NFL Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears’ Offense Still Not Living Up To Expectations Despite Week 11 Win

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By @ClydeASpeller

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Getty Images

In Week 11 of the 2014 NFL season, the Chicago Bears gave themselves and their fans a reason to celebrate by snapping a three-game losing streak with a 21-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Surrendering only 13 points to a Minnesota offense that entered the game averaging 18.7 points per game was expected by the defense. However, after filling the stats sheet in both rushing and receiving, the 21 points scored by Chicago shows that there is much room for improvement for the offense.

Last season, the Bears topped 30 points six times and averaged 27.8 points per game (which was second in the league). So far this year, the most points Chicago has scored in a single game has been 28, and their average points per game has dropped to 21.5 (19th).

Normally, having a quarterback throw for over 300 yards, a running back rush for over 100 yards and two wide receivers combine for over 200 yards receiving in a single game is a recipe for a high-scoring affair. But in this case, what seemed to be the only thing keeping the Bears from putting this game away early was themselves.

Chicago had possession of the ball for 38:38 of the game, yet they managed to score only three times. After watching this Week 11 matchup, it’s painfully obvious that the cause for team’s lack of scoring is due to quarterback Jay Cutler and head coach Marc Trestman.

Cutler’s 330 yards passing and three touchdowns were tarnished by the two interceptions he threw in crucial parts of the game that could have turned the contest into a rout. Turning the ball over has been Cutler’s calling card for not only this season (his 12 interceptions rank second in the NFL), but for his entire tenure in the Windy City.

In addition to Cutler’s erratic play, Trestman’s questionable play-calling and decision-making hasn’t helped the offense’s cause either. One instance stood out during the second quarter of the game against the Vikings. With a little over one minute left in the half, Chicago had the ball on their own 26-yard line with one timeout, Trestman opted to melt the clock and finally called a timeout with just 24 seconds left. On the ensuing play, Cutler threw his first interception.

The other uncertain call by Trestman happened during the third quarter with the offense on the one-yard line on a fourth-and-goal. I applaud him for having the guts to go for the touchdown, but calling for Cutler (who didn’t score the touchdown) to run it in on a sweep instead of using Matt Forte to just plunge it in when Chicago was running the ball so well is another reason why many Bears fans have doubts about Trestman’s coaching ability.

Both Cutler and Trestman have held the Bears’ offense back this year. Chicago now has a new identity. It’s the offense, instead of the defense, that is now expected to carry the entire team. The chances of the Bears running the table during the final six weeks of the season virtually falls on the shoulders and minds of Cutler and Trestman.

Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller

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