North: Cubs, Bears find themselves in tough spots
Here it is plain and simple: the Chicago Cubs are being outpitched by the New York Mets.
Boy, it feels like 1969 all over again except this time the Cubs are at least in the playoffs. Losing the first two games on the road in the National League championship series, however, wasn't the plan for this Joe Maddon-led team.
Right now it looks like the Mets, with their in-the-zone second baseman Danny Murphy, are the better team.
The school of thought was the Cubs were ahead of schedule with their 97 wins this year, but the same can be said about the Mets (90 wins). They were an afterthought as everyone out East expected the Washington Nationals to win that division.
While Jon Lester looks like he still has some bulldog in him, it's just not the bite. And ace pitcher Jake Arrieta, who has had his struggles in his last two playoff games, looks like he has a little Clayton Kershaw in him.
Now the Mets come to Wrigley, and I think the Cubs will calm down even though the chips are stacked against them right now.
While I initially didn't want to face the Los Angeles Dodgers because of Zack Greinke and Kershaw, I think I'd like to reconsider!
I do know that if the Cubs lose one of the next two games and go down 3-1 in this best-of-seven series it's going to be tough for Chicago fans to stomach.
Hey, I'm not completely worried … yet.
Bears bore with 37-34 loss
Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Detroit Lions was one of the weirdest Bears games I've ever watched.
I heard comments saying it was a boring game. Wow - 71 points and boring! Yet there were more twists and turns in the overtime game than I can even recall.
Jay Cutler, after two good come-from-behind victories, just couldn't get it done in the red zone this time. In fairness to him. though, 34 points should be enough to win, unless your defense is horrid, which was the case against the Lions.
The Bears had been doing well of late, but they gave up more than 500 yards and didn't put a lot of pressure on Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who looked like Johnny Unitas against this Bears team.
This loss was more distressing because it was to the lowly Lions, giving them their first victory of the season. They were on life support and the Bears managed to cure what ailed them.
If you're head coach John Fox and you are trying to sell the team on your programs, this was a step back, and this was a game they should have won.
Still, I know that a lot of guys on this team won't even be around in three years. It's general manager Ryan Pace's first year, so expect many changes in the near future.
Program notes:
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• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.