You know all those photos circulating the Internet of rubble that used to be the Wrigley Field bleachers?
It's hard not to after Sunday's 27-14 loss to Miami at Soldier Field. It marks the Bears' third defeat in as many home games this season.
"The biggest disappointment is us," Bears cornerback Tim Jennings said. "We don't want to come in here and lose on our home turf. Of course we're disappointed in ourselves, but we also feel like we let down our fans."
The crowd reached its breaking point late in the first half. When Brandon Marshall caught his first pass of the day-for minus-3 yards-late in the second quarter on the first play of a Bears drive, the fans let the team have it. It wasn't the only time they booed, either.
"I don't know if upset is the word that I would use," offensive lineman Kyle Long said. "But as somebody who is blood, sweat and tears like the other guys in this locker room--the coaches, the trainers, the staff, the equipment guys--to be getting booed at home when you're walking off the field and down two possessions is unacceptable, especially when there's not a lot of noise being made on third down [and the opponent has the ball]. Period."
Things looked bright early for the Bears. They forced Miami to punt after three plays on their first possession. But the Dolphins marched 81 yards for a touchdown on their next drive, and it mostly got worse for the Bears from there.
The Bears are now 1-4 all time against Miami at Soldier Field; the only Bears win came in 1988. Go figure. For what it's worth, the Bears (3-4 overall) are 3-1 on the road this season and next week's game is at New England.
The Dolphins are not stocked with household names, either. The Bears play them head-to-head only every four years (because meeting in the Super Bowl, not so much). Yet by the time Sunday's game ended, the Dolphins' no-names outperformed many of the Bears' stars. Here's our tally of the major storylines:
WIDE RECEIVER
Mike Wallace vs. Brandon Marshall. Edge: Wallace
Wallace didn't torch the Bears defense (five catches, 46 yards); he simply gets the edge for getting into the end zone. Marshall had six catches for 48 yards.
Afterward, an emotional Marshall went off on his team's state of affairs.
"We're 3-4. We need to play better. That's unacceptable. That's unacceptable. Unacceptable. Shouldn't have lost today. Shouldn't be 3-4. Offense gotta play better. It's as simple as that.
"Same mistakes, same mistakes, same mistakes. We gotta protect the football. We gotta protect the football, we gotta execute the game plan and adjust when things don't go as we saw on film. We got Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte, we got a stud offensive line. We've got a great, great group of guys, and this [is] unacceptable. I mean what did we have, 14 points? That's unacceptable. Unacceptable.
"That's the amazing thing about football is that it is a volatile sport, and you have the ability when you get frustrated to go out there and take it out on the field. So that's all you can do, whether it's practice or it's in the game. You have to be able to play with an edge on your shoulder and it has to mean something to you. The Chicago Bears should not be 3-4 right now. Absolutely unacceptable, and it starts on the offensive side of the ball."
QUARTERBACK
Jay Cutler vs. Ryan Tannehill. Edge: Tannehill
One of these quarterbacks looked like Dan Marino on Sunday. And it wasn't Cutler.
Tannehill was as clutch as could be. He threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 50 yards, 30 of which came on a fourth-down play that set up a touchdown. All of the sudden he's Tom Brady crossed with Cam Newton.
"I think we got after him early, but he definitely did a great job passing and running the ball too," Bears linebacker Shea McClellin said. "We just didn't execute."
Meanwhile, Cutler and the Bears offense never found a groove. He threw an interception and lost a fumble, managing just 190 yards passing and one TD.
"After watching film all week, we saw he was looking where he threw the ball," said Miami safety Reshad Jones, who had the interception. "He was always looking at his receivers and never looking off. I tried to take advantage of that and it paid off."
RUNNING BACK
Matt Forte vs. Lamar Miller. Edge: Forte
This race should not have been as close as it was. Forte ended up with 109 yards of offense and two touchdowns-typical, solid game. Miller put up 83 and one score. Forte was about the only dangerous player the Bears had early as the rest of the offense struggled.
"We've got to protect the ball," Cutler said. " We've got to convert on third down. We've got to get a rhythm going. We've got to get Matt [Forte] going a little earlier in the game. I've just got to lead this group and try to find a way to make sure we play clean football for four quarters."
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jeremiah Ratliff vs. Cameron Wake. Edge: Ratliff
This was no contest in the first half. A rejuvenated Ratliff sacked Ryan Tannehill 3 1/2 times in the first two quarters. Yet the Miami Pro Bowler showed up in a big moment. He sacked Cutler and forced a fumble early in the fourth quarter, setting up a field goal that put the Dolphins up 24-7.
"[I'm] disappointed, yeah, absolutely, but I'm sure everyone in this locker room is," Ratliff said. "This is a time when we're going to all look at ourselves individually, do a real self-check and look at ourselves as a team and really decide what we're gonna be and work toward that and be consistent at it. Period. No more talking, just go do it."
TIGHT END
Charles Clay vs. Martellus Bennett. Edge: Clay
Charles who? Whoever he is, millions of fantasy owners just picked him up, hoping Clay duplicates his success against the Bears: four catches for 58 yards and a score. Bennett had five catches for 58 yards but didn't dominate like he is capable of doing.
"We should be playing a lot better at this point," Bears coach Marc Trestman said. "That's why each and every week it's different. You feel like you're going the right direction, you go to work and then come out and perform this way. It's a very sick locker room right now in terms of how we played."
Chris Sosa is RedEye's sports editor.