After a perfect preseason the team got beaten up by a solid performance of the San Diego Charger in the season opener in California. The loss of number one cornerback Charles Tillman for nearly the whole game was costly for a Bears team that had already starting FS Mike Brown out of the line-up. His replacement V like Vasher got burned five times by the long ball and looked more like a professional ping-pong player searching for his balls against the basketball-like Chargers receivers.
As a group the Bears Defence would have won a Jekyll and Hyde contest – the line and the linebackers were strong against the run and pro ball DT Tommie Harris even sacked Phillip Rivers in the end zone for a safety. But overall they failed to put up a consistent pressure on the quarterback and weren’t able to overcome the secondary collapses. The only bright spot on the team was rookie running back Matt Forte. With two touchdowns, 166 yards on the ground and 37 in the air he led a Bears team that was left high and dry by quarterback Kyle Orton.
The new Red shirt produced two costly interceptions inside the red zone and looked as mobile as Tony Siragusa on Dancing Stars. The Bears look to rebound from the poor performance of the 25-28 loss against the Chargers especially with the return of Tillman and Brown. And all prayers go out to the mighty Manitou that news franchise running back Forte stays healthy the whole season – otherwise the fat lady sings the blues in the windy city.
