Originally Posted by browna
Like your optimism, but last time Bears got into the playoffs was 4 years ago. Lovie has to go now or get extended, otherwise he's a lame duck next year.
As far as the team, in addition to now having a 1st place schedule, they suddenly have a fairly big issue at hand with Cutler.
There were questions coming into the playoffs about his mental ability to handle the pressure. He got lucky a few times last week on plays which could have had him implode confidence wise, but he managed to scrape by. Today though, did nothing while he watched the Packers go up by 14. He pulled it back a little bit, but then got hurt. He doesn't even know when or how he got hurt, suddenly he's out of the game...a try to ride the bike, but that was it, he was done. I was watching at the gym, couldn't believe it...just standing there...no physio, no nothing, he was done in an NFC championship game.
The question marks are already surrounding him, not from emotional fans, but from colleagues. There's a chance he's fairly hurt, but then others point to Rivers completing one game and starting another with a torn ACL a few years back. However it turns out in the next couple days, the optics of everything don't look good from today and there will always be question marks and whispers.
Regardless, until Cutler can win the big game, he's going to be under a huge microscope...and with the events of today, that scrutiny is going to be more intense, fairly or not, as to if he's got the mental ability to match his physical ability. For a guy that doesn't really seem to enjoy the spotlight or questions, it could be difficult on him to have to deal with all next year and before next years playoffs, if he reaches them.
The Bears were able to do it with Orton last time, and Cutler's a better Qb when he's on, but when he's off, he's really off. A game like this won't silence his critics or raise the confidence of anyone, or maybe even he has in himself, and it will be a distraction for the Bears all offseason and into next season, whether they like it or not.
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