For those new to the site, when a player or coach doesn’t really show up during a Bear’s game, they get put on the Milk Carton. As most of you know, people’s pictures used to be put at the back of milk cartons when they went missing. So the Milk Carton for the Bears is more about who went missing or played terribly during the game. Here are the nominees.
The Bears showed EXTREME resilience on Sunday night. What a comeback! The offense pulled it together, the defense stepped up, and the Bears found away to win in a hostile environment. One can’t ask for much more than that.
Sep 14, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) rushes for a gain against San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) during the fourth quarter at Levi
As for the Milk Carton, the obvious choice is running back Matt Forte. The run game as a whole was a non-factor all night long. it seemed like everywhere Forte would go, there would be a big 49er lineman or linebacker running with him. He finished with a measly 21 yards on 12 carries.
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In Forte’s defense, the offense was pretty limited in the first half. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery were not playing like their typically physical selves. They couldn’t stretch the field. The 49ers great run defense was expecting run or short pass the whole time and that’s exactly what they got. The run blocking was not good. However, I don’t blame the Bears for aborting the run late in the game, because at that point the passing game was successful and there wasn’t a need for it. I’m not concerned about running the ball that poorly against a tremendous run defense given the circumstances. The problem will be fixed and Forte will continue to be elite.
As for Charles Tillman and Jeremiah Ratliff, it’s a shame about those injuries. I hate seeing Tillman go down, and his tears on the sideline may have been a sign that he has played his last game. Ratliff was playing very well and it’s tough seeing him go down with a concussion, but I expect he’ll be back soon.
So Forte is on the carton, but I don’t see a reason for concern just yet. The bears just came back for 21 fourth quarter points against one of the best defenses in the NFL. They adjusted extremely well in the second half. That’s something of which to be proud.