Chicago Bears lose tough game, take hit in NFL Power Rankings
The Chicago Bears lost a close game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. They had their opportunities to win, but in the end they could not push the right buttons and came out on the wrong end. Their place in this week’s NFL Power Rankings take a hit as a result.
The Chicago Bears lost a tough one on Sunday. They fell to the Denver Broncos 17-15, and with it their playoff chances took a hard hit. They had their opportunities to win, but a combination of missed plays and bad coaching decisions sealed their fate.
They Bears were without some key players. Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Antrel Rolle all missed the game. Not having Jeffery and Royal was especially hurtful as it decimated the wide receiving corps. That left Jay Cutler with few choices.
Cutler struggled as a result of not having dependable receivers. He did throw for 265 yards, but a big chunk of that came late in the game. Offensive coordinator ended up using Martellus Bennett as an outside receiver, and his size and strength helped.
Bennett only caught two passes for 26 yards, but drew a few pass interference calls, and the defense had to account for him, which allowed Marquess Wilson to have 102 yards receiving.
The problem was the Bears again could not find the end zone. Their only touchdown came at the end, on a Jeremy Langford two-yard run. They failed on the two-point conversion and that was the difference.
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The Bears also got three field goals from Robbie Gould.
Once again, the red zone was a trouble spot for the Bears. They were just 1-of-4 there. One of those four was controversial.
The Bears had a fourth-and-goal from the four with about nine minutes remaining. Instead of taking the points, head coach John Fox decided to go for it. Cutler’s pass to Langford was incomplete.
Fox was asked about not taking the field goal in that situation after the game. “I think we hadn’t made many trips down there, and when we had, we hadn’t scored touchdowns. It had been kind of a field-goal game. At that point in the game, we felt that was going to be maybe our last opportunity so we were aggressive and came up short on fourth-and-4.”
Had they taken the points, the touchdown later in the game would have been another come-from-behind victory for Cutler and the Bears. Instead, all talk about the playoffs are shut down.
Also, the Bears’ spot in the latest NFL Power Rankings took a hit. Let’s take a look at how big a hit they took:
47. There is something about playing the New York Giants and playing a Rex Ryan team that does something to the Patriots. They had to play both in consecutive weeks, and they beat them both. The Pats just keep on winning. . (10-0). Previous: 1st. New England patriots. 1. team
Previous: 2nd. carolina panthers. 2. team. 87. The Panthers look more and more confident each week. Critics may point out their deficiencies, but <strong><a href=. (10-0)
32. The Cardinals survived a wild battle against the Cincinnati Bengals. <strong><a href=. (8-2). Previous: 3rd. arizona cardinals. 3. team
team. 55. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a bye in Week 11. They face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. <span style=. (7-3). Previous: 6th. pittsburgh steelers. 4
green bay packers. 5. team. 49. The Packers ended their losing streak by handling the Minnesota Vikings. They are now back on top in the NFC North. <strong><a href=. (7-3). Previous: 8th
Previous: 4th. minnesota vikings. 6. team. 60. The Vikings had a seven game winning streak going into their game against the Packers. That was thrown to the wayside as the Vikings could not get anything going. <strong><a href=. (7-3)
Previous: 5th. cincinnati bengals. 7. team. 56. The Bengals lost a tough game against the Cardinals. After starting the season 8-0, they have lost two games in a row. They are still in first place in the AFC North, but their huge lead has been cut in half, and the Steelers are gaining momentum. . (8-2)
(8-2). Previous: 9th. denver broncos. 8. team. 45. The Broncos survived against the Chicago Bears. <strong><a href=
atlanta falcons. 9. team. 44. The bye week did not help the Falcons as they lost for the fourth time in five games. The offense could not move in the fourth quarter after scoring touchdowns in the first three quarters. They went scoreless in that quarter, and they allowed ten points to lose the game. . (6-4). Previous: 7th
10. team. 31. The Giants had a bye in Week 11. They face Washington in Week 12. . (5-5). Previous: 12th. New York giants
Previous: 13th. Seattle seahawks. 11. team. 36. The Seahawks are trying to find their way back. <strong><a href=. (5-5)
team. 46. <strong><a href=. (5-5). Previous: 14th. indianapolis colts. 12
The Bills gave the Patriots a lot to handle, but ultimately the top team in the NFL came out on top. The Bills will need to monitor <strong><a href=. (5-5). Previous: 10th. buffalo bills. 13. team. 16
team. 124. The Chiefs lost <strong><a href=. (5-5). Previous: 17th. kansas city chiefs. 14
(5-5). Previous: 11th. new york jets. 15. team. 30. The Jets have lost four of their last five games. <strong><a href=
(5-5). Previous: 21st. tampa bay buccaneers. 16. team. 48. After winning an ugly game last week against the Cowboys, the Bucs had it all going against the Eagles. <strong><a href=
10. The Texans have reeled off three straight wins to get back to even. They went with <strong><a href=. (5-5). Previous: 25th. houston texans. 17. team
miami dolphins. 18. team. 59. The Dolphins were facing a Cowboys team that lost seven in a row, and had <strong><a href=. (4-6). Previous: 15th
57. The Bears were getting recognition for their good play in recent weeks, but they could not keep it going against the Broncos. Cutler tried to do it all for the Bears, and his turnover-proned personality came through again. He threw an interception and lost a fumble as the offense was driving in Broncos territory. Langford had just 42 total yards from scrimmage and Cutler had trouble finding open receivers. Injuries are starting to take a toll. . (4-6). Previous: 16th. chicago bears. 19. team
team. 51. The Rams were a mess on Sunday. They had five fumbles, losing four of them. Quarterback <strong><a href=. (4-6). Previous: 18th. st. louis rams. 20
philadelphia eagles. 21. team. 54. How is that “Chip Kelly is a genius” working in Philly?The Eagles got thoroughly dominated against the Bucs of all teams. They made Winston look like Brady. They made Doug Martin look like <strong><a href=. (4-6). Previous: 19th
(4-6). Previous: 23rd. new orleans saints. 22. team. 15. The New Orleans Saints had a bye in Week 11. They play the Houston Texans in Week 12.
(4-6). Previous: 20th. oakland raiders. 23. team. 28. After having a winning record for the first time in a long time, the Raiders lost three in a row, and are two games under. <strong><a href=
123. The Cowboys’ losing streak is now over. Romo is back, and the Cowboys may be as well. He looked a little rusty, but did what he needed to do to get the Cowboys back in the winning column. Even though they have just three wins, they are still in competition in the lowly NFC East. . (3-7). Previous: 26th. dallas cowboys. 25. team
team. 52. The Jaguars have now won two games in a row. It’s the first time they’ve done that in two years. After only having two wins a couple of weeks ago, they are now a game out of first place in the AFC South. Incredible! . (4-6). Previous: 28th. jacksonville jaguars. 26
26. The Ravens’ frustrating season continues, even in a victory. They beat the Rams, but lost both <strong><a href=. (3-7). Previous: 29th. baltimore ravens. 27. team
Previous: 31st. detroit lions. 28. team. 50. After breaking a 24-year drought in Green Bay last week, the Lions now are celebrating a two-game winning streak. Matthew Stafford did not throw any touchdown passes, but ran in the game-winning score himself. . (3-7)
team. 42. The 49ers had an almost complete breakdown. There was no pass rush, and the rush defense gave up 255 yards. <strong><a href=. (3-7). Previous: 27th. san francisco 49ers. 29
team. 13. The injury-ridden Chargers have probably now just thrown in the towel. <strong><a href=. (2-8). Previous: 24th. san diego chargers. 30
<strong> </strong>The Titans again meandered through a game, showing no emotion. <strong><a href=. (2-8). Previous: 30th. tennessee titans. 31. team. 35
53. The Cleveland Browns had a bye in Week 11. They face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12. . (2-8). Previous: 31st. cleveland browns. 32. team