“I expect nothing, and I’m still let down.”
If there was ever a quote to sum up my feelings regarding the Chicago Bears losing to the New Orleans Saints 21-9 in the playoffs, it would be this gem said by Dewey from the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.
The Bears came into their wildcard matchup with the Saints as double-digit underdogs and were clearly hobbled as many key players, such as linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and wide receiver Darnell Mooney, were out due to injuries. But instead of rolling over immediately, they actually made a game of it and kept the score close for the entire first half.
Thanks to their solid defense, fans began to believe the Bears had a chance to pull off one of the biggest playoff upsets in recent memory. All of that vanished in the third quarter, however, as they unraveled thanks to untimely penalties, undisciplined players, poor tackling and questionable coaching.
The loss, while expected, still hurt because of how a few missed opportunities might have changed a game that was close for much of the afternoon. Now, the offseason officially begins with the Bears seemingly finding themselves at a fork in the road. But before we dive into those questions, here are my takeaways from Sunday’s postseason loss.