Last week: 1 (-7)

Record: 1-1

In 2010, I consistently ranked the Bears lower than most and lower than their record would have suggested because I simply didn’t trust the combination of Jay Cutler, that offensive line, and Mike Martz to consistently win 3 or 4 games in a row against playoff caliber teams, so I didn’t like their Super Bowl chances. This year, I thought with Martz gone, it was safe to put them near the top of my Power Rankings, but after last week’s explosion, now I’m not so sure.

They’ll still win a lot of games (they won 11 in 2010), but this offensive line is a mess. Cutler didn’t play well last week, but he was pressured on 21 of 35 drop backs. That doesn’t help. Mike Tice is a good offensive line coach, but he’s been too overconfident in the last two years or so, thinking he can coach up a group that just doesn’t have the talent and ignoring the position in the offseason and the draft.

The good news for the Bears, Jay Cutler always takes a shit like that once or twice per year and it’s never meant anything. He’s not declining as a player. He’s still what he’s always been and with a solid supporting cast (except for the offensive line), this team can still win a bunch of games and take a wild card spot in the crowded NFC. I just don’t know how much I like their Super Bowl chances.

Oh, and by the way, anyone overreacting to Cutler’s blow up at an offensive lineman on the sideline doesn’t understand the behind the scenes of NFL football. That type of thing happens all the time (no I’ve never played, yes you can still understand the behind the scenes without having played). It’s a passionate sport played by passionate players and any player worth his salt won’t take it personally. It’s only when it’s caught on camera that people overreaction. And you can’t knock Cutler for apparently not giving a shit that he was hurt and couldn’t play in the NFC Championship game in 2010 and then knock him for being passionate and competitive on the sideline.

Chicago Bears

Studs

LOLB Lance Briggs: 9 solo tackles, 4 stops, allowed 6 completions for 48 yards on 9 attempts, 1 pass deflection

CB Tim Jennings: Allowed 5 completions for 31 yards on 9 attempts, 1 interception, 5 solo tackles, 1 missed tackle, 2 stops

CB Charles Tillman: Allowed 3 completions for 18 yards on 3 attempts, 5 solo tackles, 2 stops

Duds

LT J’Marcus Webb: Allowed 2 sacks and 2 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 15 yards (11 after contact) on 3 attempt

LG Chris Spencer: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 2 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 15 yards (3 after contact) on 2 attempt

RT Gabe Carimi: Allowed 5 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, 2 penalties, run blocked for 2 yards (1 after contact) on 1 attempt

TE Kellen Davis: Run blocked for 1 yard (2 after contact) on 2 attempts, 1 penalty, 1 catch for 21 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts on 28 pass plays, 0.0 YAC per catch

C Roberto Garza: Allowed 1 sack and 1 quarterback hurry on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 12 yards (10 after contact) on 6 attempts

QB Jay Cutler: 11 of 27 for 126 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions, 2 batted passes, 2 drops, 36.3 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 21 of 35 drop backs (7 sacks, 4 of 14, 3 interceptions)

WR Earl Bennett: 2 catches for 21 yards on 6 targets on 30 pass plays, 3 interceptions when thrown to, 5.5 YAC per catch

WR Brandon Marshall: 2 catches for 24 yards on 5 targets on 37 pass plays, 1 drop, 1 interception when thrown to, 1.0 YAC per catch

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