Emma: Blame Bears' Brutal Loss On Everyone
By Chris Emma--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The door to the Bears locker room swung open, and the assembled media swarmed. A herd of cameras and microphones scurried in, the lights shining bright, looking for answers, details and blame for a brutal 26-20 overtime loss to the 49ers on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.
Robbie Gould stood by his locker, just 20 feet from the door, with his presence drawing the media's attention. He was ready and eager to get it out of the way. The 11-year Bears kicker wanted to take the blame after two crucial missed field goals.
"I feel terrible," Gould said, speaking of perhaps his worst professional game coming on his 34th birthday.
Chicago coach John Fox calls football a combative game played by combative people. It takes plenty of practice and preparation, detailed schemes and a professional demeanor, then a physical toll paid for four quarters of action. And yet a victory for the Bears came down to their kicker. Football can be a cruel game.
But this wasn't Gould's loss to own. Sure, his 36-yard attempt would've won the game if it split the uprights and didn't miss wide left. And if he had made the 40-yarder earlier, the 49ers wouldn't have had the opportunity to tie the game.
Gould is only a convenient scapegoat, but football games are never truly won or last by a kicker. The Bears were favored to win for the first time this season but couldn't get the job done. They knew it was a game they should've won. It was a team effort to lose it.
"This one definitely hurts," Bears defensive tackle Mitch Unrein said.
The Bears pulled a trick play on a first-quarter punt from the 49ers, fooling them with a diversion from Marc Mariani. Instead, Bryce Callahan ran by the defense and took it to the house. But LaRoy Reynolds was called for a block in the back, and the would-be touchdown turned into a field goal.
With a 6-0 lead in hand early, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's screen pass was intercepted by Jimmie Ward and returned for a 29-yard touchdown, a complete gift.
Facing a weak foe in the 49ers, the Bears offense found the red zone just three times and scored touchdowns only twice. Cutler had his worst game of the season, unable to make the most of his opportunities. He completed 18 of 31 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
However, after so many gaffes, the Bears scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:32 left as Ka'Deem Carey found the end zone. They were in position to win, up 20-13, and facing Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers' inefficient offense. As Gabbert broke down the middle on a run, rookie safety Adrian Amos flinched in thinking the quarterback would slide. Instead, Gabbert took it 44 yards for the game-tying touchdown with 1:42 left.
"I was the post safety," Amos said. "Last line of defense."
Amos was later left running down the sidelines on the final play in overtime, the 49ers' game-winner from Torrey Smith. The Bears had miscommunication, Amos said, and Smith was left wide open with only Chris Prosinski close.
Agony struck Soldier Field as Smith held the ball in the air with his right hand and high-stepped into the end zone for the 49ers win. The Bears, now 5-7, need to be perfect to even have a chance at the playoffs. Those odds were slim even before a loss they couldn't afford to take, and now they'd need much more help.
"It's a great group of guys in (the locker room)," Cutler said. "We got a heck of a coaching staff. We're going to get back to work tomorrow."
After the game, there was no in-fighting or raised voices. The Bears locker room was calm, somber and supportive. But their close chemistry and the workmanlike demeanor instilled by Fox doesn't matter when they're unable to convert in the red zone or avoid costly penalties. The Bears believed they were a playoff team, then went out and lost to the futile 49ers.
Add this one to the growing list of regrets, like losses to the Lions, Vikings and Broncos in games they couldn't close. Call it the mark of a young team or perhaps one that's just not good enough, but make no mistake -- the Bears blew it.
They could've won if not for the unnecessary block in the back on the trick touchdown, with more production out of the offense and without the breakdowns on the 49ers' game-tying and game-winning touchdowns. And if Gould had come through in the clutch like he has so many times before, the Bears would've won.
Even post some blame on coordinators Adam Gase and Vic Fangio, who have been terrific all season but saw their units look lost at times Sunday. They didn't exactly stick it to the 49ers.
Blame should be passed all around the Bears locker room -- and it certainly was owned by all on the losing side. Nearly every Bears player answered the tough questions about another gut-wrenching loss. It's not easy to stand before cameras and microphones and take ownership for a game like this.
Gould was the first one to do it. He could've won the game.
"I let my teammates down," Gould said. "I didn't get the job done today."
Don't blame this all on Gould, though. It was a team effort to let another win and their playoff chances fade wide to the left. The Bears blew it.
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
