Chicago Bears Loss To Patriots Takes Only 57 Seconds

The first half of the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots game was a tough one to watch. If you were a Bears fan that is. In fact, the entire game reminded you that it’s a great thing to have the NFL Sunday Ticket. The Bears punted on their first three possessions. In that time New England was able to put together two scoring drives jumping out to an early 10-0 lead.

The Chicago defense tried as they may but were on the field for a majority of the first half giving Tom Brady and company ample time to move the ball down the field. Little did we know the Patriots didn’t need that much time. Just after the two minute warning the Patriots began what will go down as the worst 57 seconds in Chicago Bears history.

First, Rob Gronkowski catches a two yard touchdown pass from Brady. With the score now 17-7 in favor of the Patriots what does Jay Cutler and his offense do? They go three and out and punt. Julian Edleman then returns that punt for 42 yards. Tack on a 10 yard penalty the Patriots find it easy to send Brandon LaFell for an eight yard touchdown reception on the very next play. With now 55 seconds remaining in the first half and down 31-7 the Bears decide not to take a knee or even end the half respectively with a couple of Matt Forte runs.

Nope!

Oct 26, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks on from the sideline during the last seconds of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The coaches thought they should call a play with limited pass protection and a bunch of deep receiver routes. Well, the Patriots sent a blitz. The blitz reached Cutler, hit Cutler and then stripped Cutler of the ball. Rob Ninkovich of New England recovered the fumble and then ran the 15 yards for the third Patriots touchdown in 57 seconds.

This wasn’t entirely Cutler’s fault. The entire game the Patriots corners were frustrating Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey not letting the receivers get near any of Cutler’s passes. Darrelle Revis showed up today in 2011 form and added an interception at the end of the Bears horrible first half. He lead the Patriots with two passes defended and an interception to end the first half. Brandon Browner, the former Seattle Seahawks, and fresh off his suspension played most of this game opposite Revis amassing three tackles and another pass defended of his own.

The Bears did show they were capable of running the ball effectively in the second half once the Patriots stopped putting eight men in the box. They even scored a couple of touchdowns. It wasn’t nearly enough to combat those 57 seconds however. Gronkowski added two more touchdowns in the second half giving him three total on the day.

There were no reports of yelling or name calling in the Bears locker room. I suppose they were too busy booking golf outings for January.