PG: The end of Lovie Smith

[SportsWorld]

If this game doesn't end Lovie Smith's career as Bears head coach, I don't know what will. I can't pick out one player that played a great game tonight. If Lovie Smith comes back as Bears head coach next year, I'll be rooting for a different team next year because it proves that this organization could care less about winning.

[The Explorer]

I don't mind Smith getting replaced by a better coach, but that's not the biggest problem with the team. The biggest problem is lack of talent, on both sides of the ball. They need to upgrade at just about every position, Tillman, Briggs, Cutler, and maybe a few others are the only exceptions.

[Chewie]

On the coaching aspect - is there an NFL coach that loses challenges more than Lovie ?

Player-wise, I'll say it again. We need to get MUCH better in the trenches before we address anything else. Our DEs apply no pressure and our tackles provide no protection. Should be easy without our 1st and 2nd round picks and a front office that's historically cheap in free agency, right ?

[Balance-a-Bull]

We need to press the restart button from GM on down to all of the coaches.

We need a total overhaul.

[fisher]

If this game doesn't end Lovie Smith's career as Bears head coach, I don't know what will. I can't pick out one player that played a great game tonight. If Lovie Smith comes back as Bears head coach next year, I'll be rooting for a different team next year because it proves that this organization could care less about winning.

It won't matter as long as Jerry Angelo is still here. Angelo gave Smith a flawed roster. I'm all for replacing Lovie Smith, but Jerry Angelo being replaced should be just as high of a priority.

[WEFFPIM]

This game will not end Lovie Smith's career here. As much as it sucked and as much as Lovie sucks, they lost on the road against a 9-1 team. Phillips and McCaskey won't axe him over this one.

However, beginning of the season I doubted that the powers that be would make changes at the end of the season because of the contract situation. But that mindset of mine has changed by the week now.

Now, a loss next week on the otherhand...

[CjayC]

Phillips is probably doing the numbers right now.

IF keeping Lovie only for the sake of saving $11 million, results in a drop of revenue that is greater than that over the next two years, there's no reason Lovie can't be fired.

[SportsWorld]

This game will not end Lovie Smith's career here. As much as it sucked and as much as Lovie sucks, they lost on the road against a 9-1 team. Phillips and McCaskey won't axe him over this one.

I fully expected a loss but this team didn't show up at all and they've failed to show up all season.

[Shootdabull]

Lovie has a string of horrible losses on his resumethis year. This team looks like they packed it. It seems like we have a bunch of games you just feel like they are over at half time. They may show up against another bad team but any team with decent offense is going to cream us. With as bad as things are I expect Lovie will be given another change because of all the dollars still owed. I think Turners days are numbered though - cheaper to fire to make it look like you are doing something.

[WEFFPIM]

This game will not end Lovie Smith's career here. As much as it sucked and as much as Lovie sucks, they lost on the road against a 9-1 team. Phillips and McCaskey won't axe him over this one.

I fully expected a loss but this team didn't show up at all and they've failed to show up all season.

I'm not denying that. But this game will not be the catalyst for ousting Lovie. A loss next week would would be.

[Chewie]

I just wonder what OC will want to come here with Lovie on the hot seat.

[SpinninHouse]

Lovie is done. it won't happen tomorrow but no way he returns for next season. he'll be a lame duck coach. the staff has to accept responsibility for their inability to prepare the team, inability to make mid-game adjustments, and an assortment of other failures all across the board. the staff has been a complete failure in every sense.

yes the players suck. we know. but this problem goes way beyond the players. it goes all the way to the top. but since the owners, management, coaching staff, and players cannot all be replaced at once -- we have to start with the most pressing issue; coaching. the entire coaching staff, with the exception of Toub, must be fired.

and then yes, the offensive and defensive lines need to be addressed ASAP. but first things first. FIRE LOVIE SMITH!

[blumeany]

Firing Lovie won't cure all, but it has to be done. Lovie didn't get the job done when we *had* an elite defense and his teams have done progressively worse every year since then. We will never win under him, and wasting an entire offseason and season with him would be a huge F U to the fans.

[DanTown8587]

Bears need to retool their lines and definitely get a WR who is physical and commands a double team. If it be Terrell Owens for a year, so be it. With no cap in place, WR like Marshall and Jennings become RFA, so they won't be the options. This team is two-three years away. Let's hope they stick to that and continue to build for the future with the coaching and general manager hiring.

[DJhitek]

I think it calls for a certain type of arrogance when you refuse to adjust to Favre picking apart your depleted and mediocre secondary.

I understand wanting to stop AP, but seriously, after the 3rd TD and 300th yard you'd think the Bears would have made an adjustment. We played right into our biggest weakness, poor secondary and zero pass rush. The Bears schemed not to get run over by AP at all costs, 500 yards later the team looks ever worse. Yikes man...rough times.

[NoSkyy]

The most telling series I think by far is after Knox's 77 yard run back, there was a self destruction on the offensive side of the ball.

A sack.
A false start.
Another sack.

In total, negative 13 yards to send a drive that started on the Minnesota 8 yard line to the 21 and a field goal. What the hell? Are you serious? I bet if you run the ball for four downs, you can get some semblance of 8 yards.(okay maybe not with this line but two yards a pop? come on.)

[Chewie]

The most telling series I think by far is after Knox's 77 yard run back, there was a self destruction on the offensive side of the ball.

A sack.
A false start.
Another sack.

In total, negative 13 yards to send a drive that started on the Minnesota 8 yard line to the 21 and a field goal. What the hell? Are you serious? I bet if you run the ball for four downs, you can get some semblance of 8 yards.(okay maybe not with this line but two yards a pop? come on.)

I said it in the game thread but I just knew Knox needed to take that all the way in given our red zone issues. When you dread what's going to happen when it's 1st and goal with the ball on the 8.....well, something's really wrong.

In other news, how freaking massive is Phil Loadholt? Pre-Cutler trade we were rumored up, down, and sideways to have interest in him in Round 2. No worries, though, we've got Chris Williams. Oy.

[dingojazz]

I'm officially on board with the fire Lovie bandwagon. It was sickening to watch Favre throw for 400 yards, even though all week I knew a beatdown was coming.

We need a coach with some fire, passion, who will chew someone's ass and light a fire. Lovie wants to be your best friend. He'd like to invite you over to his place for some home cookin. I'd love to steal Singletarty from the 9ers, though I doubt that's possible. My next choice would be Shanahan, then Cowher.

At least in years past when the Bears suck you can start looking forward to the draft around this time of year, Jesus even a 2nd round pick would give some hope.

I would love to see the Bears become a 3-4 team under a new coaching staff. We've got some of the personnel for it in place. Idonije and Gilbert are 3-4 Ends, maybe Gaines can play OLB, he sure is a **** 4-3 DE.

[Chewie]

We need a coach with some fire, passion, who will chew someone's ass and light a fire. Lovie wants to be your best friend. He'd like to invite you over to his place for some home cookin. I'd love to steal Singletarty from the 9ers, though I doubt that's possible. My next choice would be Shanahan, then Cowher.

I don't know what you're talking about. I clearly heard Lovie say we played like crap in the post game press conference. CRAP. Yes, the "c word". That's as fired up as I've ever seen him. The old Lovie would've gone with "doo-doo" or "feces". Before long he's going to go completely Ditka and tell us Donnell Woolford - um, Corey Graham - evidently can't cover anybody.

Ahhh....those were the days.

[Art Vandelay]

At least the Bears aren't the Browns?

Actually... the Browns defense is playing pretty well considering how awful they are. D'oh.