played like they were trying to field passes in the raging snowstorm going on outside the Metrodome, as balls caromed off the hands of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Kellen Davis and Devin Hester. Although Jeffery's return seemed to help open up the deeper pass, Cutler was wild-high much of the day in one of his worst efforts since coming to the team. The offensive line received the benefit of maximum protection in the passing game, but offered minimum productivity when it came to run blocking. The 118 rushing yards were skewed by one 36-yard Matt Forte run and by 24 yards rushing from the QBs when the line couldn't do its job. Previous grade: C+
Defense: D
After talking all week about stopping Adrian Peterson, the Bears looked surprised during the first series at how much faster he is getting out of his stance and making his first cut on artificial turf than he was back on bad sod in Chicago. Hel-lo, welcome to football -- he's only the best running back in the league. Nick Roach adjusted after the first quarter to playing Brian Urlacher's position, but one quarter was all it took for a disaster this day when there was no offensive support. Geno Hayes seemed out of position much of the game playing strong side. The pass defense held up, which should cause no celebrations because Christian Ponder could be the worst quarterback in the league. Previous grade: F
Special teams: C
It started with warmups, when Robbie Gould somehow strained a left calf muscle and couldn't kick longer than 40-45 yards. He couldn't kick off and punter Adam Podlesh probably deserved a game ball for kicking off and punting well enough to let the Bears lose the battle of starting field position by only about 5 yards. Zack Bowman's inspired play on coverage units continued, but four kick returns by Eric Weems for a meager 14.8-yard average made it look like the Bears had already decided the commissioner's new plan to do away with kickoffs was in place. Previous grade: C+
Coaching: D
Mike Tice's ability to game plan and adjust apparently doesn't exist. In comments to the media after the game, the Vikings wondered why the Bears didn't go to four- and five-receiver sets, as well as spread out the field earlier because their own pass defense has been terrible stopping this approach. Of course, it would have given Jared Allen one-on-one time with J'Marcus Webb, so it would have been a race to whether Cutler could pass it and burn the Vikings faster than Allen could knock him to the turf. Defensively, they looked unprepared at the outset, but did adjust and held Peterson to 50 yards rushing over the last three quarters. They also took away the bootleg pass effectively, which had been a problem the previous game. Previous grade: F
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.
