2011 Chicago Bears Season Review

The Chicago Bears 2011 campaign was marred by injury, with ten players finishing the season on injured reserve not including Brandon Iwuh who was released after injuring his hamstring.  The Bears won seven of their first ten games including wins over playoff teams to be Atlanta and Detroit before losing Jay Cutler for the season to a broken thumb.  Two weeks later Matt Forte was lost for the year.  The Bears won just one of their final six games, including crushing losses to Kansas City and Denver.  The failings of back up quarterback Caleb Hanie and a regression in the play of the offensive line cost Bears GM Jerry Angelo and offensive coordinator Mike Martz their jobs.  The new Bears GM will have his hands full as the Bears have holes at wide receiver, tight end, tackle, guard, defensive end, cornerback and safety.

Week One:  Bears 30, Falcons 12 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Midway through the third quarter Bears defensive end Julius Peppers's relentless pressure resulted in one of his two sacks and knocked the ball away from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.  Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher scooped it up and returned it twelve yards for a touchdown.

Player of the game:  Brian Urlacher

The star linebacker registered ten tackles, four assists, one interception and returned a recovered fumble for a touchdown.

Week Two:  Saints 30, Bears 13 @ New Orleans

Play of the game:  Early in the second quarter Drew Brees connected with Devery Henderson who had blown by both Bears safeties for a 79 yard touchdown on third and long.  At the time the Saints trailed 7-3 but never trailed again after the play.

Player of the game:  Drew Brees

The Saints quarterback completed 26 of 37 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns.

Week Three:  Packers 27, Bears 17 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Early in the fourth quarter Aaron Rodgers hit tight end Jermichael Finley for a ten yard score.  The catch was Finley's third touchdown of the game, each coming against a different Bears defender.

Player of the game:  Jermichael Finley

The big tight end caught seven passes for 85 yards and three touchdowns.

Week Four:  Bears 34, Panthers 29 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Early in the second quarter Devin Hester returned a Jason Baker punt 69 yards for a score, making him the all time leader for punt return touchdowns.

Player of the game:  Matt Forte

The Bears half back rushed for 205 yards and one score.  He also caught four passes for 23 yards. 

Week Five:  Lions 24, Bears 13 @ Detroit

Play of the game:  Late in the third quarter Lions half back Jahvid Best ran untouched through the heart of the Bears defense 88 yards for a touchdown that put Detroit up two scores.

Player of the game:  Jahvid Best

The Lions runner put up 163 yards and one score on just 12 carries.  He also caught four passes for nine yards.

Week Six:  Bears 39, Vikings 10 @ Chicago 

Play of the game:  After the Vikings scored their only touchdown of the game early in the third quarter Devin Hester took the ensuing kick off back for a score, reminding the Vikings how thoroughly they were being dominated.

Player of the game:  Devin Hester

The Bears special teams star returned three kicks for 125 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. 

Week Seven:  Bears 24, Buccaneers 18 @ Tampa Bay (in London)

Play of the game:  The Bucs had sliced an eighteen point deficit down to just six and held the ball in Bears territory inside the game's final minute.  Bears defensive end Julius Peppers got pressure in the face of Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and forced a poor throw that was picked off by Bears cornerback D.J. Moore.

Player of the game:  Matt Forte

The Bears runner dazzled gaining 145 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.  He also gained 38 yards on two receptions.

Week Eight:  Bye   

Week Nine:  Bears 30, Eagles 24 @ Philadelphia 

Play of the game:  The Bears trailed by four early in the fourth quarter when Jay Cutler hit Earl Bennett for a five yard score that put the Bears ahead for the rest of the game.

Player of the game:  Earl Bennett 

The Bears receiver returned from a chest injury in grand fashion.  He caught five passes for 95 yards and the deciding touchdown.

Week Ten:  Bears 37, Lions 13 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On Detroit's first possession of the second half Major Wright returned a Matthew Stafford interception 24 yards for a touchdown, turning the game in to a rout.

Player of the game:  Charles "Peanut" Tillman

The Bears cornerback's physical play stifled the Lions big play receiver Charles Johnson.  Tillman also returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded five tackles.

Week Eleven:  Bears 31, Chargers 20 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Midway through the fourth quarter Bears receiver Johnny Knox slipped on his route and Jay Cutler's pass was intercepted Antoine Cason.  On the return Cutler held up the convoy long enough for Matt Forte to bump Cason out of bounds inside the Bears 20.  The Bears defense would eventually take the ball back, but on the play Cutler broke his thumb.

Player of the game:  Jay Cutler

The Bears quarterback completed 18 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns.  He also ran five times for 11 yards and a touchdown.

Week Twelve:  Raiders 25, Bears 20 @ Oakland 

Play of the game:  The Bears held the ball deep in Raiders territory in the first half's final minute when Caleb Hanie's ill fated throwback screen was deflected by Aaron Curry and intercepted by Kamerion Wimbley.  Lance Louis hustled to bring down Wimbley inside the Bears 10 and the defense forced a field goal, but the point and momentum swing was too much for the Bears and their backup quarterback.

Player of the game:  Sebastian Janikowski

The Raiders kicker banged home 19 of the Raiders 25 points, connecting on all six of his field goal tries.

Week Thirteen:  Chiefs 10, Bears 3 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On the final play of the first half Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko made a desperation heave from near midfield to the Bears end zone.  The pass appeared to be defended by Brian Urlacher, but in an effort to knock the ball to the ground safety Chris Conte swatted the ball out of Urlacher's hands and in to the hands of Chiefs running back Dexter McCluster resulting in the game's only touchdown and deciding points.  It was Palko's first career touchdown pass and one of many bizarre plays that lead to the Bears demise.

Player of the game:  Justin Houston

The Kansas City linebacker led a blitzing defense recording 7 tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble and a defensed pass. 

Week Fourteen:  Broncos 13, Bears 10 (OT) @ Denver

Play of the game:  With the Bears leading by three at the two minute warning Bears running back Marion Barber inexplicably ran out of bound on a second down run.  The play stopped the clock and gave the Broncos an extra forty seconds when they received the ball, leaving them just enough time to drive for a tying field goal.  Denver would capitalize on a Barber fumble in overtime to win the game.

Player of the game:  Matt Prater

The Denver kicker accounted for seven points including a 59 yard field goal to tie the game and a 53 yard field goal to win the game.   

Week Fifteen:  Seahawks 38, Bears 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  With the game tied at fourteen early in the third quarter Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright pressured Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie on a play action pass.  Hanie's course of action was to throw the ball to Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant who had nothing but twenty yards between himself and a go ahead touchdown.  It was the first of two Hanie interceptions returned for scores by the Seattle defense.

Player of the game:  Marshawn Lynch

The Seattle running back rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns.  He also caught two passes for five yards.

Week Sixteen:  Packers 35, Bears 21 @ Green Bay

Play of the game:  After the Bears scored a touchdown on the first possession of the second half to pull within four points of the lead the Packers answered with a fifty five yard bomb from Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson that beat both Bears safeties.  Green Bay would also score touchdowns on their next two possessions to put the game out of reach.

Player of the game:  Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay quarterback completed 21 of 29 passes for 283 yards and five touchdowns.  He also rushed four times for 18 yards. 

Week Seventeen:  Bears 17, Vikings 13 @ Minnesota

Play of the game:  Less than a minute after a Bears offensive touchdown got the Bears within three points of the lead early in the second quarter Bears cornerback Charles Tillman picked off Christian Ponder and returned the interception for a touchdown.  The Bears would not trail again after this play.

Player of the game:  Charles Tillman

The Bears cornerback celebrated his first ever Pro Bowl selection in style recording six solo tackles, assisting four others and returning an interception for a touchdown.  The return makes him the Bears all time leader in interception return touchdowns with five.

The Top Three Bears Games Of 2011

3.  Week One:  Bears 30, Falcons 12 @ Chicago

The Bears validated the previous season's great run by throttling a team that had been the NFC's top playoff seed the previous season and would become a wild card participant in this season's playoffs.  Big games from Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers led the way to victory.

2.  Week Nine:  Bears 30, Eagles 24 @ Philadelphia     

For the second consecutive season the Bears out classed the Eagles in a key mid season show down.  Despite being the underdog the Bears ran over and around the Eagles, exposing the "Dream Team" and continuing their dominance over Michael Vick.  Only one of ESPN's Monday Night Countdown "experts" picked the Bears to win this game:  Mike Ditka.

1.  Week Ten:  Bears 37, Lions 13 @ Chicago

The Bears avenged an embarrassing week five loss to the Lions in dominant fashion.  Despite getting a sub par game from the offense the Bears defense and special teams took Detroit out of the game taking the ball away six times, returning two interceptions and a punt return for touchdowns.  The most prevalent victims were the Lion's two best players quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson.  Stafford looked uncomfortable all game and was picked off four times.  Johnson was shut down Charles Tillman while the game was in the balance, lost a fumble and was rocked by Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs.

Bear Of The Year:  Jay Cutler

Despite having five players named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad (Matt Forte, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman and Corey Graham), no one player's fortune's impacted the Bears than those of Jay Cutler.  In ten games with Cutler the Bears were 7-3 and rounding in to one of the NFC's best teams.  In the six games following losing Cutler to a broken thumb the Bears went 1-5 facing softer competition than what Cutler faced.  In ten games Cutler completed 182 of 314 passes for 2319 yards and 13 touchdowns.  He also ran 10 times for 18 yards and one touchdown.

 

When Life Imitates Snark

Pretty simple blog post today, just want to bring to light one of my favorite satirists of American sports, The Heckler.  If you are a sports fan and you are not paying attention to The Heckler you are an idiot.  They were Onion Sports before Onions Sports was anything.

While reading The Heckler the other day a couple articles caught my eye.  The one linked here about the prospect of the Wisconsin Badgers football program plucking yet another post grad quarterback, this time in the form of former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist.  Also the one linked here about a tasty strategy for Cubs manager Dale Sveum to lure free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to the Chicago Cubs.

Both of these articles are satirical and speculative and written well before these entries from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  The first one linked here about Dayne Crist seriously considering spending his final year of eligibility as quarterback of the Wisconsin Badgers and the one linked here about Dale Sveum being used as a tool to help lure Prince Fielder to the north side of Chicago.

Stories so nice they made me laugh twice.

Rynos Don't Wear Shirts

New Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, has ruled out Chicago Cubs legend, Ryne Sandberg, or any other person without big league coaching experience for any consideration to be the Cubs next manager.  This decision has been met with mixed reviews as the rival St. Louis Cardinals thickened the plot by receiving permission from the Philadelphia Phillies to interview Sandberg, their Triple-A manager.

This isn't about people with or without major league experience (The fact that the Cubs are considering interviewing Dale Sveum proves that.).  This is about Ryne Sandberg.  Not Ryne Sandberg the person, but Ryne Sandberg the concept.  This is about dragging Cubs history and tradition out in front of women and children and putting a bullet through its conceptual head.  Done.  Enough.  No more celebrating 113 plus years of championship free baseball.

I understand that there are feel good stories in sports beyond championship glory, but even the Cubs feel good stories make you feel bad.  The '45 Cubs?  Got cursed by a goat.  The '69 Cubs?  Blew a nine and a half game lead in the final month and a half of the season.  The '84 Cubs?  Blew a 2 games to none lead in the best of five NLCS.  The '89 Cubs?  Lost the NLCS four games to one.  The '98 Cubs?  See Sammy Sosa's congressional testimony and Kerry Woods career arc.  The '03 Cubs?  Blew a three games to one lead in the NLCS vs Florida.  The 07-08 Cubs?  A combined 0-6 in the playoffs.

If I were Epstein I'd tear down the ivy and do away with the pinstripes too.  It's time to bury the past Cubs fans.  Sunshine and Old Style are your enemy.  For now and forever until the Cubs win the title.  Then you can go back and play with all your old toys. 

We're Not Going To Take It

Recently Chris Jones blasted sports fans for their common and frequent pronoun faux pas in this article on Grantland.  For starters Grantland is nothing more than a seething pool of self congratulatory ESPN runoff (which, not surprisingly, is more intelligent than the manure ESPN retains).  So it is not the least bit surprising that Jones is taking aim at the hapless meatballs that wish to enjoy the feeling that they are personally intertwined in their favorite team's fortunes.

I get it.  "We" are not a part of the team.  We are rarely welcome on the field.  We aren't in the union.  We aren't invited to board meetings.  We aren't the athletic trainer.  We aren't even the freaking beer vendor.  But we are a part of the equation.  We are the customers.  We pour in the money.  We are subjected to the sponsor's message.  We make noise when the opposing team is trying to hear.  We shout obscenities at LaRussa.  We are emotionally invested.  Technically still not part of the team, but intellectually pistol whipping folks over this technicality is as played out as "Bill from Waukegan" bitching about how "our" offensive line sucks.

It is the equivalent of keeping rabbits out of your garden with a fully automatic assault riffle.  You know what?  Put up a fence.  Put up a fence and keep you and all your precious little veggies in and let all the happy little dolts run around thinking turning their hats inside out makes a difference.

While there are few things in this natural world as creepy as college sports fans (myself included), it is my pleasure to use America's minor leagues to turn the technicality table.  You see despite never paying a dime on tuition or spending a minute in class at the University of Wisconsin, because I pay state taxes, I am a Wisconsin Badger.  And a Fighting Illini.  And a Missouri Tiger.  My drop in bucket eventually helps finance Bret Bielema's bidet and unlike the disposable income I spend on professional teams, this money's going out whether I like it or not. 

This bleeds in to the realm or professional sports as well.  When the Milwaukee Brewers wanted a new stadium, they didn't set up a collection from the players, execs and support staff, they went to the taxpayers.  There are many five county residents that wish they weren't Milwaukee Brewers.

When Champagne Gets In Your Eyes

There weren't as many crazy finishes in the second half of the Brewers 2011 campaign, but there were plenty of great moments and a National League Central Division championship.  The following are my five favorite Brewers games post all star break.

5. August 3: Brewers 10, Cardinals 5 @ Miller Park
Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee certainly had a forgettable season, but this was his day.  His three home runs fueled a big win over the Cardinals and helped launch the Brewers historic August run.

4. August 13: Brewers 1, Pirates 0 @ Miller Park
Filling in for the injured Chris Narveson, Marco Estrada held the Pirates to one hit over five innings and John Axford pitched around a ninth inning lead off triple to further the Pirates Miller Park miseries.

3. August 9: Brewers 5, Cardinals 3 @ Busch Stadium
Once again Casey McGehee played hero against the runner up Cardinals, blasting a tenth inning go ahead RBI double.  Latroy Hawkins picked up the win as part of four scoreless innings from the Milwaukee bullpen.

2. September 11: Brewers 3, Phillies 2 @ Miller Park
Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Braun registered consecutive two out hits in the seventh inning to turn a 2-1 deficit in to a 3-2 lead.  Yovani Gallardo struck out twelve in picking up his sixteenth win of the season.

1. September 23: Brewers 4, Marlins 1 @ Miller Park
Ryan Braun's three run eighth inning home run snapped a one all tie and sliced the Brewers magic number to one.  A packed Miller Park stuck around to watch the Cubs finish knocking off the Cardinals, clinching the first ever National League Central championship for the Milwaukee Brewers

Road Guest Vol. VII (Tape Delay)

August has seen Abraham bounce from house of foolishness to house of foolishness with sporadic Internet access, but the home office is back up and running and I'm once again ready to show you my geniousness.

Score:  Milwaukee Brewers 10, St. Louis Cardinals 5

Venue:  Miller Park

Game Day:  August 3, 2011

Roadmates:  Mike, John, Murph

MVP:  Casey McGehee 3-4, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R

Recap:  Since July 25 the Brewers have posted a blisteringly good record of 25-5 and have gone from a half game out of first place to pacing the rest of the division by nine and one half games.  Early in this run I had the pleasure of attending the rubber game of a three game series between the Brewers and second place Cardinals at Miller Park.  At the time the Brewers led the Cardinals by four and one half games.  McGehee led an offensive barrage with his three home runs, all off Cardinals mid season acquisition Edwin Jackson, covering up a shaky start by Randy Wolf.  I was magically inebriated to the disappointment of the Cardinal fans in our section, but through my charm and guile I was able to avoid fights, ejections and vomiting.

A Post Card And A Can Of Worms

The "first half" of the Milwaukee Brewers season was chock full of exciting games.  The following are my five favorite in particular order.

5. June 8: Brewers 7, Mets 6 @ Miller Park
    After Kameron Loe turned a 2-1 eighth inning Brewers lead in to a 6-2 deficit the Brewers battled back in their half of the inning.  Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder each knocked in two runs to tie the game.  In the bottom of the ninth Nyjer Morgan doubled in Craig Counsell for the walk off win, spawning perhaps the greatest post game interview of all time.

4. May 20: Brewers 7, Rockies 6 (14) @ Miller Park
     A back and forth regulation nine innings left the Brewers and Rockies tied at four.  The Rockies drew first blood in extra frames plating a run in the thirteenth, but Yuniesky Betancourt answered with a solo home run.  The Rockies notched a single tally in the fourteenth as well, but this time Fielder put the Rockies down for good launching a walk off two run shot in the bottom of the frame.


3. July 10: Brewers 4, Reds 3 @ Miller Park
    In the final game before the All Star Game the Brewers entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 3-2, but the bottom of the Brewers roster refused to lose.  Mark Kotsay singled in Morgan to tie the game before Counsell's sacrifice fly drove in George Kottaras sealing the club's second walk off win vs. Reds closer and former Brewer Francisco Cordero in three days.

2. June 12: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3 @ Miller Park
    The Brewers trailed by three heading to the bottom of the sixth inning when the bats awoke.  Braun and Kotsay each knocked in a run to set up a two run, go head bomb from Fielder.  Shaun Marcum, Loe and John Axford took care of the rest and the Cardinals were swept out of Milwaukee.

1. May 28: Brewers 3, Giants 2 @ Miller Park
    No win displayed the change in leadership and philosophy Ron Roenicke has brought to the Brewers than this game.  Randy Wolf and Loe coughed up a two run lead in bottom of the eighth inning with help from a Casey McGehee error, setting the stage for a stunning Brewers victory.  In the bottom of the ninth Braun reached third with one out and the pinch hitting Jonathan Lucroy dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt for the thrilling walk off victory.

Bonus Fun

One of my favorite parts of the baseball season is follow the current Brewers as they move up the club's all time statistical lists.  Here is a list of current Brewers in the top 50 of some of my favorite categories.  Current Brewers will be listed in bold behind the historical Brewer they trail.  All stat totals reflect action before tonight's game.

Runs
7.    Ben Oglivie 567
8.    Prince Fielder 529
10.  Gorman Thomas 524
11.  Rickie Weeks 513
14.  Jeromy Burnitz 467
15.  Ryan Braun 454
17.  George Scott 402
18.  Corey Hart 389
43.  Marquis Grissom 216
44.  Craig Counsell 210

Hits
10.  Jeff Cirillo 1000
11.  Prince Fielder 921
13.  Gorman Thomas 815
14.  Ryan Braun  809
18.  Sixto Lezcano 749
19.  Corey Hart 719
20.  Jeromy Burnitz 714
21.  Rickie Weeks 713
41.  Pat Listach 420
42.  Craig Counsell 415
48.  Ernest Riles 364
49.  Casey McGehee 354

Doubles
9.    B.J Surhoff 194
10.  Prince Fielder 185
13.  Gorman Thomas 172
14.  Ryan Braun 168
15.  Cory Hart 163
22.  Jose Valentin 132
23.  Rickie Weeks 131
37.  Dale Sveum 80
38.  Craig Counsell 77
40.  Johnny Briggs 76
41.  Casey McGehee 73

Triples
5.    Cecil Cooper 33
6.    Corey Hart 26
6.    Rickie Weeks 26
9.    B.J. Surhoff 23
10.  Ryan Braun 22
17.  Jose Valentin 18
18.  Craig Counsell 17
48.  Dale Sveum 10
49.  Prince Fielder 9

Home Runs
1.    Robin Yount 251
2.    Prince Fielder 214
9.    Paul Molitor 160
10.  Ryan Braun 144
14.  George Scott 115
15.  Corey Hart 108
16.  Rickie Weeks 106
38.  Glenn Braggs 45
39.  Casey McGehee 44

Runs Batted In
5.    Ben Oglivie 685
6.    Prince Fielder 608
12.  B.J. Surhoff 524
13.  Ryan Braun 482
19.  Ted Simmons 394
20.  Corey Hart 388
25.  Jose Valentin 343
26.  Rickie Weeks 304
38.  Jose Hernandez 210
39.  Casey McGehee 206

Stolen Bases
9.    B.J. Surhoff 102
10.  Rickie Weeks 98
11.  Ryan Braun 82
13.  Cecil Cooper 77
14.  Corey Hart 74
39.  Geoff Jenkins 31
40.  Craig Counsell 30

Wins
15.  Ricky Bones 47
16.  Yovani Gallardo 46
34.  Steve Woodard 25
35.  Manny Parra 24
40.  Bob Wickman 21
41.  Chris Narveson 20
45.  Randy Wolf 19

Strike Outs
7.    Cal Eldred 686
8.    Yovani Gallardo 629
19.  Dan Plesac 448
20.  Manny Parra 418
32.  Bill Parsons 280
33.  Chris Narveson 272
41.  Glendon Rusch 233
42.  Randy Wolf 224

Saves
10.  Doug Jones 49
11.  John Axford 48