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Feb. 12, 2008
Overview: One year after representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, the Bears took a major step backward in 2007, slipping to 7-9. The defense, under first-year coordinator Bob Babich, plummeted from fifth to 28th, coming within 55 yards of setting a franchise high for most yards allowed in a season. The offense, meanwhile, couldn’t have been more dysfunctional, especially the running game, which was bogged down by former first-round draft pick Cedric Benson’s woeful 3.4 yards per carry.
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Date
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Opponent
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Spread
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Result
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09/09/07
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at San Diego
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+6½
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3-14
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09/16/07
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Kansas City
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-11½
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20-10
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09/23/07
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Dallas
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-3
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10-34
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09/30/07
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at Detroit
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-2½
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27-37
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10/07/07
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at Green Bay
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+3
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27-20
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10/14/07
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Minnesota
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-4
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31-34
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10/21/07
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at Philadelphia
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+6
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19-16
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10/28/07
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Detroit
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-6
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7-16
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BYE WEEK
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11/11/07
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at Oakland
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-3½
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17-6
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11/18/07
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at Seattle
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+6
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23-30
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11/25/07
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Denver
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-1
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37-34 (OT)
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12/02/07
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NY Giants
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+1
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16-21
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12/06/07
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at Washington
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+3
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16-24
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12/17/07
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at Minnesota
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+10½
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13-20
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12/23/07
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Green Bay
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+8
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35-7
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12/30/07
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New Orleans
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-1
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33-25
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Team MVP: It’s unlikely there’s a more electrifying performer in the NFL than Bears RS-WR Devin Hester, who had a league-record six kick returns for TDs in ’07, surpassing the league mark he had set the previous season. Hester also set the team single-season mark for punt-return average with 15.5 yards per return, breaking Hall of Famer Gale Sayers’ record of 14.9, and now owns the league career record for punt-return average (14.1, on 89 punt returns for 1,251 yards). He also is an extremely intriguing work in progress as a wide receiver who displayed impressive flashes in that role the second half of the season.
Biggest surprises: It’s a tie between free-agent DT Anthony Adams and seventh-round rookie CB Trumaine McBride, both of whom earned high marks when pressed into starting roles. Adams proved to be quite productive replacing injured DT Darwin Walker, finishing the season with six more tackles than Pro Bowl DT Tommie Harris. McBride showed some real skills replacing injured CB Nathan Vasher.
Biggest disappointment: There are a lot to choose from. Just when Benson seemed to be getting his game in gear, he was lost for the season with a fractured ankle in Week 12. After spending a potential $25 million over five years on Walker, who had recorded 27½ sacks during six seasons with the Eagles, the defensive tackle missed five games due to injuries and finished the season having registered a mere 33 tackles and only one sack. But our vote for the biggest disappointment goes to the Bears’ offensive line, which seemed to age overnight. The line never had any cohesion and turned false starts into an art form.
Offseason outlook: Bears GM Jerry Angelo insisted there will be open competition at quarterback and running back when training camp opens next summer. Offensive linemen, safeties and a back capable of churning out multiple 20-yard runs in a game are considered top priorities in both the draft and free agency. The Bears will be hoping for much better health on both sides of the ball, particularly on defense, where star players Harris and Brian Urlacher both played at far less than full strength in ’07 due to injuries.
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