Notes on a 30-6 win over the Browns …

When is a win not a win?

When you squander a couple red-zone opportunities against the worst defense in the NFL, your quarterback has an average day at best, your offensive line continues to struggle as your quarterback gets sacked four times while hurried another seven, that’s when.

Sure, the scoreboard read 30-6, but anyone watching the game yesterday knows the Bears should have had another couple touchdowns. This was not the emphatic victory they needed to regain some confidence heading into the crucial stretch of the season; it was just a mirage of success against one of the worst teams in the league.

That being said …

… you can’t knock what the defense brought yesterday. I know the Browns’ defense is equally as anemic as their other side of the ball, but the Bears’ defense made all those statement plays the offense could have, but didn’t: there were strips, fumble recoveries, interceptions, interceptions for a score. All and all, the defense recovered three fumbles, and intercepted the Browns twice. Props to Danieal Manning, who had a terrific interception in the first quarter, and followed it up with a fumble recovery in the third quarter.

Matt Forte sighting.

Forte didn’t break the 100-yard barrier, as he carried 26 times for 90 yards. That’s about 3.4-3.5 yards a carry, so right at his season average. But he did get into the end zone twice, so fantasy owners that expected him to do a lot more this year should be happy. Subbing in Josh Beekman for Frank Omiyale at left guard didn’t do anything to open up the run game more. And yeah, remember: this was all against the Browns.

Back to back for Hester.

Last week against the Bengals, we saw Devin Hester the Receiver, instead of Devin Hester the Fast Guy Trying To Play Receiver. Yesterday against the Browns, Hester continued to show his maturation at the position, as he led the team in receptions with seven catches for 81 yards, and seemed to be running the type of routes and making the type of decisions that indicate he’s no longer learning on the job.

No more words.

I usually run these segments a little longer, but at this point in the season, the Bears have become pretty repetitive: the offensive line is weak. Cutler is constantly on his butt because of them. Forte is not as productive as last year. Greg Olsen continues to struggle to find a way in the offense.

We’ll see what next week brings against the Cardinals, but don’t have your hopes up.