Bears take another step back, need to learn from it

A step slow.

A step back.

And, ultimately, another setback.

"I still know what we can do," struggling cornerback Kyle Fuller said after the rebuilding Bears fell to 0-2 with a 48-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field on Sunday, one week after playing better than many expected in their season-opening loss to the visiting Green Bay Packers. "We just got to go out there and do it."

Whether Fuller gets another chance to do his thing as a starter next Sunday in Seattle remains to be seen after the 14th overall pick in last year's NFL draft was benched in the fourth quarter. He was replaced by former Cowboys seventh-round pick Terrance Mitchell, who soon afterward got stiff-armed and run over by ageless-wonder Larry Fitzgerald on a 9-yard touchdown pass.

"We're still evaluating," Bears head coach John Fox said. "We'll evaluate every game as we march through the season."

Fuller was flagged for a 42-yard pass-interference penalty in the first quarter and was beaten off the line of scrimmage by Fitzgerald on an 8-yard TD reception that put Arizona up 21-14 late in the opening half. But while he seemed a step slow, or at least not physical enough in coverage, Fuller wasn't the only defensive player in a navy jersey to struggle. Fellow cornerback Alan Ball also got called for pass interference (38 yards), as well as illegal contact (5 yards).

Two games into the season and the Bears are still seeking their first sack, although Pernell McPhee was credited with 3 hurries on Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.

"I was close," said McPhee, the Bears' big free-agent catch during the offseason. "I just got to finish and stop leaving my feet. That's the biggest thing."

The scoreboard didn't quite do the defense justice. Arizona rookie David Johnson returned the game's opening kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown, Jay Cutler threw an interception that Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson returned 26 yards into the end zone, and the pass-interference penalties by Fuller and Ball both led to red-zone TDs.

"Early on, we had good hits on the quarterback," outside linebacker Jared Allen said. "Minus the two P.I. penalties, they did nothing really in the first half."

With just less than a minute left before halftime, with the Bears trailing 28-17, Allen made the Bears' first big defensive play of the season. He read Palmer's screen pass, jumped, batted the ball in the air and snatched it, giving the Bears a first down at the Arizona 12. The home team couldn't put the ball in the end zone, however. They settled for Robbie Gould's 23-yard field goal and a 28-20 deficit at the half.

It was Allen's first interception since 2011 when he played with Minnesota.

"Just trying to make plays," Allen said. "Our scouting report was right on. Hats off to the coaches and everything they gave us. (The loss) wasn't for a lack of being prepared."

Rather, a lack of discipline and lack of execution on third down were huge problems. The Bears committed a staggering 14 penalties - five on the defense - for a more-staggering 170 yards, which tied the franchise record. The Cardinals were successful on 5 of 9 third-down tries.

"The good thing is, everything is correctable," Allen said. "It's not the end of the world. It (stinks) right now. It's embarrassing to lose at home, especially two weeks in a row, when you feel like you had momentum going (into halftime)."

Was it a step back for the defense, after the Packers and Aaron Rodgers scored only 31 points at Soldier Field last Sunday?

"I don't think so," McPhee said. "We just got to stay focused. We got to correct the small things and make plays."

Up next for the Bears is another Pro Bowl quarterback, Russell Wilson of the Seahawks.

"We need sacks," Allen said. "We need take-aways. We got another challenge. We know (Wilson) can run, so we can't let him extend plays."

If the Bears allow it, their losing streak - which stands at seven games dating back to last season - will likely extend. The Bears' biggest take-away from the Arizona loss?

Said Fuller: "Learn from it."

That would be a step forward.