After two straight face-palming, stupid, brutal, disgusting, and gut wrenching losses at home to the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears traveled to Philadelphia to take on the red-hot, league-best Eagles.
By all accounts, this was supposed to be the Bears’ worst and ugliest game of the season. A beat up defense and special teams, combined with a “who knows what you’re doing to get” offense, against arguably the most complete team in the NFL? Not to mention, this was a “revenge” game of sorts for former Bear and current Eagle receiver Alshon Jeffery. This is what I predicted before the game:
Undermanned defense, a "who knows" offense, and now an undermanned special teams without Bellamy or Houston-Carson.
This is gonna be Trubisky's best (read: most difficult and ugly) learning experience of the season.
Prediction: #Eagles 45, #Bears 13
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
But forget the score, considering this was meant to be a lost season. I was most worried about QB Mitch Trubisky’s health. The Eagles defensive front is one of the best in football, and I worried about Trubisky getting sacked a bit too much, hard, or awkwardly by any one of their fearsome pass rushers.
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In the end, the Bears embarrassed themselves to the fullest extent in Philadelphia, getting dominated in every phase of the game. And the game wasn’t as close as the score. Here are my thoughts and observations from this abysmal showing:
1. Proud of the Bears defense on the first Eagles possession. After the Eagles got two quick first downs, including a lengthy run for LeGarrette Blount through a massive hole, the run defense got the Eagles behind the chains and made a good tackle to force a punt. For a team coming off two disheartening losses, on the road, and missing so many key players, it would have been easy to lay down and let Philly have their way right from the get-go.
2. Special teams continue to be a weak point for this team. Tarik Cohen waved for a fair catch on the Eagles’ punt, but let it bounce, and it rolled the Eagles’ way, which was aided by a Marcus Cooper hold. Cohen, as exciting as he is, still has so much to learn in the return game.
Tarik Cohen, as exciting as he is, still has much to learn in the return game. MUCH to learn. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
Then, after a Bears three-and-out, Pat O’Donnell had a brutal punt, going out of bounds in Bears territory. That can’t happen. O’Donnell has had an OK year to date — better than past years but he’s still not dependable enough. He had an awful game today overall.
3. The Bears’ pass rush just doesn’t exist without Vic Fangio calling blitzes. This was an issue even before Leonard Floyd’s injury. The need to add multiple EDGE rushers this offseason continues to make itself apparent.
4. Chicago’s second drive was … something. Trubisky was picked off on a tipped pass on the first play from scrimmage, and then Dion Sims forced a fumble on the defender, which the Bears recovered … and ended up gaining yards on from the original line of scrimmage. And then, on third-and-short, Dowell Loggains decided to run out of the pistol straight into the teeth of the league’s best rushing defense … because why not? Suffice it to say, it didn’t work.
5. On the Eagles’ next possession, awful run defense led to a LeGarrette Blount 35-yard run. But of course, Chicago stripped the football and recovered. I guess that’s one way to make up for it! Then of course, as the Bears do, they were promptly called for illegal blocks in the back. The Bears got the ball into field goal-ish range for new kicker Cairo Santos — a 54-yard attempt. Quite frankly, I’d have preferred the 3-7 Bears go for it on 4th-and-3, but they didn’t. Alas, Santos missed wide right and short. Connor Barth style. I’ll give him a break, it was his first kick in a tough situation. Why not go for it?
Cairo Barth. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
6. Carson Wentz — holy sh*t that guy is incredible. What a spin-move to get away from pressure after a busted screen call on 3rd-and-16. Cre’Von LeBlanc is still dazed and confused, trying to figure out what happened. Wentz, the quarterback that Ryan Pace wanted in last year’s draft but didn’t have the capital to go get him, continues to solidify his grasp on the MVP award. I’m sure Pace is watching this game with a sense of longing, but he believes Trubisky can become that next year. The caveat? He needs the right offense. Let’s hope Pace can get that hire right this offseason.
7. The first half was as big as a disaster as one could imagine, being a Bears fan. It’s arguably on the same plane as their 54-11 disaster in 2013 at Lincoln Financial Field with an opportunity to close out the division. They look unprepared, sloppy, and idiotic. Again. This is your weekly reminder that John Fox can’t coach. But frankly, I loved it. Another disaster closer to changing the coaching disaster that ails Chicago.
I'm loving this game. John Fox's coaching ineptitude on full display. Solidifying his ticket out of town. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
8. Down 17, and facing stacked boxes, the Bears opted to go run-run-pass into another three-and-out. With four minutes remaining in the first half, the Bears did not have an offensive first down, and there was absolutely no semblance of a plan on offense in the first half, either. The embarrassment was real.
Amazing. Run-run-pass into stacked boxes when down 17? What does that tell you about this #Bears coaching staff?
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
9. Alshon Jeffery catching a touchdown pass right at the end of the first half is exactly what this game was missing. Good for him to be on a team that knows what it is doing.
10. It’s amazing how much confidence Doug Pederson had in his offense, and how little he worried about the Bears defense on fourth downs. This is how a winning coach coaches. John Fox opted to punt and kick a field goal on some questionable fourth down areas. The Eagles, with a big lead, decided to step on Chicago’s throat. That’s winning football. No wonder the Eagles are now 10-1.
11. Bears defensive backs continue to drop the ball on interception chances. This has to get cleaned up next year. Dropped INTs hurt them against the Packers, Lions, and the Eagles. This team needs to create its own breaks on the chances that it does have.
More dropped INTs for the #Bears defense. Killed them in the #Packers and #Lions loss. Not that this one would have mattered, but still.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
12. Mitch Trubisky continues to struggle with his footwork and accuracy at times. A few more of his throws sailed on him today. Footwork is going to be a major focus for him this offseason. I definitely believe he can turn it around, but he has work to do. But that’s to be expected. This was his 20th start since HIGH SCHOOL. We as fans need to keep perspective on these things.
13. Chicago’s third-and-long defense: Awful all year long, awful again today. For those of you that swear by Vic Fangio, it’s confounding as to why this keeps happening.
14. Cre’Von LeBlanc forced a third Eagles fumble on another long run by Jay Ajayi, but the ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by a Philly player for a touchdown, making the score 31-3 early in the fourth quarter. LeBlanc was injured on that play, too. It’s been that kind of season for the Bears. When will the curse end?
#Bears force a third #Eagles fumble, this one recovered by the Eagles in the end zone for a touchdown. Oh, and Cre'Von LeBlanc injured on that play. It's been that kind of season.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 26, 2017
15. This receiver group sucks. That is all.
16. Given the way this coaching staff has completely destroyed the will of Bears fans and turned this team into an unwatchable mess, I’ll try predicting the remaining Bears schedule:
Home vs. 49ers: Loss, 24-13
At Bengals: Loss, 29-10
At Lions: Loss, 36-7
Home vs. Browns: Loss, 10-9 (Yes, you read that right)
At Vikings: Loss, 39-6
That’s correct – I have no faith in the Bears winning again this season. Can you imagine the Christmas Eve crowd at Soldier Field for the Browns game? I’m guessing maybe 5,000 fans in attendance. Maximum.
All we can do now is look forward to the offseason. On January 1st, the Bears will announce that John Fox & Co. have been fired. After that, the real fun begins.
