Another season and another loss to the Green Bay Packers in an opening night game. This one was supposed to feel different, but so many for the Chicago Bears were supposed to feel different and simply do not. So, now the question is who is to blame and what for?
3. Matt Eberflus had a Chicago Bears team that did not reflect his image
This season was supposed to show us exactly what Matt Eberflus and his team were. He spent a year instilling his culture and then an offseason bringing in his type of guys. The Bears have made questionable decisions in the draft and free agency because of fit in the system as well as fits with culture. So, what did we see?
First off, a couple of personal fouls, a couple of false starts, and overall seven penalties for 61 yards. The Chicago Bears were sloppy in this game, which goes against everything that Eberflus talked about. They did not hustle; they did not defend the run well, and they did not look like anything Eberflus mentioned when he talked about his team.
Worse than that, the two big free agent signings obviously were tied to Eberflus. He was the former linebackers coach, and he has always built his defense around that position. Adding Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards was clearly something he wanted, and they were supposed to be the keys to the entire defense.
In week one, the Packers took advantage. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Jalen Carter because they win up front and make guys like TJ Edwards look good. The Chicago Bears signed Edwards. he is not behind a good front, and he got exposed for a touchdown. This is the issue, and it all goes back to Matt Eberflus.
2. The Chicago Bears interior offensive line was poor
This had to be expected, right? The Chicago Bears' interior offensive line has hardly practiced together, let alone played in a game. They were shuffling in the days and weeks coming up on the season, so the thought that they would have continuity off of the bat would be asking for too much.
Cody Whitehair is starting to get old, and the best days of his career have been in the rearview mirror. Asking him to move as much as they have has not been fair. Still, he struggled. Lucas Patrick has been an awful signing since the day they made it. Luke Getsy wanted a lineman he was familiar with, but he does not have the talent and has not been healthy consistently. So, he has not practiced.
They asked him to step in and be the center mainly because of the injury to Teven Jenkins. Still, it made their guard spot and their center spot worse. Then, there is Nate Davis. He has been a disaster signing and has not been practicing all summer. So, it is not a shocker that he got beaten all day long.
The run game struggled against a bad run defense from last season. This led to the Packers pushing these three around in the passing game. Justin Fields, the playmakers, the defense; these are all problems, but if the heart of the offense, the interior line is getting pushed around, the team has no shot.
1. Luke Getsy did not help the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears needed to see more from Luke Getsy. We thought that the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator got better down the stretch, and he started to play to his players' strengths, rather than instilling his system. On Sunday, it felt like he went right back to putting the square pegs into round holes and trying to force his system around the scheme.
First, Luke Getsy did not get D.J. Moore the football. Whether it was a screen, a go route on play one just asking Justin Fields to throw it deep, or even an end-around, or something to get the ball in his hands early, he needed to be there. He was not a piece of the system; he was a game-breaker that they added this offseason to change things. The Chicago Bears need to treat him that way.
They need to get Justin Fields out on the move and away from that interior offensive line. They need to be more creative with how they use the skill sets of their running backs. Luke Getsy looked as rusty as all of the players did. This was a big issue, and we can only hope that it does not take him until week seven to adjust this week.