What a week???
The Bears (0-2) are up to their neck in adversity heading into their week 3 matchup on the road against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (1-1). Injuries to starters, a QB looking to get on track and an unexpected resignation at a key position on the coaching staff are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s not like the Bears needed any distractions heading into this game, facing the toughest opponent they’ll face this season. The Bears have lost 12 consecutive contests, dating back to last year, and could really use a victory. QB Justin Fields made some comments this week that raised eyebrows and it seemed like he was throwing OC Luke Getsy under the team bus. Fields later tried to clean up his verbal offering to the media and insists that he isn’t pointing the finger at anyone outside of himself for his slow start to the season. I have no issue with Fields expressing himself and can appreciate how candid he was about what he’s feeling right now. What I’m hoping happens is Getsy and his crew scheme up ways to let Fields play more “freely” and get back to having fun again. It seems like the weight of 12 consecutive losses is getting to him and the game just isn’t fun for the 3rd year signal caller right now. Another issue that the team has to deal with is the sudden resignation of DC Alan Williams. This is definitely a sucker punch HC Matt Eberflus didn’t see coming. None of us did. Now Coach ‘Flus has to put his Defensive Coordinator cap back on for the foreseeable future (and probably the rest of the season). The good news is this is HIS defense and we did see some improvement defensively from week 1 to week 2. The bad news is he has to try to come up with something to contain a Chiefs offense that hasn’t “lit it up” yet but has the potential to score points early and often. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and HC Andy Reid have to be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a reeling Bears team.
Injury bug bites again…
The Bears have struggled to develop continuity along their offensive line and now have to go into battle without starting Left Tackle Braxton Jones who will miss the 1st start of his young NFL career. Jones had his share of struggles in the first two games and now has to go on injured reserve with a neck injury that will keep him out of the next 4 games at least. Facing the exotic blitzes KC likes to throw at teams coupled with dealing with game wrecker Chris Jones (off his pitch count) will be a tall task for the Bears offense. Another key injury the Bears are dealing with is the loss of veteran Safety Eddie Jackson. Though the staff was optimistic, at first, Jackson will not be able to go this Sunday. This is a defensive unit that can’t afford any slip ups on the backend against the crafty Mahomes. The Bears are already without 2nd year nickel back Kyler Gordon so the loss of Jackson for this game hurts even more.
Back to Basics…
It’s obvious what needs to happen here with this offense. QB Justin Fields made reference to being able to play “Free” and not thinking so much. I’m in agreement with former Bear Tom Thayer when we talk about what that actually means for Fields to play “Free”. Fields needs to hit the switch on “Michael Vick Mode” and here is what I mean by that. Fields ability to make something happen when nothing is there absolutely stresses defenses out. He MUST always pose a threat with his legs to open up things in the passing attack. He always wants to put it on the mind of the defense that he can take off and move the sticks (if not score) at any time. Getsy should be using this unique ability to his advantage. Stop lining QB1 up in all these empty shotgun sets and get him under center with a running back behind him and maybe even a tight end. The Bears have to get back to their identity of being a running team but with a mix of passes out of running formations that will keep defenses guessing and off balance with Fields being the ultimate Wild Card. Thayer suggested (as did I) that the Bears implement more bootlegs, rollouts to move the pocket and waggles to make Fields not have to read the entire field and get him involved in more 2 man route combos (and necessarily the entire field). More play action please! This limits the amount of thinking he has to do and he can react more instinctually and get back to being the playmaker he actually is. I’m not saying the Bears should do this exclusively on offense but these are ways to get Fields going and hopefully producing more explosive plays. The light bulb went off for Getsy after last season’s loss to the Commanders so hopefully he can get back to using his athletically gifted QB in a way that suits exploiting his talents.
What now?
No one is giving the Bears a chance this week and I can understand why. They look like a team that can’t get out of their own way. Dealing with all the adversity they’ve had to this week, I’m curious to see what kind of fire they have in their belly? I want to see a Bears team playing loose but also playing with something to prove. I want to see a team playing with high energy and motivation. This losing streak isn’t going to end itself and the Bears have no time to feel sorry for themselves. This is the perfect time to turn the corner and get a BIG win on the road against a team no one thinks they can win against. It kind of has the feel of when they went into New England last year (their last win ironically) and shocked a national audience. So much has been made of Fields and what he needs to do to be a better passer but who says it always has to be from the pocket? He’s so dangerous on the move that you want to put him in those situations as much as you can. Not to mention you’d be helping a struggling offensive line that has to deal with Chris Jones for 60 minutes so I’m rolling away from him every chance I get!
Kill the noise!
It seems like the outside noise is getting to this team (Fields specifically) and I’m hoping that’s not the case. See what the sports media world is saying about you but use that as fuel to be better! A lot of people that believed this team was headed upward have jumped off the bus already before it even gets rolling. I’m on record saying this was an 8 to 11 win team before the season started? I may have to eat those words but I still believe in this team. I still hope they believe in themselves, at this point. I was also on record saying my “bold prediction” was this defense would be a Top 10 defense this season (maybe they still can be?). Coach ‘Flus insists that this locker room is tighter than ever but what else would he say in this situation? The Bears must play their BEST possible football to get this win but nothing is impossible. Improbable? Maybe… Impossible? No… “Any given Sunday”. I’m still full of hope that this team can turn their season around and it all starts with this game. I wouldn’t want to have to deal with a wounded Bear backed into a corner. Would you? We’ll see what happens in Arrowhead Sunday. Best believe that place will be ROCKING!
Check out Episode 5 of “BNT” the podcast below! I have a special guest co-host Sportzfam OGz know well!
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Welcome to the Sportzfam 