7-3, huh? OK, now beat the Eagles and we'll talk
A good guess is the public still is looking for a “Wow!” game from the Bears.
You know, that victory where the Bears convince the world that they belong among the NFL elite.
The Bears are getting closer but haven't played that game yet despite their 7-3 record.
Thursday night the Bears beat the Dolphins 16-0 in Sun Life Stadium and on national television, but the nation likely still wasn't overwhelmed.
“People's opinions don't matter a whole lot,” said Bears head coach Lovie Smith.
Anyway, Miami was down to its third-string quarterback, third-string center, assorted other non-starters starting, a great left offensive tackle playing with one arm and a premier wide receiver exiting with a bum hamstring.
The Bears dispatched this disabled team in workmanlike fashion, but workmanlike isn't going to “Wow!” anybody.
This was just another game the Bears were obligated to win so they said, “Oh, what the heck” and went out and won it.
“Whatever it takes,” quarterback Jay Cutler said.
But what about that “Wow!” game to start people buzzing?
Well, the opportunity comes next week when the Eagles and Michael Vick come to Soldier Field.
The Eagles aren't the Cowboys or the Vikings, who were in disarray when the Bears beat them. They aren't the Packers, who committed 18 penalties in Soldier Field. They aren't pathetic like the Panthers, busts like the Bills or lacking like the Lions.
Nor are the Eagles the Dolphins, who were so injured that they would have had trouble beating the Illinois Masonic Hospital orthopedic ward all-stars.
So far the sense has been that the Bears are the luckiest 7-3 team in football. Maybe that will continue if the Giants might disable Vick on Sunday.
Otherwise the Eagles will provide the Bears with a chance to prove themselves as legitimate contenders.
If the Bears don't win that one, there still will be the likes of the Patriots and Jets on the schedule, right up to the regular-season finale against the Packers in Lambeau Field.
So even after 10 games the sense is that in a way the Bears' season is just beginning, with so much left to win and even more left to prove.
Nationally, not many believe yet judging by the fact oddsmakers had to give the Bears a couple of points against Miami to get people to bet on them.
Locally, rarely has a winning Chicago team been as disrespected as the Bears have been from training camp through today.
The notion is that the Bears are winning despite themselves, despite the coaching staff, despite the quarterback, despite the general manager, despite everything.
Public response still is like, “Wow, you mean the Bears won again?”
The Bears certainly are improving, especially on offense, at quarterback, on third down and in play-calling.
“It was another team effort,” Smith said. “We'll get ready for the next opponent.”
That will be Philadelphia, which is more a challenge than an obligation.
If the Bears beat the Eagles, that should be their “Wow!” victory even if it comes by a point on a last-second field goal set up by a dumb Philly penalty.
Yes, that could be the day the Bears receive the credit that has been withheld to this point.
As long, that is, Michael Vick isn't injured before kickoff.