Thoughts on a 24-20 loss to the Eagles …

It starts and ends with Cutler.

So often this season, it’s easy to assess blame in several different directions. Sure, Cutler just threw a ton of picks, but he had no time to throw passes because the offensive line couldn’t contain. Yeah, Cutler didn’t get the Bears into the end zone, but it doesn’t matter: the defense just gave up a ton of points. But last night, it was hard not to start and end with Cutler.

There’s the obvious: he overthrew Greg Olsen and Devin Hester on consecutive plays in the end zone. Both were open. Hester was wide open. As Chris Collinsworth, and later Tony Dungy commented, it seemed like Cutler was trying too hard not to throw interceptions, and was letting the five picks against the 49ers affect his play last evening. It was hard not to agree with this assessment.

There was also another overthrown ball, on the Bears’ second-to-last possession of the game. It was a sure touchdown pass to a streaking-down-the-sidelines Johnny Knox who had outrun Sheldon Brown, the same Sheldon Brown who was coming off a hamstring injury. Cutler deserves more of a pass for that one, because it was a very long throw, and accuracy can suffer. But it spoke to Cutler’s whole game: he was short, long, left and right all game.

The first half was particularly frustrating, because besides the two straight overthrows, the Bears made it to the red zone twice, and had to settle for field goals.

He only threw one pick, which is progress. But it was to essentially end the game, just like last week. And yes: it was on a bit of bad luck, as Tracy White tipped the ball in the air, which allowed Sean Jones to run up and haul it in.

But, as Collinsworth noted, Cutler tipped his hand that he was throwing to Greg Olsen, and that’s why the Eagles got a hand on ball to tip it in the air in the first place.

In a game the Bears otherwise played well enough to win, it was Cutler’s performance which kept them a bit short of a victory.

Let’s hope some of those word Donovan McNabb told Cutler after the game sink in, eh?

Everyone else.

The defense did give up 24 points, and Hunter Hillenmeyer and Al Afalava could have made better plays to save touchdowns in the second half. Afalava jumped too early on a McNabb to DeSean Jackson touchdown pass, and Hillenmeyer made an odd decision to engage an Eagles blocker instead of looking for LeSean McCoy who was coming right at him and tackling him before he went into the end zone.

But you know what could have more than made up for that? Some accuracy in the passing game. The defense certainly gave the offense a chance to win.

Credit Peanut Tillman for stripping two Eagles players, which lead to two fumble recoveries for the Bears. He may get beat in coverage sometimes, but it’s clear he has great knack for knocking the ball loose from the opponent.

And how about undrafted rookie Kahlil Bell’s 72-yard run in the first half? I’ll be honest, I thought he was Matt Forte, even though I heard Al Michaels mention some guy named Bell had just got his number called for the first time all season. I guess it’s because they look somewhat similar running the ball and have a similar body type — it’s pretty easy to tell the difference between Forte and Garrett Wolfe — and they also have similar numbers: 32 for Green, 22 for Forte. Green likely isn’t going to become the answer in the Bears’ run game, but he may provide some pop in a season where they’ve had none.

If nothing else, the Bears can come out of this week’s game with some more confidence about the direction they’re heading, because there were a lot of positives against the Eagles. But it’s another loss. And one you can peg on the shoulders of a guy that was supposed to be the cure for the Bears’ offensive woes.