Bearly Relevant: Week 12, time to rebound

I want to know how people feel about Lovie Smith right now. Judging by the comments on the Full Court Press board, and by Olsen's fine top ten list, I get the feeling that if most Bears fans had it their way, Lovie and defensive coordinator Bob Babich would have been axed yesterday.

I'm really not the biggest Lovie fan ever, but I think the torches and pitchforks approach is a little ridiculous at this point. I get it, last week's game really was that bad, but it seems more like an angry gut reaction approach than a logical one.

We have to remember what the expectations were for Bears teams under his guidance. Everyone thought they would suck this year, and despite last week's debacle, I think we can agree the Bears are somewhere above suck. I'm not sure how far above suck, but above suck none the less. Last season was the only time during Lovie's reign when the Bears disappointed and much of that can be pinned on injuries. Otherwise, I feel like he usually gets the most out of the roster, which is really the best way to measure a coach in any sport.

If the Bears fall on their face here the next six weeks - something I don't think is going to happen - then, yeah, firing Babich is certainly justifiable (he sucks anyway, Lovie's only real mistake he's made here was firing Rivera), and it would be hard to object to cutting ties with Lovie. But the Bears are going to win this week, and I still like their chances in the division.

Does anyone really think the Packers are 34 points better than the Bears? Granted, the Bears are no juggernaut this year - even if they make the playoffs, they seem destined to get bounced in the first round - but I'm not sure Green Bay or Minnesota is either.

Just like the whole Orton contract extension debate, I think it's best fans hold their horses here.

But if the Bears lose this week, anything goes.

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The spread

Bears -8

Around the Web

Simmons: "I hate this game. Hey, here's a random thought for you to ponder: Thanks to Prop. 2 passing in Massachusetts, now any Patriot can legally carry pot on him as long as it's less than an ounce … but he's still not allowed to celebrate in the end zone after a touchdown. I think this is amazing."

PK: "I had a defensive assistant tell me the other day that his team put on video of the Rams' first defensive series against the Jets to show their players how not to hustle and swarm to the ball. The level of effort, this coach told me, was terrible."

Big Daddy Drew: "   ."

SI FanNation sez

Bears, 92%!

ESPN's experts agree

Bears, 9 v 1

Matchup Bears should win

Matt Forte vs a bad Rams run D

Matchup Bears should lose

Not many of them

Sweet 90's alt rock song that may or may not remind you of Walt Harris

Beck - Where it's at

Mock my previous predictions

Read them all (link)

In the end

Bears 24, Rams 13