GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A few thoughts on the Chicago Bears' 55-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
What it means: Barring a miracle and perhaps this team winning out over the next seven games, it's pretty much over for the Bears. Nobody within the organization would admit it publicly, but the players appear to have quit on the coaching staff, and now the Bears dwell near the bottom of the NFC with other 3-6 clubs such as Atlanta, St. Louis, Washington and the New York Giants all hovering above last-place Tampa Bay.
Sure, the Bears play five of their final seven at home, where they're winless, but they destroyed any margin for error down the stretch. Even if the Bears managed to win the remainder of their games, they'd still finish 10-6, which wouldn't make them a lock for the postseason. Let's not forget ownership fired Lovie Smith after his 10-6 finish in 2012, and the club hasn't put together a double-digit win season since.
Stock watch: The defense certainly deserves criticism here for one of the worst performances by this team in recent years. But let's focus on the man ultimately responsible for assembling the group, general manager Phil Emery, whose stock is tumbling. Hundreds of words could be written about how Emery missed on first-round pick Shea McClellin. But let's just take a quick look at Emery's haul from free agency last spring. Looking to revamp the front four, Emery spent $34 million guaranteed on Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young. Houston, only one sack in eight games, is out for the season and Allen has been a non-factor, while Young, the least expensive of the trio, leads the team in sacks. Emery also brought in Ryan Mundy and Danny McCray, along with a host of other safeties you've never heard of, and signed Tim Jennings to a deal worth $11.8 million guaranteed.
So while Emery's moves in free agency and the draft (Kyle Fuller will be a star one day) were billed as the start of the defense finally turning things around after a horrid 2013, the reality is not much was done to address that side of the ball. Realistically, it's a difficult spot for Emery to navigate considering all the dollars allocated to the offense. But hey, that's his job.
Overthinking it? Green Bay's defense ranked last against the rush. Yet after running Matt Forte for a 4-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage, the Bears passed the ball on four of the next five downs before punting. The next time the Bears took possession, they were behind just 7-0. But Jay Cutler threw passes on their first two snaps with the second resulting in an interception. Four plays later, the Packers would take a 14-0 lead, which would force Chicago into a passing game.
Coming out of the bye, the Bears talked all week about running the ball more, yet did the opposite against the Packers. Bears coach Marc Trestman also talked about helping Cutler more with the play calling, but that didn't happen.
Game ball: Brandon Marshall left the game early in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury, but caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. The truth is nobody on this team deserves a game ball, but Marshall gets this one by default.
What's next: The Bears head back to Halas Hall for weight lifting and treatment on Monday, before taking the day off Tuesday. The club won't start preparation until Wednesday for their next outing against the Minnesota Vikings.