Some thougths on last nights game, mostly because I feel the obligation to do so…

• There’s not a team in the league I think the Bears would be favored to beat right now.  At home.
• Given that, it’s no suprise we can’t unload our tickets for the next two weeks.  At least the food and beer in the club are good.  But I see leaving those games quite early.  If the Packers game isn’t ‘over’ by halftime, I’ll be shocked.
• I think Orton is getting a bit of a raw deal over last nights game.  Given how long it’s been since he played, I don’t think he did a horrible job.  I do, however, think Ron Turner continues to be the worst OC in the league, and the day he leaves town can’t come too soon.
• Although, I do have to wonder - the Bears have a habit of having the worst OC in the league at any given time.  Turner.  Shoop.  Crowton.  It might just be that as good as Angelo is at putting together a defense, he’s as bad at putting together an offense.
• I also think Lovie is getting a bit of a raw deal this year.  No, this hasn’t been his best year.  But he’s done a great job as HC since coming aboard up until this year, so I’m not going to start wishing for him to leave yet.
• That being said, this fascination with giving Wolfe an automatic series no matter what the situation is each game (with this weeks series coming when the Bears were pinned at their own 3, and Wolfe being about 1/8th the size of the Vikings front four) has to stop, and stop now.
• Also, for his constant harping of ‘playing the players who give us the best chance to win the game’, how in the world is Fred Miller still on the field?  Honestly - he’s the worst offensive lineman in the league - and, of course, the most overpaid.  And I’d say that if he were making $25 a game and actually somehow had a contract that added to the cap amount.
• Any other offense in this league would have won that game last night with the constant outstanding field position they were given.  It’s too bad that we don’t have any other offense in the league.
• The defense actually played a pretty good game.  Urlacher played like the pro-bowler he is.  Vasher showed how much he has been missed this year.  And there were really only three real bad plays I can think of - the 18 missed tackles on the play where one of the Vikings recievers took a pass and ran 60 yards to the 1 yard line (props to Tillman for chasing him down and just keeping him out of the end zone), and the touchdown/2-pt conversion combination towards the end of the game.  They certainly gave this team a chance to win.
• At least the Orton interception to end the game keeps the Bears from becoming only the second team to lose a game when winning the turnover battle 4-0 since 1970.  The other team was, of course, also the Bears when the Giants were in town.  Oddly, the Bears were also the last team to do this back in 1970.  Seems having a sucky offense is just par for the course around here.
• Special teams - meh.  Hester did a decent job most of the time - although here’s a hint for you - NO ONE is going to buy you faking a reverse on a kick return.  No one.
• I also like that the ball was thrown Hester’s way more this game.  He does, however, need to learn how to block on plays the ball doesn’t come his way, and run patterns where he may not be the primary receiver.
• It’s too bad Hester isn’t as good a receiver in real life as he is in Madden ‘08, where he’s really the best receiver on the team.
• Well, I think that about covers my obligation.  I fully expect this Sunday to be a blowout of epic proportions, and to be heading home sometime in the fourth quarter.  At least it’s finally a noon start, so I can get home in time to see the last half of the afternoon games, and the Sunday night game.

Here’s hoping to a better 2008 season.