Bears Fall Apart…Again: Cardinals 41, Bears 21

What some thought would be a close game turned out to be a one-sided affair. The Arizona Cardinals handed the Chicago Bears their first home loss of the season by the score of 41-21. The Bears (4-4) had difficulties all game defensively, and were one-dimensional offensively.

It looks like Chicago’s head coach Lovie Smith isn’t a follower of his own philosophy of “getting to off the bus running.” The entire game, the Bears only rushed the ball 12 times for just 70 yards. Matt Forte, who had Chicago’s only carry in the first quarter, finished the game with five carries for 33 yards (both team-highs). But despite the low numbers on the ground, Forte did contribute in the receiving game with six catches for 74 yards. The only bright spot for the Bears was the play of Jay Cutler. The Pro Bowl quarterback went 29 for 47 for 369 yards and three touchdown passes. Along with Forte, Cutler had three other primary targets in receivers Devin Hester and Earl Bennett, and tight end Greg Olsen. Hester and Bennett finished the game with six catches for 94 yards and seven catches for 93 yards respectively. Olsen contributed with five receptions for 71 yards, and was on the receiving end of all three Cutler touchdown passes. But every aspect of the passing game wasn’t as good as it seemed. For the second consecutive week, the Bears’ offensive line gave up four sacks, bringing their season total to 19.

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The sign of a bad defensive showing came early in the first quarter when defensive tackle Tommie Harris was ejected from the game for punching Arizona guard Deuce Lutui. Harris’ absence left a void in Chicago’s defensive line, leaving the Bears’ run defense vulnerable. The Cardinals, who rank dead last in the league in rushing, had two of their running backs, Tim Hightower and rookie Beanie Wells, run for a combined 149 yards. The Cards’ passing game was too much for Chicago’s defense. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner threw for a game-high five touchdowns, four of which came in the first half. Cardinals Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald had his best game of the season thus far by out playing Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, finishing the game with nine receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Even with a 4-4 record, the Chicago Bears still find themselves in second place in the NFC North, tied with the Green Bay Packers. But unfortunately, Chicago doesn’t have much time to regroup because of the short week that they will have to prepare for this Thursday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

By Clyde Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent