Hampton: Game-Planning Needs To Change Without Cutler
Without Jay Cutler, it's clear the Bears play-calling and game-planning needs to be adjusted.
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Without Jay Cutler, it's clear the Bears play-calling and game-planning needs to be adjusted.
Here are the good, bad and ugly from this week's Bears-Raiders game.
You hate to pin a loss on one play but it would be easy if you want as the Bears lost to the Raiders 25-20 out here in Oakland.
Try to remember how you felt as soon as you got the news about Jay Cutler's broken thumb, and how long he'd be out. Dig deep, and access that moment – recapture the feeling like a trained method-actor.
Among the list of quarterbacks the Bears could bring in with Jay Cutler sidelined, Kyle Orton clearly tops that list.
While Lovie Smith said the Bears plan to bring in a veteran quarterback to backup Caleb Hanie, one NFL expert cautioned fans not to get too excited.
After two-plus seasons of up-and-down play by the Bears quarterback, Cutler has put together a string of six straight above average games, none better than his effort Sunday afternoon in the Bears' 31-20 win over the Chargers at Soldier Field.
During the Bears current four-game winning streak, the offensive line has been a bright spot, protecting Jay Cutler and paving a way for Matt Forte. Now, with Williams lost for the season with a wrist injury, the Bears must regroup and work with a new left guard, Edwin Williams.
With a 30-24 victory over the heavily favored Philadelphia Eagles, the Bears put themselves on track for their second straight playoff appearance.
Yes, he's maddening. And he looks like that guy in college who you always wanted to punch in the mouth, just because. But Jay Cutler has also proven himself as the best QB in Bears history.
The Eagles are the best three-win team in the NFL, which along with the Saints, is talented enough to take down the Packers.
Former Bears quarterback Jim joined The McNeil and Spiegel Show to discuss Mike Martz, Jay Cutler and the rest of the Chicago Bears after their 24-18 win over the Bucs in London.
You can add Bears great Doug Baffone to the list of those who aren't too thrilled with the play-calling by offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
They haven't looked truly remarkable since their Week 1 thrashing of Atlanta, but in running the ball better of late and an improved defense, the playoffs don't seem as far fetched as they did after the Green Bay and New Orleans debacles earlier in the year.
Though a loss to the Bucs would have fluttered the dovecoats, the message sent from London was plain as a pikestaff: keep your wig on, and your chin up. 24-18.
When Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz found out his quarterback directed an obscenity his way during the Bears' win Sunday, he did just as one would expect -- he downplayed it.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler admitted he directed an obscenity at offensive coordinator Mike Martz in Sunday's win over the Vikings and said he didn't regret it.
At this point it's no secret that Jay Cutler and Mike Martz aren't getting along, but now there appears to be some obvious video evidence.
Lovie Smith does appear to have his own supply of paper towels, though, that he's been able to pull out of the supply closet, to unroll as needed to mop up the pessimism (and who would engage in that, dare I ask?) and keep his team from slipping into the abyss.
If Monday was a "must have", then Sunday is a must win. If the Bears were to lose against Minnesota, they would drop to 2-4, with all four losses coming in the NFC. It would also make them 0-3 in the division. When it comes to tie-breaker math, that ain't good. So here's what I'm watching for Sunday night:
The final score reads 24-13, but it might as well have been 240-13. As poor as the Lions played, nobody in the Chicagoland thought the Bears had a snowball's chance in pulling that one out after the Lions went up 21-10. The offensive line was outmatched, and almost the entire defense failed to show up Monday night. From there, the rest just fell into place.
Bad drafts, bad signings, desperate trades and hamstrung, stubborn coaches have the Bears staring at a dark road.
Lovie Smith evaluates the regular season in four quarters, so let's evaluate Lovie's crew in the same fashion.
During the Bears' 34-29 victory on Sunday, the offense wasted two timeouts on one drive in the second half -- former quarterback Jim Miller breaks it down.
This one was a must-must, a necessary condition for continuing one's emotional investment in a severely flawed Bears team, even if one may know better.
Two off-duty first responders sprang into action after a student collapsed during a track competition in Huntley on Monday night.
One of the best high school softball pitchers in the state takes the mound of a small school just south of Chicago.
Oswego police say the 20-year-old motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on Route 34 on Saturday afternoon when he hit an enclosed trailer being towed by a van.
It has been nearly two years since Mayor Brandon Johnson decommissioned the city's controversial ShotSpotter gunshot detection system and vowed to replace it with a "better" alternative.
President Trump said Americans' financial situation isn't motivating him to make a deal, "Not even a little bit," and that he is only focused on preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
President Trump said Americans' financial situation isn't motivating him to make a deal, "Not even a little bit," and that he is only focused on preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
A month after Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed an attempt to halt any future scheduled pay hikes for tipped workers in Chicago, the City Council advanced a compromise to instead pause those raises for two years.
The operator of the Dali, a container ship that lost power and slammed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024, killing six people, is facing federal charges.
Democratic National Committee officials visited Chicago on Monday as the city made its official bid to host the party's 2028 convention – a rare move after having just hosted the event in 2024.
A nonprofit group is suing to block the Trump administration's blue resurfacing of the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Chatham residents say they're losing a vital resource as Walgreen's prepares to close its store near 86th and Cottage Grove.
According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Chicago was $5.17 on Friday, up from $3.75 a year ago.
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Company customers are likely to see minor credits on their bills for the next three years, thanks to a $125 million settlement agreement announced Thursday by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Chicago gas prices are spiking as the war with Iran drags on, with regular gas nearing $6 in some spots and premium already selling for more than $7 in some places.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
A Texas couple is filing a lawsuit accusing the AI company of guiding their teenage son in using drugs, resulting in a fatal overdose.
An American on the repatriation flight began showing symptoms of hantavirus and another "tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus," the Department of Health and Human Services says.
More than 100 people from a cruise ship dealing with an outbreak of the rare and deadly hantavirus are set to be disembarked.
The largest U.S. health insurer said it will eliminate approval requirements for some treatments, including select outpatient surgeries and other procedures.
Thirty years ago, Advocate Children's Hospital created a specialized team to transport the smallest patients to get life-saving care. On the anniversary of the Neonatal Pediatric Transport Team, they unveiled some a new ambulance.
U.S. prosecutors allege a man with multiple aliases used the name of the famed Astor family to scam a Mexican billionaire out of $450 million.
Thousands of people marched from the West Loop to Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Friday for May Day, with activists calling for workers' rights, stronger labor protections, and increased school funding.
A $170 million-plus plan announced this week will redevelop the Water Tower Place mall on the Magnificent Mile.
The Holiday Club in Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood will soon be going out of business, as the building that houses the popular bar is set to be torn down.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board approved a pre-development agreement with the mall, providing a roadmap with the property owner for further preparations and government approvals for redevelopment.
David Allan Coe also had hits with "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride" among others.
Some youngsters got a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of making opera Sunday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Matt DeCaro, an actor who was a familiar face on the Chicago stage for many years, died this weekend.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season went on sale Thursday morning.
School officials say the response from athletic trainers and paramedics who were there helped save the 16-year-old boy’s life.
Apple is warning all iPhone users to update their devices to the latest iOS as soon as possible to keep their devices safe.
Chicago police are warning of a string of armed robberies targeting bar patrons, some involving unauthorized charges made on victims' phones.
One of the best high school softball pitchers in the state takes the mound of a small school just south of Chicago. And her siblings are helping build a mini high school softball dynasty.
Chicago customs agents said they stopped more than 100 shipments of illegal gun modification devices just in the month of April.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said it is investigating a potential case of hantavirus in an Illinois resident, that they said is not linked to the deadly cruise ship outbreak.
Four people were injured, including a baby and Chicago police officers, in a rollover crash involving a squad car in Chatham.
Two off-duty first responders sprang into action after a student collapsed during a track competition in Huntley on Monday night.
One of the best high school softball pitchers in the state takes the mound of a small school just south of Chicago.
Chicago police are warning of a string of armed robberies, some involving unauthorized charges made on victims' phones.
Monday marks one year since Illinois enacted Karina's Law — legislation aimed at taking firearms out of the hands of people accused of domestic abuse.
Tenants at a South Shore apartment building said they've noticed their rent fluctuating by hundreds of dollars a month due to a change in how their utility billing system is set up.
A man from the Chicago suburbs lost $69,000 of his savings to a scam by a thief using an AI-generated U.S. Marshals badge to intimidate him.
Illinois lawmakers are trying to decide what should happen when artificial intelligence leads to serious destruction or even death, and two of the most influential AI companies in the world are backing opposing state bills trying to answer that question.
Rideshare drivers say it's getting difficult to continue working as gas prices surpass $6 in the city.
One of the best high school softball pitchers in the state takes the mound of a small school just south of Chicago.
It's on to the Grand Rapids Griffins, a team Wolves' head coach Spiros Anastas used to work for.
It's been quite a week for Bryson Graham—being hired as the new executive VP of basketball operations on Monday, to landing the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.
Jacob deGrom tied his season high with 10 strikeouts while earning the 1,900th of his career, Evan Carter hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Sunday.
White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin allowed one run on three hits in six innings.
One person was killed and two others were seriously wounded in a shooting late Friday morning in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
Police across Chicago and the northern suburbs were investigating a string of overnight smash-and-grab burglaries targeting businesses.
A teenager has been charged with shooting and killing his father inside their home in southwest suburban Oak Lawn following an argument on Monday.
The Mexican navy helped rescue shipwrecked sailors and retrieve bales of illicit drugs that had been dumped into the ocean.
A man was killed on Tuesday night in a shooting less than a block from an elementary school in the West Englewood neighborhood.
