The Chicago Bears operated professionally throughout the week in London. They arrived early to give players a chance to acclimate to the time zone difference. Players got a chance to stay loose and enjoy the attraction of one of the most famous cities in the world. By contrast, the Jacksonville Jaguars arrived on Friday morning because they chose to leave later in the week and got delayed by Hurricane Milton. Players had no time to enjoy the sights or adjust to the time difference. When Andre Cisco and his teammates took the field, it became apparent right away the Bears were ready for them.
After a quiet first quarter, the floodgates opened in the second. Chicago put up over 200 yards and two touchdowns in 15 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Jaguars safety was helpless watching rookie quarterback Caleb Williams slice through them for almost 300 total yards and four touchdown passes. When the carnage was over, the Bears had won 35-16. The final score didn’t feel that close, too. Cisco admitted after the game that it felt like guys quit going into the half.
“Yeah, it was really bad. I just felt like there was – how should I say this – a lot of quit … In a situation like that, you can feel when we’re playing as one, and when we’re not. And it felt, very early in the game, maybe out of halftime, that we weren’t playing as one … We’re laying our bodies on the line. Guys got to understand that when you’re going out there, you’re really playing for your brother. You’re putting guys in vulnerable positions, whether that’s physically or just from a career aspect. Take care of each other when we’re out there, at the least. Even if things start to get bad.”
Andre Cisco saw a Bears team that was better motivated.
They played with more effort and intensity for most of the afternoon. There was also a greater emphasis on limiting mistakes. Jaguars receivers dropped several passes throughout the game. Too many penalties were committed. It was a poor operation. Yet another reminder that head coach Doug Pederson might be on his way out in the near future. Don’t forget team owner Shad Khan has strong business aspirations in London. It is why his team now plays two games there. Getting humiliated like that might’ve been the final straw.
If so, it will be the latest in a string of head coaches the Bears have helped get fired in recent years. Maybe Andre Cisco and others should be grateful. It is clear the locker room has a glaring disconnect. There is no unity. No healthy culture. Chicago is the exact opposite. Guys play for each other. They’re unselfish and strive to be better. Credit must go to head coach Matt Eberflus for this environment. The Bears are finally yielding the fruits. Making the Jaguars quit on their “home” turf was extra sweet.
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The Bears beat a bad team when they faced them. That’s exactly what you need to do if you want to be able to progress when you face good teams. It’s nice to be able to beat the bad teams instead of being the bad team for a change.
We need to take protecting Williams seriously. We gave up three more sacks and a takeaway even against a team that admits it “quit.” Hopefully Poles finds us some depth over the bye.
In the words of War, “The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine.” He looks and sounds like he should be a Chicago Bear. Keep him in mind.
Starts with the coach. Even when the Bears were bad they never quit.
Scoob, I think it is already written in stone that Belichick will be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys next year. This is reminiscent of Jerry’s hiring of Parcells years ago when they couldn’t get out of the 8-8 rut they were in. McCarthy is just biding his time, which will come soon enough.
The injury to Hutchinson is huge. I hope he has a smooth recovery, but he won’t be back this year. It was his left leg and he’s a LDE, so that complicates it some.
It definitely takes the fangs out of their defense because the Lions have zero depth at DE, IIRC. They’re probably going to have to make a move before the deadline.
It’s similar to last year when the 49ers lost Dre Greenlaw during the playoffs. He added physicality to a soft defense.