The Chicago Bears won a game that felt like a lot of stress was relieved. The team had been dying to win a game after 14 straight losses and four straight losses this season. So, it was good to see not only a win but a 20-point win when the team scored 40 points. It was a performance where all phases showed up for a dominant win.
Still, despite the win, there are going to be some fans who think this is a turning point or that Justin Fields is now fixed after two big games. What are some realities that need to be faced despite the win?
5. The Chicago Bears defense still cannot be trusted
You know it, and I know it. We all had the same feeling when the Washington Commanders had the football trailing 27-11. The Bears were down by 16, which feels like a lot, but for the Chicago Bears, it is a question of how this team can give up two touchdowns and two two-point conversions. That would be so Bears, and the Commanders already converted their first two-point conversion.
Even after the defense got a stop, there was a moment when the Bears were up 30-20, and Washington was driving again. Surely, Washington would score, get the ball back and threaten. A Greg Stroman sack led to a field goal in the first situation, and in the second, the Commanders missed a field goal.
Still, the Chicago Bears' defense scares the life out of their fans. Even when the Chicago Bears had a 27-3 lead, it felt like the offense needed to put their foot on the gas. The offense felt like they needed 40. they did not tonight, but this is still a questionable defense, and Washington was a play or two away from 30 points with ease.
4. Justin Fields is still not the future for the Chicago Bears at this point
The Chicago Bears have to decide whether or not Justin Fields is their future after this season. They will decide whether to bring in competition, a new starter, and pick up the fifth-year option for Fields. So, they added offensive line help and a guy like D.J. Moore to ensure there were no more excuses for Fields.
Through four weeks it was quite obvious that Fields would not be back with the Bears next year, at least as the starter. So, did week five change the bigger sample size? It should not have. Washington has an awful defense, and they had to bench their rookie cornerback in this. They are giving up 30 points every week, and the Bears are just another team to take advantage of.
Justin Fields still missed a few throws, he still took too many sacks, and he still overthrew a couple of wide-open wide receivers in this game. On the first pass of the game, he had Darnell Mooney open for a big play and missed it, and he missed D.J. Moore for another touchdown.
It is good that Fields played well, but two games against two of the worst defenses in the NFL is not going to cut it. The Packers, Buccaneers, and Chiefs defenses were better, so while these two games were more recent, we need to see him do the same things against better competition before we crown him.
3. The Chicago Bears still do not have a wide receiver after D.J. Moore to trust
D.J. Moore is everything that fans wanted when they traded for him and then some. He has been dominant and may be the best Chicago Bears receiver when all is said and done. However, one thing he did not do was improve the room. The thought was that the ripple effect would make the rest of the room better.
Some of it is because Chase Claypool is a head case, and Darnell Mooney is still working back from a bad injury last year. Equanimous St. Brown left the game on Thursday early as well. Still, after D.J. Moore was Cole Kmet, who had 42 yards, and then Robert Tonyan with 10 yards. No other Bears receiver made a play.
Yes, Darnell Mooney was open and was missed by a poor pass, but that was the only time you can remember seeing his number. He was not involved. It is good that Moore has brought this level of explosion to the Bears, but the good defenses can center in on him. Can Cole Kmet win games, or are they just going to win against teams with no cornerbacks?
2. The Chicago Bears still have the Carolina Panthers pick
The Chicago Bears won, and some fans may be annoyed. If you want coaches fired, Justin Fields benched, and the fire to continue, tonight was not your night. However, the Chicago Bears are in the rare great spot for a bad team near the top of the draft order. Fans do not have to debate whether the wins hurt the draft status. They have the Carolina Panthers. So, they can win as many games as they want as long as the Panthers continue to lose.
Yes, the Chicago Bears may not pick first and second if they keep winning, but picking first and tenth is not that bad, either. Especially if that means that the Chicago Bears are going to win, and there can be some fun along the way.
This is a good situation to be in. Now, the Bears can root against the Panthers, and if they continue to lose, these wins do not hurt the team in any way. This is also why Fields has so much more to prove than your typical quarterback on a bad team.
1. The Chicago Bears still cannot trust Luke Getsy, or Matt Eberflus
The Chicago Bears put up 40 points. Luke Getsy rolled his quarterback out, drew up designed runs, and got D.J. Moore in the right matchups. He even adjusted his personnel. Matt Eberflus drew up some blitzes, changed up a few packages, and moved some guys around.
Both of them showed things that were needed in this game. Both have not done enough to change the tone of where they stand. As we noted, the defense had too many moments where it looked like they were losing it. Too many times, they missed tackles and let Sam Howell get away for a few yards. They are still undisciplined.
The defense struggled to protect the lead, and the offense got flat with the lead. It was awkward because all of their running backs were injured, but up 27-11, and up 30-20 the offense got too stagnant until the Commanders were pushing up against them. Then, Getsy kicked it back in. After blowing a lead to the Broncos last week, you would think that Getsy would have learned to play with a lead better. He did not. So, the Bears beat Washington, but until they can prove they can play with a lead better these two should remain on the hotseat.