Good, Bad, Ugly and Strange

Monday, September 12, 2005 | Noah Brier

Good:

• Defense allowed no TDs.
• Offensive line gave Orton plenty of time to throw the ball.
• The Vikings and Packers lost leaving the Bears in a tie for 2nd in the NFC North.
• Orton didn't look bad in his debut (15/28, 141 yards an INT and a FUMBLE . . . yeah the numbers aren't great, but let's remember what we've been looking at over the past year.)

Bad:

• Pretty much all the offense.
• Too many dropped balls (it's a rookie QB playing in his first game, how about receivers hold onto the damn ball?)
• No running game (41 rushing yards aint gonna get the job done this season).
• Run D was shotty (Portis picked up 121 yards on 21 carries and Betts got another 41 yards).

Ugly:

• Fourth quarter sequence of three false starts leaving the Bears in a 2nd and 28 situation. These were no rookies either, Tait, Miller and Brown were the three lineman called. I'm sure it had something to do with Orton, but veteran lineman have to get the job done when it counts.
• Berrian's attempted reverse on a punt return (were they serious about that one?)

Strange:

• Redskins tackle Jon Jansen came into the game wearing a cast on a broken left thumb. During the course of the game he broke his right thumb and will play next week with two casts.