Bears must recapture September magic
That's the same Favre, mind you, who battled so many times against Tampa Bay in the old NFC Central. And those are the same Buccaneers who rode that cover-2 defense to Super Bowl glory. Favre may have been shellshocked after that game. After all, he never had been shut out in his NFL career, something that would happen again later in the season against New England.
The promise of that first game still hasn't been broken. Regardless of how miserable the starting unit looked Sunday night in the regular-season finale, the only way the promise of the season is broken is if the Bears falter in the playoffs. Again.
If they somehow lose in the divisional round to the lowest seed the NFL's inferior conference can send to Soldier Field, well, you have to wonder if they'll ever win a playoff game. Whichever opponent arrives to challenge the Bears -- the Giants, Cowboys or Seahawks -- stumbled down the stretch to get there.
Regardless, Sunday's performance was further proof that the halcyon days early in the season -- a time when the defense was being compared to that of the 1985 team and Rex Grossman was the NFL's Mr. September -- seem to have given way to an extended winter solstice. Can a team that finishes with a 13-3 record really have fallen into a bottomless pit?
In fairness, the Bears didn't need anything out of Sunday's game, and they haven't needed much for a few games. The end of the season has had the feeling of playing out the string -- as if the NFC regular-season champions actually were eliminated and had nothing left to play for but building for next year. There were injuries, especially in the secondary, that led to playing reserves.
''We kind of relaxed a little bit in the last couple of games,'' cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. said. ''It's tough. It's a long season in the NFL, and that is going to happen to anybody, especially around this time of year. We'll get back on track, get guys some rest and get healthy and get ready for the playoffs.''
Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Manning insists the Bears' defense is getting better as the season comes to an end. He said the playing time that he, Chris Harris, Devin Hester and Cameron Worrell have gotten in the secondary only will improve the depth in the playoffs. That logic also would apply to tackles Israel Idonije and Alfonso Boone, who've been a regular part of the rotation.
Tank Johnson's return after missing two games was interesting, as well. He played both tackle positions but lined up most often at the three-technique spot that was vacated by Tommie Harris. Johnson was moved to nose tackle this season to get him on the field with Harris so the Bears would have pass rushers at every position. When Harris went down, the Bears opted to keep Johnson at nose tackle because they didn't want to make two changes for one injury. But since he has been out and Ian Scott has moved into the nose tackle spot, where he previously started, it was deemed time to move Johnson.
''Wherever the coaches line me up, I will play,'' Johnson said. ''I just want to play consistent, play hard and play fast. Anytime you miss a game for any reason, when you come back, you appreciate the game more.''
In the ultimate irony of the night, the decision to play starters in a meaningless game -- something coach Lovie Smith opted not to do last season at Minnesota -- essentially forced Smith to give them an extended run because of how badly the Packers were beating them. Green Bay built a 23-0 lead in the first half when Grossman was on the field and being booed off it. Grossman threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. The beating should've been worse, but the Packers missed an extra point and a short field goal.
The Bears have taken exception to the criticism they've received for victories over Tampa Bay and Detroit, saying they're being judged on style points like a college football team looking to move up the rankings. But the criticism came because it seemed like they were headed to this sort of defeat -- one in which every one-time strength seemed in question.
Now a busy bye week just got even busier. The Bears will need to give Grossman another lesson on the horror of turnovers. They'll have to set up a spot in the training room for star returner Hester, who left the game with a leg injury. They'll have to rebuild the confidence of a defense that once looked capable of an all-time season but now might be a liability.
It's an interesting checklist at a time when Smith may get his contract extension and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera seems certain to have a job interview or two.
If only it were September again.