Season Recap - 2010 Chicago Bears

Final Record: 11-5 (1-1)

Finished: 1^st Place in the NFC North; Lost in the NFC Championship Game

2011 Draft Position: 30^th

Preseason Ranking:   23
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

Playing quarterback in the NFL is hard. Playing quarterback for the Chicago Bears has proven even more difficult than for other teams around the league. Few teams have quite the quarterback carousel the Chicago Bears have. When Chicago traded Kyle Orten to the Broncos last year in exchange for Jay Cutler, lots of fans believed Cutler would be the spark at quarterback this team has been sorely missing throughout most of their recent history. Unfortunately for Chicago fans, Cutler proved to be a turnover machine, not quite up to Jake Delhomme standards last year, but he still hit way too many cornerbacks and safeties between the numbers to be effective.

This year, Cutler is still the man in Chicago, but who will be the second-string quarterback is another matter. Back-up quarterback Caleb Heine sprained his shoulder in the preseason game against San Diego and will not be ready to play again until the regular season starts. This left only Cutler and rookie quarterback Dan LeFevour in camp and healthy enough to practice and play.

Chicago approached Todd Collins to help add some experienced depth to the position, but Collins turned down the Bears. Collins wanted a bit of a signing bonus to help keep the Chicago QB carousel spinning, but the Bears only offered a veteran minimum contract. Collins wasn't the first quarterback to turn down the Bears. Retired Trent Green said no to them (and with his concussion history starting behind a struggling offensive line that has to play Minnesota and Green Bay twice would not have been a good decision) as well as Damon Huard.

Unable to find experienced veteran back-ups willing to sign on with them, Chicago signed journeyman quarterback Matt Gutierrez late last week to a one-year deal. Gutierrez has great accuracy. Since signing with New England in 2007, he has not thrown an incomplete pass in the NFL, completing a solid two out of two passes for 18 yards and no touchdowns. The Bears need a quarterback able to hit their receivers consistently instead of opposing players if they ever hope to challenge either the Minnesota Vikings or the Green Bay Packers for the division title.

Until they make the playoffs and are able to go into an offseason without questions surrounding the quarterback position, the carousel will continue to spin in Chicago.

Week 1: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 19-14

Ranked – 11

Only a Cutler-led Mike Martz offense could outgain a team by so much and still have so little to show for it. Wheel patterns aside, this team needs to improve if it hopes to stay high in the rankings.

Week 2: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 27-20

Ranked – 5

You may have been granted a gift in week 1, but week 2 you ripped the heart out of Cowboys fans and improved to an impressive 2-0. Who would have thought the Monday Night matchup in week 3 against Green Bay might be for the overall #1 ranking and the inside track to the NFC North title?

Week 3: Defeated the Green Bay Packers, 20-17

Ranked – 2

You now stand as the sole remaining undefeated team in the NFC. After a tough victory over your bitter, division rivals, you have solidified your spot among the Creative Elite until the INT Cutler of old re-appears and drives you from these hallowed ranks.

Week 4: Lost at New York Giants, 17-3

Ranked – 11

Through the fog of sacks and concussions, can the Bears even remember what it felt like to be 3-0 so, so long ago?

Week 5: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 23-6

Ranked – 5

Say what you will about this team, but they find ways to win games, regardless of how terrible they are playing at any given time.

Week 6: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 23-20

Ranked -12

The Bears may have the best record in the NFC North, but they are far from claiming the division crown for themselves after dropping two of their last three.

Week 7: Lost to Washington Redskins, 17-14

Ranked – 18

The offense is killing a team the defense is doing everything it can to save.

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 17

I hope Chicago remembered how to run the ball during their bye week. The Bills are itching for a win and if Mad Martz and Cutler can't reign themselves in, Buffalo will ruin Chicago's day.

Week 9: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 22-19

Ranked – 12

Tough contests against Minnesota and Miami will tell us if Chicago truly learned anything during their bye week. A victory over the Bills is still just that - a victory over the Bills. Nothing to write home about.

Week 10: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 27-13

Ranked – 11

Even at 6-3, few believe Chicago is actually for real. With the Vikings now all but out of it, the Bears can focus all their efforts on the Packers.

Week 11: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 16-0

Ranked – 10

Week 17. Chicago at Green Bay. It might just be for all the marbles in the NFC North.

Week 12: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 31-26

Ranked – 7

Wait a minute. The Bears aren't actually for real, are they?

Week 13: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 24-20

Ranked – 6 (ROCKY WEEK!)

            Jay Cutler: I can't do it. 

Coach Smith: What?

            Jay Cutler: I can't beat him. 
           

Coach Smith: Brady? 

           

Jay Cutler: Yeah. I been out there walkin' around, thinkin'. I mean, who am I kiddin'? I ain't even in the guy's league. 

           

Coach Smith: What are you gonna do? 

           

Jay Cutler: I don't know. 

           

Coach Smith: You worked so hard. 

           

Jay Cutler: Yeah, that don't matter. 'Cause I was nobody before.

           

Coach Smith: Don't say that. 

            

Jay Cutler: Ah come on, Coach, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this game. It really don't matter if this guy lights us up, either. 'Cause all we wanna do is stay with them late into the fourth quarter. Few teams ever stay with the Patriots late into the game, and if we can stay with them, you see, and that clock reaches zero and we're still standin', we're gonna know for the first time this season, see, that we aren't just another pretender franchise from the NFC.

Week 14: Lost to New England Patriots, 36-7

Ranked – 9

Your field. Your weather. Your total humiliation. The Bears have to be kicking themselves after getting schooled by Tom Brady and his high-powered collection of diminutive receivers.

Week 15: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 40-14

Ranked – 11

The first team to clinch their division. Congrats. But it's not like beating the Vikings is anything worth bragging about this season.

Week 16: Defeated the New York Jets, 38-34

Ranked – 6

The Bears still have something to play for and the last team they want to see in the playoffs is Green Bay.

Week 17: Lost at Green Bay Packers, 10-3

Ranked – 6

The Bears should never have allowed the Packers to get into the dance, but the Saints may ultimately prove to be their undoing.

Wild Card Game: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 5

The Bears cannot afford to overlook Seattle, but their defense should be strong enough to handle any team they face in Chicago. Their offense is the weak link in their Super Bowl quest.

Divisional Game: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 35-24

Ranked – 4

The Bears looked impressive during the first three quarters of their divisional matchup against the Seahawks, but Seattle is far from a championship team. Chicago lost focus up 28-0 and had to scramble in the end to win 35-24 and avoid a historic collapse. Against the Packers, anything less than a full 60 minutes of effort will not be enough to guarantee a trip to Texas.

Championship Game: Lost to Green Bay Packers, 21-14

Final Rank - 4

Tomorrow, the 2010 AFC Champions – the Pittsburgh Steelers…