In the aftermath of the Chicago Bears' gutting loss on Sunday Night Football, it was easy for fans to point out what might hold this team back from making a run in the postseason.
You cannot give up 42 points and expect to win, but the Bears came darn close. All night long, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy sliced and diced the Bears' defense. And, all night long, he looked way too comfortable in the pocket.
Funny enough, a Bears rival was watching and took notice. Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons took to social media to react based on what he saw, and Parsons told no lies:
"Idc what no one says, pass rushers are the important position on the field, outside of a QBs! Both QBs were way too comfortable tonight!"
On one hand, Parsons' point about Caleb Williams being comfortable isn't wrong, either. Williams ended with one of the best games of his career, and the Bears' offensive line kept him clean for the entirety of the game.
Micah Parsons said what Bears fans have been screaming for years
Now, on the other hand, Parsons' point about Purdy being too comfortable is something Bears fans can also get on board with. All season long, the Bears have not had a legitimate pass rush. There's been zero consistency.
At times, the defense will get one or two random, big plays from someone like Montez Sweat or Austin Booker in the pass rush department. The problem there, though, is that the Bears didn't pay Sweat $98 million to show up every once in a while.
Sweat was supposed to be the guy for this defense. He was supposed to make all the difference. But, he has yet to do that. Again, it's been every once and a while for him. Sweat is non-existent for the large majority of most games and, out of nowhere, he'll show up for a play or two.
For the Bears to make it further in this postseason, they need Sweat and others to step up. The quarterback play is just too good in this league. We saw what happened against Purdy. We've seen Jordan Love have good games against this defense.
Matthew Stafford has put together an MVP-caliber season. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have struggled, at times, but there's still too much talent on that offense to take it for granted even after beating them earlier in the season.
Read more: Another Bears offensive explosion and Caleb Williams still won't take the credit
The Bears need more of a pass rush, and they're not going to get it until this coming offseason. For now, they'll have to depend on what they've got.