Win won't win over critics

The Bears' Mark Anderson (left) celebrates with Alex Brown (center) after Anderson sacked Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard (right) on Sunday at Soldier Field. (AP photo)

By ERIC OLSON - eolson@nwherald.com

CHICAGO - It's rare for a team to be as in control as the Bears were and still get booed by the home crowd.

With the Bears up 17 points and cruising to a 23-10 win against Jacksonville, maybe the fans weren't upset. After the second of three consecutive three-and-outs by the Bears offense in the third quarter, maybe the fans were just bored and cold.

That's the kind of day it was. The Bears beat a team they were supposed to beat in methodical, if not overwhelming, fashion. They found themselves getting booed on offense with a 20-3 lead in the third quarter.

It was as though the fans were saying "yes, you're winning, but we expect more than this."

It felt a lot like the St. Louis game, with only a few more Bears fans. The Bears built a comfortable, but not insurmountable, lead in the first half. Rather than put the opponent away in the second half with a touchdown or two, however, the Bears seemed to kind of wait for the clock to run out.

They scored a field goal; the Jags, when they weren't tripping over their own feet or calling and then screwing up not-so-surprising fake punts, scored a touchdown. But mostly the second half was just a wait for the end.

When it came, the Bears were 7-6, still a game behind Minnesota, but essentially two back because the Vikings have the tiebreaker advantage.

Not a terribly inspiring win. It counts just the same as a thriller or a rout. But it could have been over so much sooner.

Afterward, Bears coach Lovie Smith talked about how his team had met expectations in every facet of the game. Hard to deny him that when they won by 13.

He also talked about the team going 10-6 and making the playoffs, and seemed to want to revive the myth of "Bear weather" for some reason. Unfortunately, this win against the Jaguars didn't make a really strong case for either.

"Everyone has a home-field advantage," Smith said after the game. "If you talk to teams that aren't from Chicago, believe me, they don't want to come to Chicago this time of the year to play football. For us, it's a part of our every day life, so we have to be able to play football in these conditions. We practice in it for the most part, and it's no issue for us."

OK. But there were an awful lot of players in the Bears locker room sporting their Florida garb after the game in honor of BCS national championship game-bound Gators.

And consider this statement from Jaguars RB Fred Taylor:

"The weather wasn't a factor," Taylor said. "... That's what we look forward to. I think a lot of that [talk about cold weather affecting teams from the south] sometimes is hype because I love playing in the cold. I love it."

Contrast that with this one from Matt Forte, who is having an outstanding rookie season (1,081 rushing yards, 53 receptions) after coming to the Bears from Tulane, which is in New Orleans.

"I don't think you ever get used to [the cold]," Forte said. "I mean, I deal with it."

All of the Jacksonville players said the weather had little or no effect. Yes, they're weren't going to say "My toes went numb, and I gave up. What's the difference? It's not like we're going to the playoffs or nuthin'." But they could have said they just had to "deal with it."

No, it's not time to believe that the cold makes the Bears play better.

Receivers catching passes that hit them in the hands will make them better. The offense scoring touchdowns when it starts at midfield will make them better. Brian Urlacher making tackles instead of grabbing shoulder pads when he squares up an opposing running back will make them better. Putting together two solid halves of football will make them better.

On Thursday, the Bears will have their latest chance to get their first win against a team with a winning record since Oct. 19. The last two times they've beaten opponents on par with the Jaguars, they've followed it up with losses.

New Orleans (7-6) will come to Soldier Field on Thursday for a night game. They'll be lucky if the temperature is in double-digits.

If the team really does have an advantage playing in the cold, and really is more in sync on offense and defense, that will be the game that proves it.

� Eric Olson is the Northwest Herald's sports editor. Reach him at 815-526-4554, or e-mail eolson@nwherald.com.

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Win won't win over critics

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