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Sports

Chicago Bears Monday Morning Quarterback

Another disappointing home loss leaves the Bears facing all too familiar questions going into bye week.

What goes around, comes around. All the bounces and breaks the Bears enjoyed early in the season are all of a sudden happening on the opposite end.

In a turnover-filled, hard-to-watch game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, the Bears again failed to close a second-half deficit, losing 17-14. They couldn't take advantage of another winnable home game and are now tied (4-3) atop the NFC North division with the Green Bay Packers.

On top of poor quarterback play and the absence of a rushing attack, questionable coaching strategy played a big role in the Bears' second straight home loss.

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Early in the third quarter, head coach Lovie Smith unsuccessfully--and unwisely--challenged that Earl Bennett had crossed the goal line after a 48-yard run-and-catch from quarterback Jay Cutler.

Why risk a timeout and one of only two challenges on a play that still results in a first down at the 1-yard line. Yes, the Bears have been there and failed before. In Week 1, these same Chicago Bears were stopped four consecutive times on the goal line by the Detroit Lions. But the challenge shows an utter lack of confidence in an offense that had made two straight solid drives.

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Smith's failed challenge is likely the reason why the next play–a Cutler fumble recovered by Washington--wasn't challenged and overruled. While Cutler appeared to have broken the plane of the goal line with the ball before it was stripped away, Smith didn't want to risk his final challenge and potentially lose another timeout in the process.

That was the last productive drive the Bears would mount in the second half as five of their next six drives ended in turnovers.

Cutler's four interceptions will turn heads--and yes he does deserve a lot of the criticism--but his receivers were anything but helpful on two of D'Angelo Hall's interceptions. Devin Hester didn't come back to the quarterback on his route, allowing Hall to make a play on the ball, and Johnny Knox didn't fight through Hall when the cornerback took the inside position.

But to have the offense commit six turnovers and still have several chances to win shows how well the Bears defense played against the Redskins. They forced three turnovers, caused another five fumbles and only allowed one touchdown by Washington's offense.

Without Lance Briggs, several unheralded players stepped up. Israel Idonije was an absolute force opposite of Julius Peppers, recording a sack and causing two fumbles. Charles Tillman played his best game of the season with two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight tackles, and D.J. Moore scored Chicago's first touchdown on an interception from a pass blocked into the air near the line of scrimmage. If not for Washington's "lucky" delay of game penalty, Moore would've had a second TD return off a turnover.

For the Bears, the same questions as before remain unanswered: Will Cutler's decision-making improve? Can the Bears develop a consistent running attack? And will the offensive line give Cutler enough protection?

We don't know the probability that the long-term solutions to those questions will be found during the bye week, but playing at the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 sure doesn't hurt its chances.

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