Bengals Can’t Shake Monday Blues, Lose To Bears In Laugher

Bengals need to win trap game against Bears by Emile Pierce

The Cincinnati Bengals ended a three-game homestand with a 33-7 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears. They were never in the game.

It was inevitable. The Cincinnati Bengals had one job. All they needed to do was hang an L on the Chicago Bears and keep hope alive for a winning season. Instead, Chicago trounced the Bengals and made it look easy. For a team that had its hopes set on making the playoffs and celebrating 50 years in the league, Cincy looked lifeless and dull. Once again, Marvin Lewis and Co. didn’t have the umph-factor.

What is it that keeps Bengals fans coming back for more of the same old garbage from this team? No matter what the odds, the same results always pop up in the end. Yes, this was a game on just five to six days preparation. Frankly, Paul Brown never liked Monday games, even though he was instrumental in their creation. But, good coaches get their team prepared.

To be honest, a majority of the Bengals looked like they wanted to be on an island sipping drinks with umbrellas. Their body language screamed, “Man, I wish this was the last game of the season.” Unfortunately, players and fans have to endure three more games of–dare I say it– high-intensity football. With the Minnesota Vikings on tap next week, it looks like the home team may have a hard time making it to 8-8.

Where was the focus?

Each week, the same questions get put to the test. Where is the passion? Why is there no fire from the defense? Actually, there were more questions about this 2017 squad than any in recent years. And it shows in the record and approach to each game.

To be fair, the talent on this team has been truly squandered. Any coach with the sensibilities to make adjustments on the fly or call his coordinators out would be doing wonders with this Bengals team. Instead, players and fans have been subjected to the same old insanity for 15 years.

The inability of the defense to get off the field on third down has become a running joke with this team. What else is a comedic gag line with the Bengals? Stopping a tight end is like capturing some mythical beast.

Riddle me this, Batman. If Paul Guenther is such a defensive genius. Why is the Bengals’ run defense so putrid? Jordan Howard easily shredded the D for 147 yards on 23 carries. The Bears had a total of 232. If Guenther is the heir apparent to the HC throne, look for more of the same inconsistency and trash. Please, don’t talk about the players not doing their part.

There’s no room for that stupid crap about the coach not being on the field. Well, of course not. But, that doesn’t make Lewis. Bill Lazor and Guenther exempt from criticism. It’s their job to coordinate a winning product.

So, you wanna be an AFC North power

Actually, it could happen. But, under the leadership of Lewis and Co., it was never going to be a reality. Teams that have a desire to be dominant beat the teams they’re supposed to. And to top it off, they show determination and grit when they face teams that are in their way.

In other words, the Bengals have zero discipline and aren’t winning any awards for showing up.

Losing to the Bears was a sure sign that the fight was long gone. The only thing that matters at this point is trying to get to the .500 mark and ending the year with some pride. To this point, the Bengals have been a mere shell of the team that teased fans with a playoff win in 2015. Actually, that should have been the year Mikey Boy and Lewis parted ways. But, Brown is too proud to admit he made a mistake.

In the days to come, there’ll be something positive to say about this 33-7 atrocity. But, at this moment it stings. Most fans saw the train wreck coming. But, they wanted to see the horrendous outcome.

Sadly, Cincinnati has left the building.