3 signs that Matt Eberflus is not fit for Chicago Bears head coach after Lions loss
The Chicago Bears lost 31-26 to the Detroit Lions in an embarrassing performance that included a 17-0 run by the Lions to end the game with just about four minutes to go. The loss should be all that we need to know that Matt Eberflus will not be back as head coach next season.
3. The Chicago Bears coaching staff took the ball out of the hands of Justin Fields
The entire point of the final seven games of the season is to see what the team has in Justin Fields. Fields has been dealt a bad hand, but the offensive line is healthier than ever, his skill players are better than ever, and things are finally in place to see what he can do.
This stretch of seven games was supposed to be the stretch that tells us what Fields can really do. What hurts so much about this loss is that Fields played well overall. He made big passes down the field, which was lacking with Tyson Bagent. He also went over 100 yards rushing.
Still, when the Bears needed to put the game away they took the ball out of his hands. First, the team had the ball with 3rd down and seven yards to go with just about five minutes to go in the game. The Bears were in field goal range, but a touchdown would have given the Bears a lead to the point where they needed two touchdowns and two two-point conversions. A conversion on third down meant ticking the clock closer to three minutes left.
The Bears ran the ball with Roschon Johnson and kicked a field goal to go up 12. That is fine, but if you think Justin Fields is your man, he is passing on third down and seven in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Worse than that, the Lions went right down the field to get within five. They did it about a minute of game clock. The Bears knew that they had to pick up a first down to put the game away. They went run, run, and pass on an obvious third down and nine. At least they threw the ball once, I guess.
The Bears were up nine and acted like they were up 20. They were trying to ice the game when they needed first downs to keep Detroit off of the field. They took the ball out of Justin Fields hands when he had a chance to prove that he could win the game. What a letdown and lack of understanding of the situation you are in.