Jan 23, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is hit by Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) during the fourth quarter of the 2011 NFC championship game at Soldier Field. Peppers was flagged for a penalty on the play for helmet-to-helmet contact. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE
When the Bears lose, the amount of time it takes for me to recover ranges depending on the loss significance. After a close loss, it usually takes me until the next game to recover. After blowouts, it doesn’t take me as long. I still haven’t recovered from January 23, 2011 when the Bears lost to Green Bay. I think to myself almost about once a week. “Why couldn’t Urlacher have just put a move on Aaron Rodgers?” or “Why didn’t Cutler throw it towards the pylon?” or “Why didn’t Cutler just throw it one extra yard to Johnny Knox?” or “Why was Caleb Hanie not the second string quarterback?” or “Why didn’t Julius Peppers just rip off Aaron Rodgers’ arm and take it to the end zone with the ball and score a game-tying touchdown?”
Back to the point. Usually, I don’t get over postseason losses for a long time, but I get over regular season losses within a week. But there is something about this game that makes me feel like it will take an unusually long time for me to feel better. And it isn’t because this was a divisional game for first place; we’ve all experienced that. It’s because the Bears had this game in their fingertips. The Lions may as well have handed the game to the Bears; they couldn’t capitalize. Here are this week’s “What if’s?”
What if Jay Cutler hadn’t thrown the ball low towards Martellus Bennett on the goal line interception? That would have made a lot of sense. Think of it this way. The Bears have two HUGE receivers. As far as I’m concerned, throwing the ball where the defensive line can get a hand on it is a no-no when right near the goal line for a team that has receivers capable of reaching the cieling of the Sistine Chapel. Why not throw it up to the end zone and give Marshall or Jeffery a shot against the average Lions corners, especially on second and four? If worse comes to worst, it’s incomplete and they try again on third down. Maybe if the running backs had been doing well, they could have run it in from four yards out or even tried a play action and lob to the end zone. But of course, that didn’t happen.