Bears Fall to 0-3 in Preseason

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 22, 2008 2:47PM

In what was supposed to be their closest thing to a dress rehearsal before the regular season begins, the Bears lost 37-30 to the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on Thursday. Once again the team looked decent on one side of the ball and lackluster on the other. But in an unusual twist, it was the offense that performed well while the defense showed they're still not ready for the regular season.

Kyle Orton, taking the field for the first time since being officially named the team's starting QB, demonstrated why coach Lovie Smith picked him. Orton completed 10 of 17 passes for 147 yards and two TD passes to Rashied Davis for a QB rating of 126.3 on the evening. Meanwhile, Rex Grossman's play suggested he not only not start, but he should be last on the depth chart. The Bears running game looked solid in Thursday's game. With Matt Forte and Kevin Jones gaining most of the yards, the team eclipsed 100 yards rushing and averaged 5 yards a carry -- much better than last year's 3.6 yards/carry average.

Special teams also turned in an impressive performance, too, even with Devin Hester seeing limited action. Danieal Manning had two 70+ yard kickoff returns, while the team also blocked a field goal attempt and a punt.

But what's the matter with the defense? They were unable to slow San Fran's running game all night and made quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan look like an All Pro. The squad is supposedly healthy and everyone who deserved (or demanded, anyway) new contracts got them. So why do they still look closer to last years' 28th ranked D than the top ranked one from their Super Bowl season two years ago? Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer said, "I don't remember being a part of a worse effort by a defense. I know I played poorly. Makes me sick to my stomach, the way we played." We feel the same way.

AP Photo/Paul Beaty