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.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Don Bacso was working as an IT consultant. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93th and 94th floor, Bacso was on the 57th floor.
Next week, Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park, and alongside big names like Twenty One Pilots, Nas, and Alanis Morissette, one performer will be making his heavy metal debut at 95 years old.
Chicago native and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith was back in her hometown on Thursday night to receive this year's Harold Washington Literary Award
Final preparations are in full swing ahead of a busy stretch of days that will mark Mexican Independence Day throughout Chicago.
Jared Jones pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, Oneil Cruz added a solo home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep.
Five months until the 2027 mayoral election in Chicago, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is leading in early polling, and has a commanding lead in fundraising.
Matt O'Shea, who has been the alderman of Chicago's 19th Ward for the last 16 years, is the latest to announce he is giving up his Chicago City Council seat after this term.
The Supreme Court said Missouri must use a 2022 congressional map — not a new congressional map that favors Republicans — in the 2026 midterm elections.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker excoriated the Republican midterm convention in Dallas at a Democrats' event in Texas Tuesday, calling it "a clown show" focused on President Trump while Americans are hurting.
A coalition of advocacy groups and a Democratic-led city filed a preemptive lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from deploying armed ICE agents to polling sites ahead of the midterm elections.
Nicor customers will get a break on their bills this fall after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Roul reached an agreement with the utility to cut $140 million from its requested rate hike.
Drivers in Chicago and beyond were paying the highest gas prices ever recorded for the Labor Day holiday as millions of Americans were making their way home on Monday.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit Thursday against ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric Inc., alleging deceptive business practices.
Cook County homeowners are again facing a sharper increase in property taxes this year than businesses, the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced Monday.
Cardinal Blase Cupich and a group of Catholic nuns have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois' Medical Aid in Dying law, which is set to take effect in just over a week.
Flies have been everywhere this summer in the Chicago area, and some of them bite. But why is this happening?
Prime Healthcare is drawing criticism after announcing it will stop obstetrics services at three Chicago-area hospitals.
The Chicago Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced two human cases and one death from the West Nile virus in the city this year, and one of those two people has died.
The Jackson Chance Foundation supports the lives of families with babies in the NICU by removing the financial burden of finding parking near hospitals.
Plans for a new Chicago White Sox stadium in the South Loop have residents near the existing ballpark in Bridgeport concerned, not just because the team might be leaving, but also what might be coming nearby.
A new report from the University of Illinois Chicago said federal immigration enforcement led to $1.26 billion in unspent money at retail establishments and restaurants in Cook County.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
A new Whole Foods Market is coming to Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.
More than 100 Black-owned businesses were showcased at Soldier Field Sunday for Black on the Block.
The stage was set and the air was humid as rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took the stage for the first of two Chicago concerts at Soldier Field Thursday night.
James Fulton Engstrom, now a healthy teenager, was born without a pulse in 2010 — and his survival is the miracle the Catholic Church credited to Fulton Sheen's intercession, clearing the way for beatification.
The Met's decision to highlight the work by designer John Galliano sparked widespread controversy due to his history of antisemitic and racist comments.
The Edgewater Music Festival was under way this weekend on Chicago's north lakefront.
People around the world, including Chicago, continued to gather Wednesday to pay tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Don Bacso was working as an IT consultant. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93th and 99th floor, Bacso was on the 57th floor.
Next week, Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park, and alongside big names like Twenty One Pilots, Nas, and Alanis Morissette, one performer will be making his heavy metal debut at 95 years old.
Chicago native and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith was back in her hometown on Thursday night to receive this year's Harold Washington Literary Award.
Final preparations are in full swing ahead of a busy stretch of days that will mark Mexican Independence Day throughout Chicago.
Final preparations are in full swing ahead of a busy stretch of days that will mark Mexican Independence Day throughout Chicago.
A man who was shot and killed by police in northwest suburban Des Plaines on Wednesday was threatening officers with an electric hedge trimmer and ignored officers to drop it, police said on Thursday.
Nearly 300 million birds flew over the Chicago area on Wednesday night. Another 276 million are expected to make the same trip Thursday night.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Don Bacso was working as an IT consultant. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93th and 94th floor, Bacso was on the 57th floor.
Next week, Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park, and alongside big names like Twenty One Pilots, Nas, and Alanis Morissette, one performer will be making his heavy metal debut at 95 years old.
Chicago police crime data show 255 reported crimes in the last two years on the two blocks where the former Hard Rock and Rainforest cafés sit vacant. Neighbors have been calling the city about the alley between them for six years.
A three-year effort by the Cook County Sheriff's Office to help bring down crime on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago appears to be working.
Several lawsuits are challenging Illinois' medical aid in dying law that is set to take effect on Sept. 12, including one in federal court arguing the law discriminates against people with disabilities.
Back in 2023, ISP got a $10 million grant from the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council.
Two years before dozens of decomposing bodies were found inside the South Chicago Chapel funeral home, police in nearby Evergreen Park found two bodies in the owners' minivan outside their home.
Jared Jones pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, Oneil Cruz added a solo home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep.
Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage charges; the NFL said it is reviewing the case under its personal conduct policy and Jacobs remains on the commissioner's exempt list.
AL Central-leading Chicago (75-70) maintained a two-game lead over Cleveland, which lost at Baltimore.
The Brewers extend their NL Central lead to 10 games over the Cubs.
Milwaukee extended its NL Central lead to nine games over Chicago by coming from behind to defeat the Cubs for a second straight day.
Chicago police crime data show 255 reported crimes in the last two years on the two blocks where the former Hard Rock and Rainforest cafés sit vacant. Neighbors have been calling the city about the alley between them for six years.
A three-year effort by the Cook County Sheriff's Office to help bring down crime on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago appears to be working.
Police are searching for a group wanted for damaging multiple cars in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood early Thursday morning.
Thieves stole three golf carts from the Billy Caldwell Golf Course on Chicago's Northwest Side early Thursday.
Dorian Smith spent much of his time at the Grant Park skate park, where skaters knew him as Avery. His father said the family is distraught. No one is in custody.
