No folding this tent

Two aspirin, five reasons for hope should cure your Super hangover

Maybe you woke on Monday, as I did, with a Bears hangover. To be clear, this would be malaise caused not by alcohol, but by misery. The Bears let us down, no doubt about it. Too bad they can't ask for a rematch. Best two out of three, perhaps. Because there is no way the Bears are as bad as they appeared to be against the Colts on Sunday.

We all watched the game. We all saw how poorly the Bears played. There's no way to put a positive spin on their performance. But that doesn't mean the Bears are doomed. It was just one game. It was the biggest game involving a Chicago football team in the last two decades, and the Colts kicked their butts. I get it. But still, it was just one game.

It's OK to look ahead to next season with hope. Really, it is. After taking a few gulps from Lovie Smith's glass, I realized there are reasons for optimism. The Bears are not the 2003 Cubs, who followed their improbable postseason run with years of mediocrity. The Bears will come back strong next season, and here are five reasons why:

Lovie Smith has improved each year on the job, and he will continue to improve. At the risk of pouring vinegar in your wounds, ask yourself how long it took Tony Dungy to win his first Super Bowl. Too soon? Then ask yourself how long it took Bill Cowher to win his first Super Bowl. Smith and his coaching staff let an incredible opportunity slip and slide away in the Miami rain. But I believe Smith will grow from the loss. And so will his team.

I know, the 2007 schedule -- which includes home games against Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New Orleans and the New York Giants and road games against Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Washington -- certainly appears more difficult on paper. (Although we never know for sure until the games are played.) And division foes Minnesota, Detroit and Green Bay all look to be improved. Oh, the bleakness.

Relax -- this is your hangover speaking. Remember when the Bears lost to Carolina last year, and you were devastated? Smith learned from that loss. The Bears were a better team this season, and they played well in the playoffs, with wins over Seattle and New Orleans. Yep, they crashed in the Super Bowl. But there will be lessons learned from this loss, as well.

Anyone else notice how desperately the Bears missed defensive tackle Tommie Harris after he went down late in the season with a ruptured hamstring? Well, Harris -- the MVP of the defense, as far as I'm concerned -- should return next year. And safety Mike Brown, the emotional leader of the defense, should return from his foot injury. There are no guarantees, of course. And any team with championship hopes must be able to play through injuries to key players. But the Harris and Brown losses were huge. Do you doubt that the Bears would have gotten more pressure on Peyton Manning if Harris had played? Do you think Brown would have let Reggie Wayne get open for a 53-yard touchdown?

In other good news, linebacker Lance Briggs likely will return next season. And despite his play Sunday, I believe Brian Urlacher really does know how to tackle. I also believe that a different game plan -- say, one that didn't completely concede the short pass to the highly accurate Manning -- could have changed the course of the game. Surely defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who's now 2-for-4 in big games with the Bears, learned a little something Sunday. And if Rivera leaves, as he seems inclined to do? Surely Smith will find a competent replacement.

Repeat after me: Rex Grossman was not the reason the Bears lost the Super Bowl. Was I the only person scratching my head over offensive coordinator Ron Turner's game plan? Was Turner really committed to establishing the run? I'm not so sure. In any event, things sure did get away from the offense, which never got in sync. Granted, that's in large part because the defense couldn't stop the Colts. Did Grossman come through on Sunday? Nope. But he had plenty of company.

Let's not forget that Grossman had some excellent games this season. And let's hope Grossman doesn't forget it, either. Because he'll be the Bears' quarterback next fall, and he needs to play consistently well.

Remember, Sunday was just one game, and Grossman is still young in football years. Don't forget that once upon a time, the entire country thought Manning was a big-game choker. Funny how long ago that seems now.

Mr. Special Talent, Devin Hester, and Mr. Consistent, Robbie Gould, are two great players to have on your side. As the Bears figure out more ways to use Hester's gifts -- wide receiver, anyone? -- he will only become more of a threat. And then there's Gould, who just keeps getting stronger, and just keeps putting points on the board. Every team in the league wishes they had these two guys.

All Jerry Angelo has done the last few years is improve the team every offseason through the draft. I know what you're thinking: The Bears pick next-to-last in the upcoming draft. What kind of player can Angelo get so late in the first round? Doesn't the fact that Hester and safety Danieal Manning were second-round picks answer that question for you? Angelo has given us little reason to doubt him?

Relax. Have a drink. Really, the glass is still half-full.