The Bears putdown of the Detroit Lions provided a critically important statement start to the second half of a season that now would stand as a disappointment if the Bears fail to reach the playoffs. Not so much because of the missed-playoffs themselves, but because to misfire now after a pair of three-game win streaks will mean a couple of bad losses.
Or so-called “bad” because of expectations being raised above ground-level. But the Bears face a remaining schedule with some dark corners.
The Bears haven’t beaten a team currently with even a .500 record. No reflection on the Bears; they can only play whoever shows up.