Three Takeaways from Bears blowout loss to Patriots |
Well Chicago, it was fun while it lasted as the Chicago Bears have gone back to the Chicago Bears of old. What was expected to be a season of hope and optimism, especially when this team climbed to 4-2, has turned into a nightmare scenario as this team has fallen back under .500.
For whatever reason, they can't get out of their old ways, and with the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL, it's starting to become a question as to how many more games this team can win. They had one of the easiest schedules in the NFL through nine weeks, and many expected this team to be in a position to win nine or 10 games and contend for a wild card spot. With the schedule they have left, six wins may be the most this team can muster, and that would be a massive disappointment for this entire organization. The higher ups are the real issue with this team as they can clearly see the problem holding this team back, but refuse to address it the way they should. Until a change is made, this is just a terrible Bears team that is wasting the years of many of their players.
One of this team's many problems is the overall offensive line depth, which has been an issue for years. Ryan Poles has tried his best to rebuild and retool the offensive line in recent seasons, but for whatever reason, he has stayed away from addressing that area of the team this offseason. That's hard to believe when he was an offensive lineman himself. If you look at the Kansas City Chiefs organization, where he came from, you can see the focus they have put on their offensive line in the past. Everyone knew the line would be an issue this season, but after what fans witnessed on Sunday, it is starting to become a critical situation in Chicago. Not only was Nate Davis out with a "back" injury, but the Bears lost both of their starting tackles against the Patriots, putting this team behind the eight ball. If they had more depth, they could pick up the slack, but when you allow nine sacks to a team that gave away all of their pass rushers, you're in a world of trouble. With six games against the Packers, Vikings, and Lions over their final eight weeks, this offensive line will get harassed, and there is a legitimate shot that Caleb Williams will get hurt in one of these games. It's an issue that should've been addressed years ago and has yet to be addressed.
When the Bears traded for DJ Moore last season, the goal was for him to become the team's No. 1 WR. After just one season in Chicago, Moore showed that he has that ability as he hauled in a career-best 1300-plus receiving yards and emerged as one of the unsung heroes of last year's team. Following Williams' selection, many expected Moore to take that next step as a player, although the chemistry with Williams may take a little while to settle in. Well, here we are 10 weeks into the season, and Moore not only looks like a shell of himself, but some are wondering if he has given up on this team to the point where he is becoming a locker-room issue. Now that he has endured two more losing seasons and a painful season this year, it seems like Moore is getting tired of losing. Everyone knows what that does to a player in the NFL, and you have to wonder if all the losing is getting to Moore and getting to him so much that he will ask to leave this offseason. The Bears can't afford to let that happen. Otherwise, this team will enter a brand-new rebuild.
As if the last two losses weren't bad enough for this team, Sunday was the ultimate loss, as they have finally hit Rock Bottom. Not only was this their first home loss of the season, but it was also their first home loss in over a year, which was the longest home-winning streak in football. They let a young and inexperienced Patriots team come into Soldier Field and were dominated in every facet of the game by a first-year head coach who has his team behind him. That is the biggest problem in Chicago, as Matt Eberflus is not only in over his head but also has no control over the locker room despite every player saying he hasn't lost this team. The proof of a coach who lost the team is in seeing how this team has played the past two weeks, as this is a complete train wreck. Yesterday's performance was a fireable offense, and if the front office doesn't move on from Eberflus this week, it tells you all you need to know about this organization's desire to win. They can't let the past history of not firing a coach midseason stand in their way of doing the right thing, as major changes need to be made from the top down.The offensive line is atrocious
What's going on with DJ Moore?
This is rock bottom
