Dec. 13--1. Keep it together
The Bears' loss to the 49ers last Sunday felt like a climax. It buried them in the cluttered NFC playoff race with a quarter of the season remaining. A year ago when the playoffs were out of reach, team chemistry eroded and the bottom fell out. Don't expect a repeat of that in coach John Fox's first season. Players seem focused, connected and committed to improving. "I love this team," right guard Kyle Long said. "They love the game and we want to win. I promise you, it will get better. Gosh, we're in every game. But it's not good enough, and we need to be better."
2. Vanished unicorn
Tight end Martellus Bennett was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday with a fractured rib. His desire for a new contract -- and how he has expressed it since the new regime took over in January -- doesn't seamlessly fit with the club's preference for team-first grinders. It creates big-picture doubt about whether he'll be back, despite being under contract for 2016. In the short term, No. 2 tight end Zach Miller also is dealing with a broken rib. Getting receiver Eddie Royal (left knee) back from a five-game hiatus could mitigate Bennett's absence in the passing game, but the Bears also will miss Bennett's athleticism as a blocker.
3. Gould standard
Kicker Robbie Gould accepted blame for last week's crushing overtime loss, saying he let his teammates down with a mechanical flaw in his leg swing that resulted in an errant 36-yard field-goal attempt as regulation expired. He was too quick, he said. But Gould remains confident his two second-half misses were just a hiccup. He reported to Halas Hall on Monday and kicked 30 field goals, like a golfer would work on the driving range after a shoddy round. It was an unprecedented move for the 11th-year veteran. Each of Gould's five misses this season (26-for-31) has been to the left.
4. Defensive rebound
The Bears defense limited opponents to fewer than two touchdowns in four of the five games that immediately preceded the loss to the 49ers. The unit was positioned to do so again until quarterback Blaine Gabbert scrambled 44 yards to tie the game in the final 2 minutes. Then the Bears surrendered a 71-yard game-ending touchdown reception on a blown coverage. Fifth-round rookie safety Adrian Amos has played well all season, establishing himself as a building block. After he was involved in both touchdowns, coaches are eager to see his response. "You learn a lot about his mental toughness, number one, and his football character," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said.
