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.
2. The Chicago Bears lack complementary football
Arguably, the worst part about the Chicago Bears' loss to the Detroit Lions is seeing that the team was +3 in turnovers. They intercepted Jared Goff three times and recovered a fumble off a kick return. Still, the Bears had just 10 points off turnovers, and the Lions had seven.
The Lions did that on three fewer turnovers and what hurts even more is that their only turnover was an offensive possession the Bears got in response to a turnover.
The Bears punted and turned the ball back over in their two first half fgifted possessions. They wnt into the half down 14-10 despite being up in turnovers.
When Matt Ebeflus was hired, he preached being the CEO and complimentary football. Despite being the defensive coach he wanted to be in control of the team as a whole. Right now, the team is an offense and a defense, and they do not play as one.
Eberflus has taken on the defensive coordinator role and has lost the CEO role. It is not working for him.
1. The Chicago Bears have poor situational awareness
The Chicago Bears' defense is supposed to be their strength. As we noted, even though Matt Eberflus is preaching team football, he has the defensive background, and he is calling the plays for the defense.
Two key plays stand out as bad losses for the Bears. The first touchdown of the game featured Dylan Cole against Jahmyr Gibbs. You have to wonder why Cole was even on the field as the fourth linebacker, let alone matching up on the Lions' biggest threat in the red zone. That is a schematic breakdown.
The Lions faced third down with two yards to go with 38 seconds left and the ball at the seven-yard line. If you watch the Lions, you know that they love to run in this look and then go for it again on fourth down. The Bears' interior linemen were Gevvon Dexter and DeMarcus Walker, their two pass rushing specialists who are not out there on run downs. At least not in the interior for Walker. Of course, these two got blown off the football, and Gibbs picked up six. The game-winning score came on the following snap.
Eberflus was out schemed in the one area he is supposed to be good at.
His defense was finally healthy, and he gave up three touchdowns in just 19 minutes of possession. The Lions scored one touchdown in the two-minute drill;l before the half and the other two in the final four minutes of the game. When it was crucial to make a stop, the team was outcoached. That goes on Matt Eberflus.