Bears Takeaways: Week 17
It’s finally over! The Chicago Bears worst season since the schedule expanded to 16 games in 1978 ended on a whimper with an embarrassing 38-10 loss to the Vikings. This season has been a drag to watch and occasionally to write about, but hopefully better times are on the way.
They weren’t many glimpses of hope on Sunday, but there have been a few positive signs of development this year. I’ll be breaking down the bright spots from the season later this week. For now I’ll cover the few good things from the Vikings loss and plenty of the bad.
Bears Takeaways: Week 17
1.) Matt Barkley is not the answer
If nine turnovers over the last two weeks weren’t enough to convince the Bears brass that Matt Barkley is the not the answer for 2017, he added three more on Sunday against the Vikings. He threw two interceptions, both inside the Viking 20-yard-line, and lost a fumble that was returned for a score.
On the day Barkley completed just ten passes, only three of which went for more than 10 yards, for a total of 125 yards and a 59.2 QB rating. He’s seemingly gotten worse in each of the last three starts and he was eventually benched for David Fales.
While I don’t think Barkley is starting material next season, he’s shown flashes of enough ability to be in the mix for the backup job next season. Barkley was better than I thought he would be overall and came close to leading the Bears to four wins in his six starts.
With a major question mark at the quarterback position next year, a relatively stable option like Barkley has significant value. Even if the Bears use a high draft pick on a quarterback or trade for someone like Jimmy Garoppolo, they will still need a reliable backup option and that looks like Barkley’s ceiling.
2.) Jordan Howard broke Matt Forte’s rookie rushing record
Howard has been the one consistent bright spot for the Bears this year and he had another monster game against the Vikings. Despite the Bears losing big early, Howard was the focus of the offense this week (about time) with 23 carries for 135 yards.
There wasn’t a lot of running room for Howard, but he still managed to average 5.9 yards per carry on the day despite not breaking a run longer than 18 yards. For the season Howard finished 2nd in the NFL with 1,313 rushing yards in just 13 starts.
He also broke Matt Forte’s Bear rookie rushing record of 1,268 yards (3.9 ypc). Not too shabby for a 5th round pick who started the season as the Bears third string back.
HC John Fox seems intent on using a committee approach at running back, but Howard proved this season that he should be the lead back regardless of who they bring in at the position. He’s run with excellent vision, patience, and power this year and is one of the Bears few building blocks among the offensive skill positions.
3.) Bears finished the season with a franchise-low 11 turnovers
The Bears managed a rare interception this week (LeBlanc), but still finished the season with a pathetic total of 11 turnovers. Last year’s 17 turnovers were a franchise low at the time, but the Bears managed to have six less this year somehow. Overall they finished with a negative 20 turnover differential, which was dead last in the league.
The Bears need to find some defensive backs that can make plays on the ball and create turnovers. A more consistent pass rush would help, but the Bears were in the top five in the league in sacks going into week 16, so that’s not the main problem.
Some fumbles would help the turnover differential, but it’s a lack of interceptions that sets the Bears apart from the rest of the league. The Bears finished last in the NFL with just eight interceptions on the season. Tracy Porter and rookie Cra’von LeBlanc tied for the team lead with two apiece.
LeBlanc has shown good ball skills (more below) as has Porter when healthy and rookie Deiondre Hall had 13 in two college seasons, so there are a few corners on the roster with ball skills. None of them are proven besides Porter though and his health is a question mark every week.
They only got just two picks from the safety position (Jones-Quartey, Hurst) and need to add playmakers there as well this offseason. Finding defensive backs who can make plays on the ball should be the Bears secondary priority after quarterback this offseason.