Telander: Seven steps to failure

[UOK]

BY RICK TELANDER rtelander@suntimes.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- You don't see games like this anymore. You did back in the mid-1980s, when the Bears' defense -- ironically -- put the fear of dismemberment in opposing quarterbacks with its ''46'' attack.

In fact, this Sunday night Bears-Giants game at New Meadowlands Stadium was like some kind of obscene and long-outlawed carnival act, a modern-day geek show, where instead of biting the head off a chicken, the crazed host went straight for the cranium of Jay Cutler.

Seven steps to failure.

Down went the Bears quarterback.

Again and again.

He's wobbling, He's kneeling. He's ... out!

''Our defense played superbly,'' Giants coach Tom Coughlin said in an understatement after his team held the Bears to 110 yards, 249 below their average.

The Giants' defense found a Bears offensive line so porous, a Bears game plan so rigid and frail and a Bears quarterback -- Cutler -- so ready to hold the ball until the last instant, so seemingly unaware of his surroundings, that it was a wonder the young man wasn't crippled.

As it is, Cutler only has a concussion.

Only a concussion.

Funny words.

On whichever of the nine sacks he incurred in the first half -- nine is not a typo, by the way -- that caused him to have this brain injury, it was a nasty one.

Square in Umenyiora's cross hairs
One fellow alone, Giants right defensive end Osi Umenyiora, seemed to have a game plan that consisted of two words: Kill Cutler.

The first-half beating was fascinating to witness. Not that horror ended with the halftime whistle. Bears replacement quarterback Todd Collins was blasted, too. And then third-stringer Caleb Hanie got waxed, as well. The Giants had an astounding 10 sacks for 63 yards in losses, nine quarterback hurries, five passes broken up, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

The first-half carnage was like something from a sadist's daydream, with Cutler as the victim. It was cheap. It was perverse. It was wrong.

But you could not help wondering, here in the midst of the huge flashing video screens and pink shoes and chin straps afield, when Cutler would be counted out.

This was an embarrassment to the Bears' organization from top to bottom.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz is complicit in the beating. As is offensive line coach Mike Tice. As is Bears general manager Jerry Angelo for not picking better blockers. As are the blockers themselves. (Talk about the blind side?) And of course, coach Lovie Smith, the great stone face, gets an ''F'' for tactics and a red ''F'' for leadership.

No Cutler, no hope, no kidding
What we learned -- as if we needed to find out -- is that the Bears are toast without Cutler.

With the new concussion awareness in the NFL and American sport, Cutler's head trauma may be an issue that can't be resolved quickly. Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer is out for the year after a preseason concussion, and he may have established a new safety baseline for all.

The head and neck violence you saw in the slow-mo replays of the Bears' quarterbacks getting hit by blitzers resembled whips cracking.

It's scary stuff. Exciting stuff. The stuff of the NFL. But it could destroy so much.

The Bears started the season 3-0 and were the only undefeated team in the NFC going into the game. Being 3-1 is still a surprising start for a team that seemed way below average in the preseason.

This 17-3 freak-show loss was unnerving not just because franchise quarterback Cutler was hurt, but also because of the leadership wreckage strewn in its wake -- the front office and coaching staff, which must take responsibility.

This is something that could change the franchise for a whole season, maybe longer. Will Cutler be gun-shy when he comes back? Shouldn't he be?

I think of Cutler looking, looking downfield and then being hit so hard that it's a wonder his name wasn't knocked off his jersey.

And it's just pitiful.