David Haugh
Browns coach Eric Mangini added tackling drills this week. Maybe the defensive players imagined his face on the ball carrier. It won’t help. The Bears are struggling but still good enough to get back on track against this bunch.
BEARS 31, BROWNS 17
Vaughn McClure
Yes, Lance Briggs is right. Any team can win on any given Sunday. But if the Bears lose to arguably the worst team in football, they might want to consider relocating to Oakland. Lovie Smith will make the necessary adjustments.
BEARS 31, BROWNS 17
Fred Mitchell
This game was not circled on the schedule as a projected “must win” contest at the start of the season. But if the Bears can’t regroup with a victory at home over lowly Cleveland, their postseason hopes likely will be dashed.
BEARS 31, BROWNS 16
Rick Morrissey
I assume I have your attention now. Do I think the Browns are going to win? No. Am I sick of readers saying we Tribune writers predict in lock-step? Yes. And if my prediction is right, I will look like a genius.
BROWNS 21, BEARS 17
Dan Pompei
You have to assume what happened to the Bears one week ago was completely out of character and will not happen again. And if that’s the case, they should handle the Browns with ease.
BEARS 20, BROWNS 6
– – –
Blowout loss no guarantee that season goes flat
Losing a game by 35 points usually signals a failed season. But history suggests one team will bounce back. Since realignment in 2002, every postseason except one has fielded a team that lost a regular season game by at least 35 points (in 2003, no 35-point losers made it; in 2006, there were two). In fact, some of these teams even had some postseason success.
2002
Jets
37
Lost 44-7, Week 2 vs. Patriots
No. 4 seed
W 1st round
L 2nd round
2003
No playoff team suffered a regular season loss of 35 points or more.
– Largest margin of defeat for a playoff team: Patriots (31-0 Week 1 at Bills); went on to win Super Bowl.
2004
Falcons
46
Lost 56-10, Week 7 at Chiefs
No. 2 seed
W 2nd round
L NFC title game
2005
Redskins
36
Lost 36-0, Week 8 at Giants
No. 6 seed
W 1st round
L 2nd round
2006
Jets
41
Lost 41-0, Week 5 at Jaguars
No. 5 seed
L 1st round
Chiefs
38
Lost 45-7, Week 6 at Steelers
No. 6 seed
L 1st round
2007
Redskins
45
Lost 52-7, Week 8 at Patriots
No. 6 seed
L 1st round
2008
Cardinals
40
Lost 47-7, Week 16 at Patriots
No. 4 seed
W 1st, 2nd, title
L Super Bowl
2009
Bears
35
Lost 45-10, Week 7 at Bengals
– Likely need to go 7-3 or 8-2 rest of the way
