Trashed in Texas

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

CHICAGO (WBBM) - As the sun set on Sunday, the Bears saw their season dissipate into darkness, with a 31-24 loss at Houston. Chicago finishes a game back of Minnesota in the NFC North, at 9-7 still better than was projected at season’s start, but not good enough for the playoffs.

 

"This is very disappointing," said Bears defensive back Charles Tillman. "We had a chance to make the playoffs, but we didn't finish the games we needed to."

Minnesota wins the division championship at 10-6.

The Bears jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter advantage, emblematic of their season, in which Chicago scored a league Top 10109 first-quarter points.

The opening possession took more than five minutes and ate up 80 yards in 10 plays, aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty to set the Bears up at the Houston 18. The finisher was a four-yard TD pass from Kyle Orton to Brandon Lloyd.

The second score came courtesy of a takeaway. Charles Tillman forced a fumble on a pass by battling the receiver to the ground. Anthony Adams  grabbed the loose ball at Houston’s 38. Again following the season-long scenario, it was Chicago’s league-best 32nd takeaway.

Robbie Gould hit a 37-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

And that’s as good as it got for the Bears.

The second quarter began the descent into the off-season with 14 unanswered points by the home team. Danieal Manning had back-to-back plays he’d like to forget forever

First, he blew coverage on a 43-yard touchdown toss, Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson. On the ensuing kickoff, Manning dropped the ball on the return.

Schaub shredded the Bear defense for the needed 38 yards in eight plays. The drive ended with a toss to Johnson, as he outmuscled Tillman for possession in the end zone. It was Houston’s first score inside the red zone in 15 tries.

Tillman, at safety, was leading the team in tackles with seven as Houston’s line mashed the Bear defenders upfront. Orton was an efficient 11-of-15 for 98 yards.

The third quarter had the teams trade touchdowns. After the Bears went three-and-out, Texas marched 72 yards in in plays. Schaub completed passes of 21 and 23 yards in the drive, never using more than two downs on any portion of the drive.

The Bears scored in three minutes, highlighted by a 37-yard gain to the goal line by Devin Hester. The yardage is significant in that it is the only Bears pass of 35 yards  on the season.

Greg Olsen caught the short TD pass. It was 21-17.

The Texans opened the final quarter of the Bears’ season on a drive which ended in a 22-yard field goal.

Then came the killer drive. Texas took the ball from their own 11 to a touchdown in 6:11, leaving Chicago with just 3:11 to salvage what it could. It was 31-17. Because yards were lost to penalties, Steve Slaton contributed 114 yards on that drive alone and went in from the 2 to cap it. He had 86 yards rushing and 36 receiving.

The Bears all but burned the clock on a meaningless drive which ended with Orton sneaking in from the goal line. But there were only 89 seconds left. It was 31-24.

Forte had 50 yards rushing, only five in the second half.

Schaub was 27-of-36 for 328 yards.

One more unusual statistic: Lovie Smith has never won a game in his home state as a head coach.