Bears Come Up Short, Barkley Shows Us Something

Marquess Wilson (10) drops a pass in the end zone
in a game against the Titans on November 27, 2016.
(Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki / USA TODAY)

       I didn't get to see the game since I was at work; a reoccurring theme since I work every single Sunday. But I have looked at the stats and watched some replays and I have some thoughts about the game.

       The Chicago Bears (2-9) are off to their worst start since beginning the 1997 season 1-10. It was a lot of the same old stuff from the Bears early on. The offense couldn't seem to get much done besides an early touchdown in the first quarter while the defense played exactly how we're used to. This all changed in the fourth. 

       Matt Barkley, who made his first official start in the NFL, decided he had enough of the mediocrity. He led the Bears on two scoring drives cutting the lead to 6 in the fourth quarter after the Titans looked poised to roll on to victory. With 47 seconds left in the game, Barkley threw the ball to a wide open Josh Bellamy who dropped the ball. There was no excuse for that. We should be talking about how the Bears had an amazing comeback, instead we are talking about their inability to finish another game. Let's get this straight; this loss is on Bellamy. But with the dropped pass coming on first down, the Bears still had 3 more chances to score. After incompletions on the following two plays, the Bears had one more chance. On fourth down, while under pressure, Barkley was able to get a low ball to Deonte Thompson who couldn't handle the throw. Thompson's drop was way more understandable than Bellamy's but he still should have caught it. The final four plays of the game sum up the Bears season as a whole; so close yet so far.

       Although Barkley threw two very questionable interceptions, he deserved to win this game. Despite his receivers combining for 10 dropped passes, he still had the Bears on the edge of victory. Barkley finished the game 28 of 54 for 316 yards and three touchdown passes. 54 passes is a lot, but the Bears fell behind early and the passing game will get you back a lot faster than trying to have a balanced attack. If Matt can play like he did in the fourth quarter and limit his mistakes, maybe the Bears do have a QB they can build around. Don't get me wrong, I want Cutler to stay. But if he departs, as expected, then I hope there is someone who can come in and turn this thing around. We have but a small sample size, but Barkley could get better with a little more time to develop.

       Jordan Howard had an effective game yet again, rushing 18 times for 84 yards. Howard has been one of the most consistent players on this team and it will be fun to have him around for a while. With the multitude of injuries this team has had to deal with, as well as Jeffery's suspension, some young blood got a chance to try playing some wide receiver. There wasn't much to write home about, but we did get to see Marquess Wilson have one of his best games as a Bear. He had 8 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. I have never liked Wilson as a player (I mean he did have 2 drops), but maybe there is more there than I thought. There is one thing we know for sure; Alshon Jeffery is a stud that we desperately need on the football field.

       To sum this all up, I truly believe the Bears have talent. They just can't seem to do anything with it. If they can manage to figure out what is stopping them from reaching their potential, I see a team that will be a force in this league........ in a couple of years.