(670 The Score) So that's it for being "in the hunt," I guess.
It was sure exciting while it lasted, envisioning the Bears stalking relentlessly on their labyrinthine path to playoff glory, traversing the terrain of middling opponents and stacking up wins while all the teams in front of them lost whenever they had to so it all could work. Jobs would be saved, parades would be held, there would be great rejoicing across the land.
Instead we're just resetting the "Days Without an Unconscionably Horrible Loss" counter back to zero.
The Browns' 20-17 win Sunday will be remembered in an unholy triumvirate with the Broncos game and the Lions game, a full one-third of the nine Bears defeats that defy logic and comprehension.
The Chicago defense was brilliant, until it somehow allowed two seemingly impossible plays that made it not matter in the end. Montez Sweat was making a case for further national recognition with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, a punishing T.J. Edwards hit turned into a Tremaine Edmunds pick-six, Tyrique Stevenson's spectacular diving interception stole a sure touchdown away after a devastating muffed punt and the Browns' run game had been rendered all but an afterthought.
But in the fourth quarter, Joe Flacco threaded a deep out to Amari Cooper, who somehow tiptoed the sideline and into the end zone to tie the game at 17. Then David Njoku was left covered only by defensive tackle Justin Jones on a Bears blitz that sent two defensive backs, and the tight end snared Flacco's touch pass, eluded a defender and ended up with 34 yards that ended up being the difference.
We'll think about two drops for a while too. The first was by Robert Tonyan on a perfect first-quarter rainbow from Justin Fields that was a likely score if corralled, and the other that reactive spasm from Darnell Mooney on the game's final play that vomited a game-winning touchdown into the hands of Cleveland's D'Anthony Bell.
Sometimes the Bears offense just has to do enough to let the other side of the ball finish its work, and that also wasn't to be. The Bears were 4-of-18 on third-down conversions and came up short on both fourth-down attempts, due to a combination of missed blocks, dropped passes and play-calling that too often is still too cute.
Special teams play was also shaky Sunday, as punter Trenton Gill continued his regression in a game in which field position mattered and the guy the Bears signed to take up a gameday roster spot to just catch punts wasn't able to catch two of them.
This Bears team is one of the healthiest in the league at precisely the time when nobody else is, and their schedule from here on in consists of the Cardinals, the Falcons and the now-reeling Packers. It would've taken all kinds of luck for the Bears to make good their stated hopes that remained, but the opportunity was there until they dropped it on the cold, wet grass.
When the bar is set so low that merely remaining alive on some network playoff race graphic is cause for such civic celebration, a loss like this should hurt, if only as punishment for irrational exuberance. By now, we should know better.
Dan Bernstein is the co-host of the Bernstein & Holmes Show on middays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on 670 The Score. You can follow him on Twitter @Dan_Bernstein.