LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Coach Lovie Smith, under criticism for a poor season that will keep the Bears out of the playoffs for a third straight year, says there’s a lot of blame to go around for the team’s downfall since a Super Bowl appearance.
“A lot of things have gone wrong when you don’t make it three years in a row,” Smith said after a 21-14 loss to the rival Green Bay Packers.
Smith told reporters that three of the Bears’ eight losses so far were “legitimate,” but they had chances to win the other five.
“I think in most games the same things kind of stand out. Turnover ratio, you can look at some penalties, just not executing the way we need to — coaches, players and all,” Smith said.
Asked if he could foresee changes in the coaching staff next season, Smith said he wouldn’t look three weeks ahead or to next year. He insisted the team was focusing solely on beating this week’s opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.
After making the Super Bowl following the 2006 season, the Bears have been on a slide.
Not long after their loss to the Colts on a rainy day in Miami, they didn’t retain defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, despite having one of the league’s best defenses at the time; top running back Thomas Jones was traded to the Jets; and Smith got a contract extension through 2011.
Since that season, Chicago posted records of 7-9 and 9-7 and now things have only gotten worse. The Bears can reach .500 only if they beat the Ravens, Vikings and Lions to close it out.
The Bears have struggled to run the ball and their defense, missing injured linebacker Brian Urlacher, has been spotty. Cutler’s interceptions have hurt.
The dismal performance has turned the heat up on Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo. This season started out 3-1 before the slump — seven losses in nine games — that includes lopsided losses against Cincinnati, Arizona and Minnesota.
Smith, who has taken over defensive coordinator responsibilities this season, also defended his decision-making late in Sunday’s game.
Trailing by a touchdown with just under five minutes left, the Bears called a time-out because Smith said things weren’t right for the next play, which was going to be a third-and-22. And then Chicago decided to challenge the preceding play — a pass from Cutler to Greg Olsen that had been ruled incomplete when Olsen lost possession.
When the Bears lost the challenge, they also lost another time-out, leaving them with one.
“In that situation you have to take a chance on that, which we did,” Smith said.
