Today was John Fox’s final game coaching the Chicago Bears. After months of expecting the obvious, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported yesterday that it’s indeed expected Chicago will part ways with their embattled head coach.
This Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, from the Bears’ perspective, was all about Mitch Trubisky and watching him go up against the team he started his NFL career against. This was a road test of epic proportions to end the year. Forget the score, it was all about letting him play.
Here are my thoughts from 2017 finale, and the final game of the John Fox Era:
1) The Bears started the game flat, with unimaginative play calling on offense, and getting steamrolled on defense. It’s about what I expected from a team that knows change is coming on New Year’s Day.
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2) Chicago was missing 3/5 of its starting offensive line today and was dominated by a Vikings defensive front that is one of the best in the league. The play calling, though, didn’t seem to try to adjust for that, especially early on. The fullback dive call to Burton on a long yard to gain was just … my goodness.
You're missing 3/5 of your offensive line and are staring at 3rd and a long 1. And a fullback dive? Dude. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 31, 2017
3) Marcus Cooper is not welcome in Chicago ever again. Unless it’s on an opposing team that the Bears thoroughly destroy with their next coaching staff. I can’t remember a positive play he’s made this year. But I can remember plenty of dumb ones.
I will drive Marcus Cooper to O'Hare for his flight out of Chicago myself. For free. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 31, 2017
4) A pathetic, undisciplined performance from the Bears today in all three phases. Penalties, penalties, and more penalties. One of John Fox’s worst features was the team’s penchant for doing dumb things during the game. Today was a complete microcosm of his tenure.
5) On the bright side, the Bears successfully ran the Devin Hester-Johnny Knox punt return fakeout for a touchdown with Tarik Cohen and Bryce Callahan. Remember that the Hester-Knox one was called back by a phantom penalty. This one was successfully executed. Ironic, huh? What’s more, is that that play was designed by special teams guru Dave Toub, who is rumored to be on the Bears’ head coaching short list, and may very well be the current favorite per Benjamin Allbright. Nice homage.
#Bears just ran the Devin Hester – Johnny Knox punt return fake out with Bryce Callahan and Tarik Cohen!!
A DAVE TOUB SPECIAL!!! Foreshadowing?
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 31, 2017
6) Rookie mistake from Mitch Trubisky on the intentional grounding call for a safety. He didn’t have much real estate to work with once he realized he had nowhere to throw the ball and once he was in the end zone, he tried to flip it to an offensive lineman. I’m not sure if it was him taking a calculated risk or if he just panicked, but learning some awareness from that play will help him going forward. Trubisky learns from his mistakes better than most rookie quarterbacks I’ve seen.
7) Midway through the third quarter, the Bears had 56 total yards. Fifty-six total yards. That’s not a typo. And the optics of it were just as bad as the numbers.
8) Vic Fangio really isn’t that irreplaceable. He’s done a good job with the talent he’s had for three years, but he isn’t untouchable by any means. Losing him hurts the most in relation to the rest of this staff, but it’s not devastating.
9) Defending Dowell Loggains has become harder and harder to do. What he showed last year and what he has shown this year are complete opposites. I still think he is a better offensive mind than given credit for, but he’s worse than I originally thought. The sequences inside the 10 yard line in the fourth quarter were just brutal.
That was special all around. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 31, 2017
10) The offense had an awful day, but Trubisky had a rather respectable game given the circumstances. Better than I expected, honestly. He has a ton to clean up going forward, no doubt. But he has shown more than enough to be optimistic.
This has not been a great game whatsoever, but Trubisky has delivered some great throws today under pressure. He has a lot to clean up, but he's doing his best to put lipstick on a pig. #Bears
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 31, 2017
11) This team’s desperate need for EDGE and WR help jumped off the screen today. Ryan Pace has one damn busy offseason ahead: A head coaching search, cuts and resignings, a busy free agency period, and a very interesting draft. This will be fun.
12) Finally, this is for you, Foxy: You made the locker room respectable again, and gave us a wonderful Thanksgiving surprise in 2015. But not much else. Congratulations on your career that preceded this Chicago stint, because I have a ton of respect for what you were able to do with Carolina and Denver. But it’s time to move on. Goodbye and good luck.
