Rozner: Winless Bears living up to expectations
They don't give you points in the NFL for trying hard or keeping it close.
But that's what this Bears season has been reduced to after only three games against perhaps the three best teams in the NFC.
They're 0-3 after a 26-0 defeat at Seattle's CenturyLink Field on Sunday afternoon and continued their march toward the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
The defense is making solid strides and the punting is terrific - they get lots of practice - but the offense without a quarterback looked a lot like an offense without a quarterback.
Other than that, there's not a lot to hang your hat on if you're the Bears, who are living up to their preseason billing.
The visitors played a strong first half and were dominating time of possession and the line of scrimmage until Seattle took over on their own 20 with 2:37 left in the second quarter.
That's when Russell Wilson walked the Seahawks down to the Bears' 3, where they ran out of time and kicked a field goal to extend their lead to 6-0.
But Seattle got the ball to start the second half and Robbie Gould's only kick of the day went deep into the end zone and minus any hangtime. Tyler Lockett pulled it down and went 105 yards for the second opposition return in three games, and a 13-0 Seattle lead.
The Bears looked woefully slow on the play, as they have consistently on special teams in 2015.
"We fought hard in the first half, but opening kickoff, don't know how long it was. I know the guy wasn't touched," said John Fox, who became the first Bears head coach to start his Chicago tenure 0-3. "We put the ball right where it was supposed to be. Wasn't really a great way to start the second half."
It was a much better defensive day, at least compared to the first couple of games, but the offense without an injured Jay Cutler was nonexistent if Matt Forte wasn't carrying the football.
Seattle had no respect for any throw Jimmy Clausen could make, and he gave them no reason to scheme for anything but the ground game.
The Bears forced a Seattle three-and-out on the Seahawks' first possession after the kick return, but then the offense had just the kind of series you would expect in Seattle.
With left tackle Jermon Bushrod out with a concussion, Charles Leno held on the first play. Next came a delay of game and the Bears were first-and-25. Clausen had a pass batted down, overthrew a wide-open Josh Bellamy on a deep ball - after the receiver beat Richard Sherman - and Forte ran for a yard on third down before another punt.
That pretty much sums up the Bears' offense with a backup quarterback and questionable offensive line in a difficult environment.
The Seahawks took the next possession 85 yards on seven plays, and struggling tight end Jimmy Graham torched Brock Vereen on a short cross on third-and-5 and it went for a 30-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 20-0.
That was your ballgame, if there had been any doubt.
The Bears' offense crossed midfield once in four quarters and Clausen finished 9 of 17 passing for 63 yards and a 61.6 quarterback rating, but that came as a surprise to no one outside of Clausen's immediate family.
"We'll get better," Fox said. "We'll get some guys back at some point. There's enough guys in there that we can generate enough good football to win games."
So the Bears are what they are in a developmental season and will search for small victories where they can find them.
Getting actual victories will be much more difficult.
brozner@dailyherald.com
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