Bears reactions...
Well, it's all over. Carolina's shock-and-awe victory has brought our first encouraging season since 2001 to an end. I'm a little numb right now. Partly from all the festivities from the weekend, partly due to the game. I'm just not ready to face it and deal with it yet. But I'll put some things down here to start the healing.
First, our cornerbacks did a pretty poor job of covering Steve Smith. He's a great receiver and a key to their passing offense. And we left him in single coverage all day. And then watched our corners fall down twice while trying to run with him.
Grossman did not look like the polished, poised QB that he's supposed to be. Not the QB we saw in the Atlanta game. Was it rust, or nerves, or Carolina's D, or just lack of ability? He looked like Peyton trying to play the Pats in the play-offs. All his passes were off. Just did not seem to have that swagger he normally had.
I give Carolina credit for making us play non-Bears football. Bears football is to go out and get some form of lead (usually 3-0), then play down hill. Run the ball to eat up the clock and let the defense play against a team that needs to throw the ball. Yesterday is was reversed. They jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead and we never were able to settle into our game. We couldn't commit to the run, as we needed to get quick points. And our defense was never able to stop Carolina when they had to.
Okay, time to stop.
So how about them Cubs?! It's going to be pretty sweet when they win the World Series this year. Our rotation look solid even without Wood. And now that we have a lead-off hitter our line-up because much more dangerous. Derek Lee at the plate with a runner or 2 on is much better than with no one on and 2 outs. But it's a bit early to jump into the Cubs just yet. I'll save that for February.
And.....done.