Yes, those are the wheels coming off in Chicago, and one of the problems with these bumbling Bears is that there is no strong leader in the locker room who knows how to stand up and stop the bleeding once it starts. It’s not Marc Trestman’s strong suit, commanding a room by the force of his soft-spoken presence, and whatever you think quarterback Jay Cutler’s gifts are, he’s not a natural leader. That’s a recipe for trouble when a team has lost four out of five games as the Bears have: not having that one voice that everyone listens and responds to.Sorry, Brandon Marshall. I know you’re trying, but I think it’s difficult for a receiver to fill that role if there’s a void in the leadership department at quarterback and head coach, the two faces of every franchise.
Chicago lost 51-23 at New England on Sunday, dropping to 3-5 as it enters its bye week. The Bears were down 38-7 at the half, the most points they have ever given up in the opening two quarters of a game. Three Patriots touchdowns in a 57-second span late in the second quarter sealed Chicago’s fate and left Trestman looking like he’s out of answers with his maddening club.
There are no trendy "Quarterback Whisperer" labels coming Trestman’s way this season. Cutler looks completely lost and lacking in confidence. He threw an interception and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by the Patriots’ Rob Ninkovich, and his 11 giveaways lead the league. Two recent decisions have to be haunting the Bears ownership and front office about now: They gave Cutler that mega-contract extension last year, and they passed on Bruce Arians in their coaching search in favor of Trestman back in 2013.
Double ouch.