Let the Blame Game Begin: Bears Close Out Season at 8-8

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 2, 2012 9:30PM

That Brian Urlacher was injured during the Bears' 17-13 win over Minnesota yesterday epitomized what happened to the team in the six weeks since Jay Cutler's broken thumb derailed the team's playoff hopes and showed once and for all that Number 8 is the most valuable player on the team.

Ulracher suffered a strain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He suffered the injury defending a pass with 5:15 left in the game and, while he was able to walk off the field on his own, he was in pain when the injury occurred.

That the Vikings played the game close without injured running back Adrian Peterson should be a more damning indictment of the Bears heading into next season than Lovie Smith's comments on WBBM-AM this morning. (Emphasis ours.)

“I think you remember (the season) exactly like it played out,” Smith told WBBM Newsradio’s Josh Liss on Monday morning. “You remember the 7-3 record. You remember the five-game losing streak and then you remember how we finished. You think about the core we have in place that’s solid, that should be ready to make a run in 2012. You think about the 1-0 record going into 2012. We eventually will finish the job.”

Smith likes to accentuate the positives, but this is ridiculous. Those who watched the game will remember Viking defensive end Jared Allen's mad dash to set a new single season sack record. (He fell a half-sack short.) They'll remember Vikes receiver Percy Harvin's 10 receptions for 115 yards and a rushing touchdown and how quarterback Joe Webb, despite throwing two interceptions, managing to gain 200 yards through the air. They'll remember Roy Williams performing to a level expected of him when the Bears signed him in the offseason

But they'll also see some bright spots for next year, such as Josh McCown performing well enough the past two weeks to earn a right to fight for a backup quarterback spot next season. They'll remember Charles Tillman's pick-six to give the Bears a 14-10 lead in the second quarter, an exclamation point on his first Pro Bowl season.

But this Bears team is aging in all the wrong spots. Urlacher's injury doesn't require surgery to repair, but he has a history of injuries and is getting slower. Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers are all getting older. The receiving corps and offensive line are still major question marks. Devin Hester seeming lost his football intelligence in the final weeks of the season; a fumbled return that looked like a safety yesterday was wiped from the board by a Vikings penalty.

So is the future of offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Smith is expected to meet with Martz today or tomorrow to discuss whether he's returning next season, or if Martz is free to pursue other coaching opportunities.

Another coach who may be leaving is special teams coach Dave Toub. According to the Tribune, the Miami Dolphins received permission from the Bears to interview Toub for their vacant head coaching job. Toub has been arguably the most successful member of the coaching staff in recent years and could be in high-demand for a few head coaching positions.