Chicago Bears' rally falls short against Lions
It was an all-too-familiar scenario that played out Sunday for the Chicago Bears in a 24-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at home on the final day of their 6-10 season.
Coach John Fox's team finished 1-7 at Soldier Field, the most home losses of any Bears team in franchise history.
Although the Bears finished just one game better than they did in 2014, the outlook is much more optimistic than a year ago.
The Bears fell behind early, as they did frequently this season while being outscored 110-41 in the first quarter. They rallied, which they also did frequently.
But ultimately they came up short, another common result, losing by 6 points or fewer for the sixth time. Their victories were just as narrow. Five of their 6 wins were by 5 points or fewer.
And, as usual, the Bears played short-handed because of injuries. Of the four wide receivers and two tight ends who suited up in Week 17, only one of them (tight end Rob Housler) had so much as one pass thrown his way last season. Housler, who had 2 catches for 18 yards, has been with the team less than a month.
“Today was pretty much a microcosm of our season,” Fox said. “(Sunday) was like about eight of (our games). I'm not proud of our record, but our guys competed.”
The Lions came is an one of the NFL's hottest teams — Sunday's victory was their sixth in the final eight games — and they led the Bears 10-0 at halftime.
But the Bears battled back to tie it at 10-10 and again at 17-17. They had a shot to tie it up again with the ball at the Lions' 37-yard line at the two-minute warning. But Jay Cutler was hammered as he threw, and his pass was picked off at the Lions' 12. It was Cutler's third interception, the only time all season he allowed more than 1 pick in a game.
Wide receiver wasn't the only Bears position depleted by injuries. With three defensive linemen on injured reserve and Jarvis Jenkins (ankle/illness) unavailable, Greg Scruggs, signed as a street free agent four days earlier, played a significant role in the D-line rotation.
So did veteran D'Anthony Smith, whose first game with the Bears was a week earlier.
Bottom-line, Fox's first Bears team finished just one game better than Marc Trestman's final Bears team. But the difference in attitude from last season to this season was much different.
The improvement shouldn't be measured solely in the final record. The more significant barometer of progress is the mindset that Fox's team displayed throughout the season.
“Well, that's progress,” offensive tackle Kyle Long said of the one-win upgrade. “It's not the progress we were looking for, but being a part of both teams and being a starter on both of these teams, I can tell you that it was a different team this time around, although the record doesn't reflect that.
“I've said it a million times, 'I'll go to fight with this group any day of the week,' and I know they'll continue to bring in guys that you want to play next to and for.”
Fox and his staff showed this season they could be competitive with marginal talent. Now it's on general manager Ryan Pace to upgrade a roster that could use more talent at practically every position on both sides of the ball.
With the Bears' top three wide receivers out — Alshon Jeffery and Marquess Wilson on injured reserve and Eddie Royal out with an illness — Marc Mariani wound up as Cutler's go-to guy.
In Mariani's previous five seasons in the NFL, including two on I.R., he had 5 catches for 24 yards. But he stepped up Sunday with 6 receptions for 80 yards, both team bests.
“Unfortunately there are no consolation prizes,” Mariani said. “Our record isn't what we want it to be, and that's what everyone looks at from the outside. But inside this locker room it's special. We fight, and we scratch, and we work our (butts) off every day.
“We're going in the right direction. I see nothing but upside. I'd be excited if I was a Bears fan for the future. I know we didn't give them what they wanted (Sunday), but as far as the direction this team's going, it's going to be a good thing, I promise you that.”
Most of the 50,607 fans (10,570 no-shows) who showed up probably would agree. But very few will be satisfied with another one-game improvement next season.
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