The Chicago Bears suffered a blowout loss to Los Angeles that brought the team back down to reality after a fun win versus the Las Vegas Raiders. While it was fun to get caught up in one win, it was a bit optimistic to think that they would be able to hang with the Chargers after that. There are some realities that fans must accept, which may help them appreciate the ups and downs more.
5. The Chicago Bears offensive line is going to remain flawed
For a brief second, Chicago Bears fans thought that the offensive line was making progress. However, they got a bad Raiders run defense with just one good player up front. The Chargers have a bit more, and while the Bears line can flash in moments, they are not good enough to put it all together.
On the first drive of the game, Larry Borom was beaten to blow up by Khalil Mack on a jet sweep in the backfield, and then Cody Whitehair got rocked by Joey Bosa for a sack. On the second drive, the Bears saw their drive ruined by Lucas Patrick. Teven Jenkins is playing his second position this year, and Darnell Wright is still a rookie. This line is not going to come together this year; they are not good enough.
The Bears can get Braxton Jones and Nate Davis back, but they still have to ask Teven Jenkins to change positions again, and they still have the glaring issue at center. There will be moments, but it will only come in the right spots and moments.
4. Tyson Bagent is going to be a backup quarterback in the NFL
The Chicago Bears probably have something in Tyson Bagent. However, while fans wish that meant that they found the next TB, who is an elite quarterback, the reality is that they probably found a quality backup quarterback. Bagent is a UDFA who lacks some physical tools, and he went to such a small school for a reason.
Still, he can be successful in the NFL because he gets the ball out quickly and has enough accuracy to make solid passes. The issue is that he is much better as a game manager than a playmaker. We saw this tonight. In both games, he threw for about 170 yards. However, in the Raiders game, the run game was working and the team had a lead. He steered the boat to shore. In the Chargers game, he had to push the football down the field and make passes that kept his team in a high-scoring game. He came soaring back down to reality with a tough interception in the first half while the offense scored just seven points.
If you view Bagent as someone like Gardner Minshew, you have to love what he can do in a spot start or two. However, this is not who will get into the shootout with Justin Herbert. Fans need to accept that right now.
3. The Chicago Bears defensive resurgance was a mirage
No one can deny that the Chicago Bears' defense was playing better. However, it was also easy to wonder if the Bears' defense was playing better or if they just started to play easier opponents. They got Sam Howell on the road for a Thursday night game. Then, they faced the Vikings without Justin Jefferson and the Raiders with Brian Hoyer at quarterback. That is not the toughest slate.
Justin Herbert was going to be a step up no matter what. So, we finally could learn once and for all if the defense got better or if it was the opponents. It was the opponents. Justin Herbert completed his first 14 passes of the game, and the Chargers scored 24 points in the first half. Some of the issues are that Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker were out this week.
However, the Chargers did not have Mike Williams or Gerald Everett. The difference was that Justin Herbert was a huge step up for the Bears, and the Bears were a step down for Herbert. When the Bears face Brian Hoyer again, they may have more success.
2. The Chicago Bears cannot defend passes to running backs
The Chicago Bears have a serious problem when it comes to passes to running backs. They got torched by Aaron Jones in week one, and it has not been a huge issue since, but the team has seen it as an issue at times. Rachaad White, Alexander Mattison, and Jaleel McLaughlin all had big catches, and Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson combined for over 90 yards, although it was in a comeback effort, so the thought of it being an issue was a lot smaller. The Bears struggle in this area, and Austin Ekeler was the first real test they saw since Aaron Jones. It has not improved; it was just the opponents were a lot worse.
Tremaine Edmunds has been a liability and left the game due to injury. When you add in that Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker were hurt, the team had big-time problems. Austin Ekeler torched them from the very first drive, and the issues remained all game. This will continue to pop up anytime a threat out of the backfield arises. Still, even the guys like Antonio Gibson and Jaleel McLaughlin will get some against them. It is time to accept this.
1. The Chicago Bears are competing with the Green Bay Packers in a new way
There is a new reality when it comes to the Chicago Bears and their newest competition. Like always, the Bears will be watching the Packers and their record. However, this time, they will be seeing if it is as bad as them. By the end of the season, it could be a good thing that the Packers beat the Bears in week one.
Right now, both teams have top-five picks. With the Carolina Panthers beating the Houston Texans, they have not moved out of the first overall pick, although it is mainly because they had a bye week already.
The Bears need to keep losing to get a quarterback away from the Packers. If you watched them today, they looked like the worst team in the NFL. The Chicago Bears cannot pick third and fourth, while the Packers get a top-two pick. That is the new reality that fans must be rooting against.