The reason I say "were" is because what looked like a solid season for the Bears (7-3), one in which they could even give the Packers a run for their money, they suddenly turned as cold as Chicago winds.
Following Sunday's game, an impressive win over the charge-less Chargers, it was reported that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had broken his thumb, requiring surgery, and is likely out for the season.
Cutler was having a solid season, on pace to match his passing yards he had in his first season with the bears with a third of the interceptions. Now, he'll have to play cheerleader on the sidelines while he watches his team wither its way out of playoff contention.
Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher says he's not worried. He says he trusts Caleb Hanie, Cutler's replacement, who barely has more NFL snaps than yours truly.
The loss of Cutler means the end of the Bears. Bears running back Matt Forte is the major reason for the bears offense staying in games. Cutler was simply a game manager and he's been doing a stellar job not messing it up this season.
As it is, Bears' wide recievers Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett are average at best. Cutler is the reason they are making any catches at all this year. How are they going to fare with Hanie behind center? My prediction, not well.
There's six games left this season and if all goes well, they can win three. They travel to Oakland next week to take on the Raiders who have finally figured out their QB situation and are back to form.
They then play Kansas City, easy, then off to Denver to try and stop the unstoppable Tim Tebow. They then come back home to play against Seattle which should be an easy win, and then finish their final two games on the road against the undefeated Packers and the lowly Vikings.
If all goes according to plan, and when I say "according to plan", I mean Forte must be lights-out and returner Devin Hester must return at least a kick-off/punt for a touchdown in every game, the Bears should finish the season 10-6.
And you say 10-6 is a good record, well yea it is, but it might not be enough for that final wildcard spot. With Cutler out, it looks like Detroit will take the second spot in the division. To get that last spot in, they have to beat out the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons, who are both just one game behind with six games left.
So how do they do it with an inexperienced QB? Well, Mike Martz, the Bears offensive coordinator, is going to have to pull out his best Jim Harbaugh impression and get his QB to not lose these next six games.
Only difference is that Alex Smith, the 49ers QB, has had time put in to mess up and learn from his mistakes. Hanie doesn't have the experience, nor the time.
