DETROIT -- The Chicago Bears are not a playoff team. After weeks of rumors, Deep Purple confirmed it as fact.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson ran roughshod over the Bears' postseason dreams in Minnesota, hours after the Bears barely took care of the Detroit Lions.

This was a just ending, a lousy win over a lousy team in a cold, gray city and no help from the Green Bay Packers.

Lovie Smith's Bears became the first team since the 1996 Redskins to miss the playoffs after starting the season 7-1. Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports

Asked if the team's critics, which is to say everyone outside of Halas Hall, were correct in saying the Bears didn't deserve to make the playoffs, defensive tackle Henry Melton was brutally honest.

"Who does?" he said. "Is there a 10-6 team that really deserves to be in?"

Not this 10-6 team, that's for sure. Especially after that freefall to start the second half of their season. The Bears barely beat the Lions, 26-24, in an ugly game Sunday. Hours later, they watched their season end on team buses after flying home.

Now, the real waiting game begins. For general manager Phil Emery, it's time to put his stamp on the franchise.

Bears coach Lovie Smith's future is the story now. He has one year left on a lucrative contract. The Bears have missed the playoffs five times in the past six seasons.

How long can it take to evaluate his career? It's not as cut-and-dried as his detractors would argue, but the math is simple. Five missed opportunities is greater than 10 wins.

Smith is an excellent leader of men, a fine defensive coach and an authority figure who will have to take the hit for nearly a decade of offensive incompetence. That's not to say a replacement would be better. Every season you see good assistants become terrible head coaches. Smith was a good assistant and a good head coach, but with his contract a major factor, it might be time to cut him.

The NFL is a brutal business, as dozens of players Smith has cut can tell you.

Before their fate was sealed, several Bears talked about the possibility of missing the playoffs.

"It'll be a major disappointment because we brought this on ourselves," said Tim Jennings, who had another interception Sunday, his ninth of the season.