11 seconds of misery
Should Lovie Smith have had Robbie Gould squib-kick the last kickoff? Could Bob Babich have called a more aggressive defense to get in the way of receivers on the final pass play? Was the Georgia Dome clock operator overly generous to the home team by saving one second for the final field goal? All questions can fuel healthy debate. But one fact was hard to dispute: If cornerback Marcus Hamilton drops deep enough to prevent Matt Ryan from throwing the last pass downfield, Bears win. There is no 26-yard completion to Michael Jenkins, no game-winning 48-yard field goal by Jason Elam.
To the Matt
Rave about Matt Forte all you want, Chicago, but the front-runner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year was on display Sunday wearing a red jersey — Matt Ryan. The Bears held the NFL’s leading rusher, Michael Turner, to 54 yards, but Ryan picked the depleted Bears secondary apart. There was no bigger throw than the 26-yard completion Ryan made to Jenkins that set up the game-winning field goal. That, Bears fans, is a franchise quarterback.
Primary weakness
Cornerback Nathan Vasher sat out his second game with a bad wrist, and fellow starter Charles Tillman missed the second half with a shoulder injury. Nickel back Danieal Manning didn’t return after leaving in the third quarter with a hamstring problem. Top reserve Trumaine McBride also left the game with a shoulder injury. That thrust Hamilton into the lineup and increased the pressure on Corey Graham. Credit the Falcons for exploiting the mismatches. The Bears backups were no match for the athleticism of Falcons wide receivers.
Mystery men
The Bears are an impossible team to embrace. On the same day Kyle Orton authors a stirring comeback, the defense blows a lead in more memorable fashion. With a chance to solidify themselves as the division front-runner, they provide more reason to doubt them. The fear is that this heartbreaking loss marked by injury will lead to the same downward spiral last year’s loss to Dallas did. But with this team, every Monday starts a new mini-season, so who really knows?
