SAN FRANCISCO — Several key players for the Bears have been in the Bay Area this week to play in the Pro Bowl or appear at Radio Row, and being in such proximity to Super Bowl LX illustrated perfectly how much higher their expectations should be next season.All of them agree this season was a sensational accomplishment as the team won its first playoff game in 15 years, but none were content as the Seahawks and Patriots pressed on toward the real goal of winning a championship Sunday.“What we did this year is over with,” running back D’Andre Swift told the Sun-Times on Thursday. “We understand what it looks like to get to that point, but we need to take it up a notch to try to surpass that and ultimately not be talking to you right now and be at practice instead.”Tight end Colston Loveland added, “It makes you sick. But we didn’t get it done. It hurts to know we could’ve been here.”Promoting Dairy Queen (Swift) and pitching Charmin toilet paper (Loveland) are decent side jobs, but they’d rather be fighting for the Lombardi Trophy.The Bears got closer than they’d been in a long time, losing to the Rams in overtime in the divisional round and missing out on a chance to face the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. That’s good, but it needs to be merely the first step.They’ll be going into Year 5 of general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure next season, and more importantly, the…
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