The Bears-Buccaneers game Sunday, aka Lovie Bowl II, presented the perfect opportunity to dwell on the past. Because neither team is going to the playoffs this year. Here are seven things Bears fans refuse to forget–or forgive.
LOVIE SMITH’S CHALLENGE RECORD
The way Bears die-hards remember it, Smith almost never won a challenge when he was the coach in Chicago. They got a chance to bring this up when he sought to overturn an incomplete pass call Sunday.
Lovie throws red flag on Evans catch ruled inc. Bad news, #Bears fans: Lovie is actually about to win a challenge. Wrong team. #CHIvsTB
— Matt Peck (@MMP_Daaa) December 27, 2015
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For all their pessimism, however, the numbers tell a slightly different story. Smith had a challenge success rate of 36 percent (26-for-72) with the Bears, though he’s at 55 percent (6-for-11) with the Bucs. As for John Fox, he’s at 36 percent for his career (43-for-119) and 25 percent (1-for-4) with the Bears.
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LOVIE SMITH’S CLOCK MANAGEMENT
Another reason Chicago fans are glad Smith is on another sideline is that they’re haunted by how he would use timeouts in the waning moments of halves.
The amount of clock mismanagement in this game will be off the charts. #Bears #Bucs
— Rick Camp (@RickCamp670) December 27, 2015
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Fans used to be on Fox’s case, too, until Sunday …
John fox is actually using timeouts? Huh. #Bears
— michael shanahan (@ShanahanRamble) December 27, 2015
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POOR SCORE MANAGEMENT
This one is just funny, and it has nothing to do with a coach and everything to do with someone else’s mistake.
1-0…oh okay #BUCS #bears pic.twitter.com/iLJfk3jZJD
— Alex Jacob (@Alex__Jacob) December 27, 2015
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Your traditional 1-0 score in the #Bears #Bucs game. #NFL pic.twitter.com/ytIMeZPdWX
— William Wilkerson (@WVWilkerson) December 27, 2015
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JAY CUTLER’S INTERCEPTIONS
The quarterback has just eight interceptions this season, by far his lowest total since 2011, when he played just 10 games. Yet, as Bears fans will tell you, it sometimes feels so much worse. Case in point: Cutler was picked off on a screen pass Sunday, only to have the play called back by a Tampa Bay penalty. Whew!
3 times this year that screen pass has been intercepted #bears
— Peter Sandoval (@pluck_dbl9) December 27, 2015
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BRANDON MARSHALL’S DEPARTURE
The receiver (and Cutler BFF?) reached a couple of milestones Sunday, which prompted Bears fans to wonder what might have been. Especially considering the questionable state of current Bears receivers.
@TWaddle87 @WaddleandSilvy @oc_sports good call #Bears
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— Ryan Broom (@ryanbroom79) December 27, 2015
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And the Bears let him go. #Bears https://t.co/4yrTqk9Pd0
— PCM (@FLH57) December 27, 2015
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Still don't understand why the #BEARS got rid of @BMarshall you had to know that he would have a bounce back yr.
— Lucas Fisher (@LFish8) December 27, 2015
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With Cutlers contract and @BMarshall to the #Jets for a 5th round pick you have to ask yourself if my 5yr old nephew is running the #Bears
— Nick Miller (@Mick_Niller) December 27, 2015
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MIKE DITKA/MOVIE REFERENCES
Not sure what this fan was talking about or which team he or she prefers, but it proves Da Coach is still Da King.
Go Bears¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿!! Ya'll can't hurt us Bears fans, you fuckheads we've been dead before. You're the juice box guy! See you later juice box! #Bears
— Lincoln C. Nebraska (@Lincoln9million) December 27, 2015
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THE BEARS’ DRAFT HISTORY
By the way, the Bears won, 26-21. Which one would think would be cause for celebration. And it was, sort of. Then again, the Bears have a lot of holes to fill on this roster.
I'm glad the bears are winning but at the same time I want the bears to get the best pick available. #Bears
— Aaron (@Aaron2legit) December 27, 2015
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Typical Bears are going to screw up a good draft pick by winning meaningless games
— justin (@jmgreenb3) December 27, 2015
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Chris Sosa is RedEye’s sports editor. @redeyesportschi