Bears WR Brandon Marshall: 'The reality of it is we're not very good'

Heading into the 2014 season the Bears had every piece of the puzzle in place on an offense that was expected to lead Chicago into the postseason.

Now, nine games into the season, the Bears are still trying to fit those pieces together after getting embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers on national television.

The Bears dropped to 3-6, four games behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North after Sunday's 55-14 loss to the Packers.

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It's not how anyone in Chicago, especially wide receiver Brandon Marshall, pictured the season playing out.

"Before the season it seemed like we had everyone we needed and at 3-6 the reality of it is we're not very good," Marshall said. "I'm confused. I think before the bye it was one of those things that was shocking. Then you look at this game and the reality of it is this is the team we have. We have to accept it. We're just not very good right now. It's a shame to have to say that. It's very, very disappointing."

With two Pro Bowl wide receivers in Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, a Pro Bowl running back in Matt Forte and a franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler, the Bears were supposed to make major strides on the offensive side of the ball in Year 2 of the Marc Trestman era.

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The offense has regressed thus far. In 2013 the Bears averaged 22.5 points per game. That total has dipped to 21.6 this season.

"Confidence is everything as a player as a team when you lose confidence you have no chance," Marshall said. "Even the great teams, great players, they go through seasons where it's a struggle and right now we're in a struggle. If you lose your confidence there's nothing you can do."

Marshall is on pace for his worst statistical season in terms of receiving yards and receptions since his rookie season.

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But even in the midst of his worst season since getting traded to the Bears in 2012, Marshall was able to keep it all in perspective following the game.

"It's tough because you put so much into it," Marshall said. "It's your career. It's your life work. To get these results it's tough. But at the end of the day you talk about going through things. What was it 30 degrees outside? I remember nights when it was 30 degrees outside and I was 10-years-old and and I'd come inside from football practice and have to take a cold shower.

"So you talk about tough, I've been through worse, much worse. Christmas times, two bedroom hotel, there's 10 of us sleeping in a hotel ringing in Christmas. This isn't tough. This is just disappointing. This is confusion."

-- John "Moon" Mullin, CSNChicago.com