Olson: Inconsistency hurts Bears

Bears quarterback Kyle Orton (18) spins on the back of Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Cato June during the fourth quarter. (AP)

Eric Olson, eolson@nwherald.com

There's not really any such thing as a "killer instinct" or "ability to close" or being "clutch."

To some degree, athletes and others have these traits ascribed to them because of good luck. But to a greater degree, they pick up these labels because they are good enough to perform consistently.

A good team can make plays when it has to because it can make them all the time. A good team is consistent, it can be counted on to, say, gain three yards in two downs at least nine times out of 10.

Generally speaking, the Bears, and specifically their offense, have not been consistent this year. They can make plays sometimes, but not necessarily when they must. They will go on hot streaks as quarterback Kyle Orton did Sunday when he went 12-of-13 passing for 160 yards and two touchdowns in the third and fourth quarter. Then they fall silent.

And so the Bears failed in another short-yardage situation late in the game, unable to pick up three yards in two downs. They blew a double-digit lead in the second half, the second blown lead in as many weeks.

This loss was as painful if not more than last week. At least they were on the road last week.

And they didn't allow a former teammate to set personal bests for passing yards and attempts without sacking him.

On Sunday, the Bears played well enough to win. They just couldn't do it. Not even at home.

The platitudes after this game were similar to those in Charlotte last week.

"We had an opportunity to win the game and once again we didn't do it," Orton said.

The thing is, the blame shouldn't fall on any one person or even one unit. Once again, the Bears played well enough to win ... they just didn't.

"It's two weeks in a row that we should have won the game," Bears safety Kevin Payne said. "We feel like, you know, we were the better team, and we didn't come out with the victory."

That's the second week in a row. The team could be 3-0. Instead, they're 1-2.

It has nothing to do with a lack of instinct or of closing ability. They've followed much of their game plan for winning every week, forcing turnovers, playing well on special teams, running the football.

But the opportunities the Bears have squandered slipped away because they're not terribly strong in some areas we know they're not that strong in.

Their wide receivers have been a question mark all year ... and if Rashied Davis catches that pass on Tampa's 30-yard-line in overtime, the Bears could get the win.

The offensive line has been a question mark, and if the Bears can pick up three yards in two downs with less than 3 minutes remaining, the Bears probably get the win.

The Bears defense failed to record a single sack despite 67 passing attempts by Brian Griese. If they could have come up with one on the Bucs' final drive, maybe they get the win.

The Bears offense settled for field goals when they were in the red zone. Kicker Robbie Gould missed a field goal. Charles Tillman took a stupid penalty on defense. Orton committed a turnover that led to a a Bucs' touchdown.

The Bears did everything needed to do to lose a game where they mostly outplayed their opponent.

Maddening.

"You lose a game like this, you can only look at yourself," Orton said. "We've got room to improve, and I'm going to come back to work next week and work as hard as I can to get better."

It sounds so simple, but that's really all there is to it. The Bears don't need to develop a "killer instinct" or an "ability to finish" any more than they need to develop ESP, telekinesis or any other ethereal sense or ability that you can neither see nor quantify.

They need to get better. They need to be more consistent, especially on offense.

If they can do they'll win. If they can't, it's going to be a long and frustrating season.

� Eric Olson is the Northwest Herald's sports editor. Reach him at eolson@nwherald.com.

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Olson: Inconsistency hurts Bears

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