Back on the bus with what they deserved

The Bears got off the bus throwing.

Jay Cutler got off the bus firing picks.

And Matt Forte got off the bus tossing up the football.

So when the Bears got back on the bus Sunday night in Atlanta, they were still without a running game, and after a very poorly played game they had tacked on their second loss of the season.

Good thing they don't have another bye week's worth of coaching again this season.

Playing their worst all-around game of 2009, the Bears with two weeks to prepare may have spent too much time hearing about how great they were, instead of preparing for a good Atlanta club that took them down, 21-14, Sunday night.

On the same weekend a year ago, the Bears and Falcons both came in 3-2, with Atlanta squeezing out an improbable win in the final seconds, and taking that 4-2 mark to the postseason, while the 3-3 Bears missed the playoffs by a game.

This time, both clubs came in 3-1, and now the 4-1 Falcons are a virtual lock for a postseason reservation, while the 3-2 Bears can't pretend to see the first-place Vikings in view.

It's very early, of course, and the Bears still control their own destiny to be certain, but at 4-1 a mere 6-5 finish would have guaranteed extra games, and at 3-2 today the Bears are tied for fifth in the conference with five other teams, including the Packers, to whom they've already lost a game.

Oh yeah, that game.

That defeat in Green Bay was as ugly as they come, and it just so happens it was on a Sunday night as well.

Maybe it's a coincidence, but Cutler's thrown 6 of his 7 picks in front of a national TV audience, when perhaps his ego gets away from him a bit.

He forces throws and that forces offensive coordinator Ron Turner to become even more conservative than usual to keep Cutler from throwing away the game.

Despite his first-half troubles, however, Cutler led two glorious drives down the field in the last few minutes of the game, one to tie it at 14-14, and another that looked like it would knot the score at 21-21.

But three terrible penalties in the final minute destroyed the Bears' chances and ultimately cost them the game.

Of course, there was plenty of blame to go around.

They were only 1-for-4 in the red zone, with the aforementioned game-ending drive ruined by laundry, Cutler throwing an interception that cost them points, and Forte's 2 fumbles from inside the 2-yardline killing yet another opportunity for a score.

Special teams chipped in with a ridiculous 12-men-on-the-field call and also gave up a huge kick return that set up the Falcons' final touchdown.

The Bears' offense managed 49 yards on the ground - if you subtract the 34 scrambling by Cutler - and the defense once again lacked consistent pressure, failing to sack Atlanta QB Matt Ryan even once.

The defense also missed assignments, looked completely confused by Ryan in the no-huddle, and could only get near him by sending the kitchen sink and the basement utility tub.

Tommie Harris, who has to be hurt, was invisible for the fifth straight game, managing a single assist and nothing else on the stat sheet.

So Game 5 was a lot like the first four, with the Bears not doing anything particularly well, and Cutler looking both baffled and brilliant in the same game. They've managed to win three of five so far.

And when you think about it, that seems just about right.