November 24, 2014: Off the Ledge

What was I saying about winning…

After that first half, I was drafting the Hate File in my head for this 2014 Chicago Bears team.  Another uninspired effort against a bum team.  68 total yards?  3 first downs?  Shutout against the 30th ranked defense in the NFL???  Dropped passes, a fumble, penalties, missed blocks… this team didn’t look like they wanted to be on the field; and I didn’t want them to be either.  Then to end the first half on a penalty that we could have accepted, but did not….???  I really don’t get that.  Down 10-0, getting another chance at a kick return, we declined… saying, that’s OK, we’re good down 10-0?  I started driving down to Soldier Field to personally attack Marc Trestman…  Then, it happened…  the Bears showed signs of life.

I barely count last week, and not sure how much weight this win should carry, but the Bears showed life, and that’s all we can really ask for as fans right?  Show me a team that WANTS to play.  Show me a team who plays close to their expectations.  Show me a team who cares if they win or lose.  Show me a team with some aggression.  Show me the team I thought I was going to see take the field this year for the Bears.  For one half of football on a rainy Sunday afternoon, the Bears made me smile.  The Bears completed the Church, Beatles, Bears win trifecta that I live for on Sundays.  The Bears win on this Sunday brought me back off the ledge…

It would have been bad to lose to this team, with this coach and this QB.  When they flashed the stat that Lovie and Trestman both had the same record after 26 games, and then followed that up with the same record for Ditka at the start of his tenure, I took a deep breath.  You know, it’s not so much the record, although at the end of the day it’s all about wins and losses.  It’s how he responds to it.  It’s the things he says.  It’s downright maddening.  But, it’s still only been a year and a half.  Does he deserve a little more rope?  Just enough to hang himself… OK, just kidding.  Although this was only the Bucs, this was a big win; a much bigger win than last week, although at this point, we need every single one.

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So it was that defense without Briggs and the turnovers that eventually sunk Lovie and crew.  Oh yeah, and how about running Matt Forte in the red zone… how’d that work out?  So we relied on our defense, turnovers, and running game to win; how appropriate that this type of victory came against Coach Smith.  No hard feelings Lovie.  We needed this game more than you know.

We needed this game to end the talk of we’d be better off with Lovie.  We needed this game to end the talk of we’d be better off with McCown, although I’m always up for a good discussion about Big Money Jay.  We needed this game to salvage some ounce of dignity.  We needed this game to keep the dream, however slim it may be, alive for another week.

I’m actually enjoying this one.  I’m in a much better place than last week.  I’m back in on the couch, actually looking forward to the Thanksgiving game.  Just think, if we beat Detroit on Thursday, then we’re only one game behind them, and we’re back to .500.  OK, ok… it’s still a stretch, fantasy almost, but we’re still able to dream, at least for another week.  I just couldn’t imagine feeling like this after watching that first half.  I just couldn’t imagine writing this title vs the next version of the Hate Files.  It never ceases to amaze me the curing powers of winning.  I’m going to savor this one.  I’m going to enjoy this Bears season for a quick minute.  I’m going to let this win soak in… at least for 3 days.