THEN AGAIN ...

Those are the exceptions, of course. More often, when a team raises a white flag like the Bears did Sunday, it's a huge red flag. That's especially true in this case. If the Bears fail to show up for one crucial game against the Bengals, who's to say they won't fail to show up against the Browns on Sunday or against the Vikings later in the season? If Kurt Warner starts completing passes all over the field when the Cardinals come to town Nov. 8, what will prevent Bears defenders from thinking ''Here we go again'' and rolling over like a love-starved pup.

''We didn't play well in that game,'' Smith said Monday. ''We didn't show up for that game. We can't look at it any farther than that.''

He can't, but we can. Smith's strength as a coach isn't as a schemer. He doesn't come up with game plans that blow opponents away. In-game adjustments never have been his strong suit. It's not like his cover-2 scheme isn't without critics or that management can justify keeping him after a third consecutive disappointing season because of his sideline demeanor, popularity among fans and media or his sterling record challenging officials' calls.

Sunday's game was the worst possible sign for a Smith-coached team because getting players to play with passion -- especially on defense -- is his greatest strength. That passion, that all-out effort that has been a signature of Smith's defenses, has been AWOL during much of the last two seasons but was back for the most part in 2009. The defense isn't what it was, not with Brian Urlacher out, Tommie Harris again living down to his reputation as the most overrated player in Football and Smith not having the kind of experienced, playmaking safety that is essential to executing the cover-2 successfully.

For the most part, however, the defense was playing hard and well, all things considered. Whether it will or can return to that form after being humiliated by Cedric the Avenger and the Bengals remains to be seen. If Sunday's game is any indication of how this team will play moving forward, there's no use keeping Smith around. If you take away his relationship with his players and their desire to play hard and well for him, what's left?

That's not to say anybody should expect a coaching change anytime soon. Smith has two years left on his contract, as has been widely reported, and it would cost the team $10 million to buy him out, the thought of which will have the McCaskeys counting the reasons why he deserves another chance. It's that attitude, as we all know, that has done more damage to this organization through the years than any coach or coaches could do.

DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM YET

Fans have a right to feel disgusted. But those tempted to tune out the Bears after one of the worst losses in franchise history will miss what should be a fascinating few weeks. How the Bears rebound -- if they rebound -- will speak volumes about not only this season but Smith's future.

The Bears should be able to beat the Browns while licking their wounds. If they lose, the season will be lost, and Smith will have more explaining to do. If they win, the game against the Cardinals becomes telling. A win over the defending NFC champs -- as unlikely as that seems the way the teams are playing -- puts them back on track.

Throughout the early part of the season, several Bears players have said the team hasn't played its best yet. That kills me. I mean, what are they waiting for, Week 11? Are they hoping to catch the rest of the league off guard with a late-season sneak attack?

I don't buy it. If they haven't played their best by now, they probably won't.

Meanwhile, we can only hope we have seen their worst.