It could be due to the fact that I followed the Chicago Bears game live on Twitter (X) and by communicating with other BGO analysts instead of watching it live, but I did not have the same emotional reaction as most Bears fans. I watched the game over a multiple-day span because I was on my 15-year anniversary vacation. Apparently, even though I pay $300 per month for cable and $100 per year for NFL+, I couldn't watch the game live. I cannot wait to cut the cord!
Watching the game in pieces after knowing the outcome was interesting. I knew what to look out for and didn't have the same response to plays as I normally would. Usually, I am the one acting like a meatball. Hell, I have a segment on my Halas Huddle podcast called Rob's Rants for a reason. I wasn't on this episode since I was out of the country for 10 days, but we had a more than worthy fill-in who shares the same legal name as I do.
Here is the thing, though. No matter how upset we are about the outcome of this game. No matter how bad the Chicago Bears played. The outcome is still only one game. Last season, the Chicago Bears beat the San Francisco 49ers -- a team that played in the NFC Championship -- in Week 1. After three weeks the team was 2-1 on the year. Guess what though. The Bears only won one other game before the season was over and finished 3-14, earning the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Winning any game matters, but losing to the Packers in Week 1 isn't the end of the world.
Here's another example that is close to home. The Detroit Lions finished last year with a 9-8 record. The saying goes "It's not how you start, but how you finish" for a reason. Well, the Lions started last year 1-6.
The NFL is crazy and the Chicago Bears, although they played horribly (more on that in future articles -- I have plenty to say since I've been gone), still have 16 games to turn things around. The question will be, can they do it? Let's just say, for now, there are more questions than answers regarding this team. Is Matt Eberflus the right coach? Can Luke Getsy run a competent offense? Is Justin Fields still gun-shy when it comes to throwing anticipatory throws? Will the offensive line get Justin Fields hurt? Is the Bears' defense going to be just as bad as last season or worse? See, plenty of questions.
For now, we just need to remain calm and let some things play out. There are too many games left to pack it up and turn in our fan cards for the season.