Patrick Finley: Analyzing Bears and their QB dilemma after 1-3 start

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The Packers’ Clay Matthews sacks Mike Glennon on Thursday. (Getty Images)

The good news is, the Bears didn’t lose Sunday.

They did, however, continue their soul-searching after Thursday’s blowout loss in Green Bay, a 1-3 start to the season and a quarterbacking disaster that seems to have reached critical mass.

Sun-Times’ Bears expert Patrick Finley breaks down the first quarter of the season:

The Bears’ quarterback situation hasn’t worked because …

Glennon has turned the ball over early and often. In the Bears’ last two losses, they had six drives that started in the first quarter. Glennon has fumbled three times and thrown one interception during that span; the Bears have punted the other two times. No team’s offense is built to play catch up. Running back Jordan Howard, who should be the centerpiece of the attack, has suffered as a result.

Has Mike Glennon gotten a fair shake?

Yes. It’s easy to feel bad for Glennon. He started the year with the worst receiving corps in the NFL and is two dropped passes in the end zone away from being 2-2. But his turnovers are inexcusable and generally have not been the fault of his receivers, no matter what the Bears’ coaches say.

Is Mitch Trubisky ready? Does it matter?

He’s close enough. If he weren’t, Mark Sanchez would be the second-string quarterback. The rookie’s readiness certainly matters. The Bears were so sensitive about not rushing Trubisky that they originally developed a plan to sit him for most, if not all, of the season. They know the value of not damaging Trubisky for the long term.

The most disturbing part of the Bears’ start …

The scores. Coach John Fox’s Bears teams had lost six games by 20 or more points entering this season, then did it twice in the last three games.

The Bears’ biggest challenge will be …

Winning games. The next team on the Bears’ schedule with a losing record is the 49ers on Dec. 3. Their next seven games are against opponents who currently are .500 or better.

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

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