The Bears (7-7) fell apart after leading 14-7, seeing the Seahawks (7-7) score 24 unanswered points. Caleb Hanie threw three interceptions, two of them were returned for touchdowns. The game was a microcosm of the season. Off to a good start, and then it quickly unraveled. The Bears have lost 4 in row since Jay Cutler left with a thumb injury.

Everyone is hoping Johnny Knox will be fine (Tribune Photo).

Quarterback
Caleb Hanie (10-23-111, TD, 3 INT, 5/34) had another memorably bad game. Two pick sixes quickly erase some nice things he did with his feet to pick up some first downs as a scrambler, and to buy himself time to find open receivers. So sure, there was some good, but it was far outweighed by the bad. He was sacked four times. The sack at the end of the half was on him for holding the ball too long. I think he didn’t want to put the ball up and risk yet another interception, when this was probably the only time he could risk it. Some of his passes appeared to be thrown into triple coverage. The interception that wasn’t returned for a touchdown was an underthrown pass to Kellen Davis. He’s still missing some very short throws that are costing the team in terms of picking up first downs. His most perfect-looking pass was probably the strike he threw to 323-pound defensive end Red Bryant, who gathered the ball in and lumbered 20 yards for a touchdown. Josh McCown (1-2-12, INT) came in at the end and added an interception of his own. This was a real horror show. GRADE: F

Running Backs
Khalil Bell (15/65, 5-43, TD) had his best game as a Bear. He continually ran for tough yards and made some decent cuts. Hanie found him for a 25-yard touchdown pass on a route that broke from the right seam to the left sideline. Marion Barber (11/33) picked up a few nice first downs and had a 10-yarder called back on a holding penalty by Kellen Davis. Tyler Clutts had some good blocks leading up in the hole. GRADE: B

Receivers
Johnny Knox had a 15-yard reception and then fumbled the ball away to Denver. What happened next left everyone feeling awful. As he scrambled for the loose ball, he was hit head-on by a defensive lineman and was bent over his back at nearly a 90-degree angle. He was subsequently carted off the field on a board and taken immediately to a hospital. It was reported that he had movement in his extremities. Everyone is hopeful for him to have a full recovery. Dane Sanzenbacher (2-26) had a key first down reception but couldn’t hang on to a pass in the flat. Earl Bennett and Roy Williams only had one reception each. GRADE: D

Offensive Line
Today was J’Marcus Webb’s turn to have a horse bleep game. He allowed two sacks and was flagged for holding twice. Webb was continually beaten to the inside. Lance Louis held his own until he also allowed a sack in the second half. Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz is taking advantage of his athleticism, calling him to pull on counter plays from right tackle to left tackle. The interior three of Williams, Garza and Spencer were average. Run blocking was average as a whole, but pass protection, which was good early, eventually broke down. GRADE: D

Defensive Line
The front 7 really did a great job to hold Marshawn Lynch to 42 yards rushing on 20 carries. Julius Peppers had a sack and forced fumble of Tarvaris Jackson in the end zone. The fumble was recovered by Israel Idonije (5 tackles, FR, TD) for a touchdown. The defensive tackles, especially Matt Toeaina (5 tackles) and Anthony Adams (3 tackles, TFL) came up big against the run. Rookie Stephen Paea even had an early tackle for a loss. There was some pressure, but there was only the one sack. GRADE: B

Linebackers
Lance Briggs (4 tackles, 2 TFL) recovered from an early missed tackle to play well the rest of the way. He had great pressure on a blitz, and one of his tackles for a loss was of Jackson (19-31-227, TD) on a busted play. Brian Urlacher (6 tackles, TFL) didn’t really make many impactful plays. In fact, it appeared he had a clear shot at a fumble recovery but somehow couldn’t come up with it. Nick Roach had a tackle for a loss and a pressure/qb hit. GRADE: B

Secondary
Craig Steltz again made the most of his start, leading the team with 8 tackles. His sure tackling prevented a third down after Briggs couldn’t wrap up. Steltz was making plays from sideline to sideline and very near the line of scrimmage. Chris Conte took a bad angle and left his feet on one of Seattle’s big plays. He later suffered a foot injury and had to leave. Brandon Meriweather (6 tackles) replaced Conte. Cornerback Tim Jennings (2 tackles) was beaten for a 43-yard completion by Obomanu and also committed pass interference. Charles Tillman had some issues wrapping up on his tackles, and was beaten by Morrah the tight end for 20 yards. Tillman appeared to be injured and had to leave the field. Nickel back D.J. Moore allowed a third and 9 conversion to happen in front of him. He was also beaten deep but the pass was incomplete. There were too many third and long conversions that they allowed in front of them, they didn’t produce any turnovers, and the tackling was poor. GRADE: D

Corey Graham was flagged for using his teammates to propel him on a field goal block. This turned 3 points into 7 as this is an automatic first down. It looked to me like he leaped OVER the defensive linemen. Marshawn Lynch ran it in for a touchdown on the next play. Graham redeemed himself by expertly downing an excellent Adam Podlesh punt at the 4-yard line. This field position set up the Peppers/Idonije sack/forced fumble/touchdown. Returns were below average. Devin Hester was eventually pulled from returning kicks as he could not be counted on to make a good decision. He kept signaling for a fair catch, and then would run away from the ball. Bennett replaced him on punts. Knox and then Bell replaced him on kickoffs. Punts were otherwise average, kickoffs were good and field goals were nonexistent. Punt return coverage had a buster, where Podlesh needed to knock Leon Washington out of bounds after a 36-yard return. GRADE: C

I cannot argue with the offensive play calling. Martz ran it enough. He continually put Hanie into manageable third down situations. How do you coach around a quarterback who cannot hit a checkdown pass, and throws the ball out late into triple coverage? The defense, which put 7 points on the board, played well for a half and then must have been disheartened as the offense surrendered 14 back on two pick sixes. But the coverage was too loose. It’s unacceptable to see so many third and longs get converted. Who do these coaches need to talk to about the holding penalties? It seems ironic that the Bears would get called for holding 3 times this week, when a week ago, Peppers was held on almost every play. Full-on nose dive mode here, and there seems to be little hope of pulling up. GRADE: D

I picked the right winner and picked a blowout (24-3). I wish I was wrong more often, but it’s going to be hard to pick the Bears again unless Cutler can return.

Noots’ Nut Crackers
Johnny Knox, we are thinking hopeful thoughts about you.

Nudo’s Kudos
Julius Peppers
Craig Steltz
Israel Idonije
Khalil Bell

Horns
Caleb Hanie
J’Marcus Webb
Tim Jennings
Devin Hester

Posted: 12|18|11 at 11:26 pm. Filed under: Game Summary.

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