The Chicago Bears had a chance to steal one on the road against a formidable opponent yesterday, a chance that would have sent them to 5-2 with two more winnable games coming up. However, in what's been a familiar story in the Matt Eberflus tenure, the Bears' attention to detail in the game's waning moments cost them a victory.
This was a theme in 2023 too, where the Bears threw away late leads against Denver, Detroit, and Cleveland. Last year it was enough to turn what could have been a 10 win season into 7, but most of the blame in these collapses went to Justin Fields. However, a season later, with a quarterback who has already passed the eye test, the losses continue coming - especially on the road.
The Chicago Bears just struggle to put teams away. They somehow have mastered the art of sticking around, as they had no business being in this game, but then executed just well enough in the fourth quarter to take a lead - some very questionable offensive playcalling not withstanding though.
Bears 4th quarter win probabilities:
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) October 28, 2024
2023 vs DEN - 98.1%
2023 at DET - 98.2%
2023 at CLE - 91.0%
2024 at WAS - 96.4%
They lost all four of these games.
This is now a trend for the Matt Eberflus era. Justin Fields isn't here anymore, and a better quarterback has taken his place, and the result continues to stay the same. Focusing specifically on Washington though, this is now the third game this season where the offense specifically has no answers on the road.
In week 2, they go to Houston, where they struggle to pick up blitzes and handle stunts on the offensive line. The next week in Indianapolis, they forced multiple turnovers yet somehow found a way to lose to a team that was trying to give them the game. A run of home games salvaged the season then, building back up to the game yesterday.
As far as yesterday goes, the Bears had an extra week to prepare schematically, they knew their weaknesses, and they also had the better roster. Yet, coaching proved to be the difference. Between coming out flat once again, questionable short yardage play calling, okay-ing a hand-off to an offensive linemen at the goal line, and executing hail mary coverage horribly (let alone allowing the commanders to even get to hail mary range), the Bears lost this game on the back of coaching.
If this trend continues, the Chicago Bears will miss the playoffs and Matt Eberflus will likely lose his job
The Chicago Bears falling to 4-3, with their strength of schedule down the stretch, might be the difference between making and missing the playoffs. With road games coming up against a 4-win Arizona team, the entire NFC North, and San Francisco, there is absolutely nothing to suggest the Bears could find their way to even .500 in those games. That will be enough to keep them out of the playoffs, and with how talented this roster is, these road failures may be what seals Matt Eberflus' fate as head coach of the Chicago Bears.