Bears' loss to Lions raised flags
The Chicago Bears went into last weekend as one of the NFL's least penalized teams. Then they doubled their total number of infractions in one afternoon Sunday at Detroit.
A lot of players would have to raise their hands as culprits because 11 players were involved. All three phases contributed, although the defense took honors with eight flags. Offense and special teams had three each.
"I was very disappointed in the penalties," defensive coordinator Bob Babich said. "I'm not exactly sure what part of the game they came in, but on defense, we had way too many penalties."
Half of Chicago's defensive whistles came in the fourth quarter, when the Lions scored five touchdowns in a 37-27 win. The Bears had at least one defensive miscue in each quarter.
"We haven't talked a lot about penalties," head coach Lovie Smith said in his opening statement Sunday before taking questions. "That's an area we've done a fairly decent job of.
"They (penalties) kept them in there. Those are easy things to take care of."
The Bears only had four penalties for 38 yards against San Diego, five for 55 against Kansas City and five for 28 against Dallas. That total of 14 penalties for 121 yards was below the league average of 17.2 penalties for 135.8 yards.
Quarterback Bob Griese, defensive end Alex Brown and defensive tackle Anthony Adams had two penalties apiece Sunday.
Reed Schreck is the NFL writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.
Sunday's infractions
Special teams, Metcalfe, personal foul, 15 yards
Offense, Griese, intentional grounding, 10 yards
Defense, Alex Brown, offsides, 5 yards
Defense, Ogunleye, unsportsmanlike conduct, 2 yards
Offense, Griese, delay of game, 5 yards
Special teams, Graham, unnecessary roughness, 15 yards
Defense, Alex Brown, offsides, 5 yards
Offense, McKie, false start, 5 yards
Special teams, Hester, delay, 5 yards
Defense, Adams, roughing the passer, 15 yards
Defense, Adams, offsides, 5 yards
Defense, Tommie Harris, encroachment, 5 yards
Defense, Ricky Manning, illegal contact, 5 yards
Defense, Hillenmeyer, offsides, 5 yards