While the media and fans looked for answers after another embarrassing Chicago Bears loss, the team could only respond in silence.
The Chicago Bears continue their downward spiral. They not only lost their sixth game of the season in Week 13 they also lost in embarrassing fashion. They led almost the entire game against the Detroit Lions until the last 97 seconds. After letting the Lions march 96 yards down the field on just seven plays quarterback Mitchell Trubisky got strip-sacked and coughed up the football on the Bears’ seven-yard line. Two plays later, Adrian Peterson found the end zone and the Lions took their first lead and ultimately the win.
During this six-game skid, the Bears found a number of ways to lose games. Most of the time the offense just stunk. They’ve had times when the offense did just enough to send the game into overtime. They’ve also shown enough offense to keep the loss respectable. The last two games have been really bad, however. The Green Bay Packers blew them out 41-25 in Week 12. Then the incredible collapse against the Lions in Week 13.
One disturbing trend in the past two games is the defensive collapse. Against the Lions, they allowed 464 total yards. That’s after they allowed 393 total yards and gave up five touchdowns on seven drives. After watching this defense play at an elite level and carry the offense for years, the unit is definitely struggling now. The Chicago Bears are now in the midst of a total collapse.
The media seek answers and the fans want action, but neither side gets anything…yet
After the Week 13 debacle, the fans wanted everyone fired… right away. The media asked questions to gauge what was going on at Halas Hall. The Bears didn’t fire anyone and they haven’t given any clues as to what ownership is thinking about the situation.
Through all of this, general manager Ryan Pace, who hired Matt Nagy as coach and who assembled the team, hasn’t said a word throughout this ordeal. You don’t expect the McCaskeys to say anything. Nagy will continue to try to stay positive and say things like “The only thing we could do is keep giving everything we’ve got.”
Pace is the person to say something yet he hasn’t. Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote about the deafening silence coming from Pace.
Owner Virginia McCaskey isn’t going to say anything. Chairman George McCaskey is mum. President and CEO Ted Phillips might be in the vault, polishing Red Grange icons. Ryan Pace, where are you? Hello? Step up, sir.
But it would mean something just to say something — anything — about this unfolding shipwreck. It would mean something to Bears fans everywhere, who range in spirit from depressed to outraged to even-COVID-is-better-than-this.
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It’d be nice to hear something, anything from Pace. With his job on the line as well, though, he likely won’t say anything. He needed his actions to speak for him when injuries and the COVID virus hit the team. When nose guard Eddie Goldman opted out there were plenty of options outside the roster with experience. Pace decided to stand pat.
When the offensive line got ravaged by the virus and injuries just before the trade deadline, Pace again stood pat even as the line struggled. In fact, guard/tackle Alex Bars made his first professional start at center, a position he never played. Not doing anything to bolster the line both on offense and defense should be a fireable offense.
The next four games could be a very painful experience. If the Bears cannot find a way to win a couple of games or even just one to end the streak, there could be a revolt by the fans. Also, the media will continue to put pressure on the brass to explain themselves. If the team does nothing during the season, then expect some big moves on Black Mondy.
