Bears are Frauds
Matt Nagy hammered the 5-1 recorded coming in to prime time trying to legitimize it but the tape don't lie. After the 3-0 Chicago Bears start I raised the question 'Are the Bears good?' Monday Night Football gave us the answer, Chicago is just average. Sitting on top of the NFC standings with a chance to show they're real competitors they showed they're frauds.
The Rams won 24-10 but the Bears defense out scored their offense 7-3. It was a 10-3 game in to the second half as the D tried to keep the game close, scoring the defensive touchdown with over seven minutes left to cut it to 24-10. They followed it up with a three and out, but Nick Foles and the offense was off all night.
Chicago's offensive line got worked all night as Foles was regularly harassed and couldn't step in to throws. In the second quarter he missed Darnell Mooney for what would have been a 90+ yard score. After the three out in the fourth Foles had Anthony Miller for a big gain and left it short for an incompletion. You can't fault the two picks on Foles completely as the first was tipped, though thrown in coverage, and his hand got hit on the second. However, the last five drives for the Bears were pick, downs, downs, pick, downs.
Yet again, Nagy should receive scrutiny for his management of the offense. Cole Kmet had a couple of big plays early and then was never heard from again. Chicago had a chance to force the Rams to but to see what happens, and gave up a sack after two timeouts during stopped time. It was noted during the broadcast Foles had told the coach to be aware of the pressure he was under with the banged up offensive line, yet the coach didn't seem to help out his O. Screens, draws, quick passes there wasn't enough of it to help the offense.
The Bears need to cut Ted Ginn right now. Johnny Hekker had a great night downing all of his punts inside the 20, really inside the 10, but it doesn't help when your returner might as well of not been out there. If Ginn wasn't out there nothing would have changed and he didn't even look like he was interested in attempting to return the ball.
Chicago has played three top teams and absolutely laid an egg in two of them. After the 3-0 start the Bears got the Colts at home and the offense looked like it shouldn't be on the field. The defense kept the game close but all for not. Tonight against the Rams, Chicago had attempts but it never felt like they were actually threatening. Again, the defense out scored them.
The one big game Chicago won was at home against Tampa Bay. It was another case where the defense dominated, though the Bucs helped with very sloppy play, and the offense did just enough. It was a short week after the Bears were embarrassed against the Colts and the Bucs had the Packers the next week. Was it a fluke? It certainty seems to be trending that way in a weird 2020 NFL season. Against the good teams the offense has looked pedestrian and needs the defense to make big plays to have a chance.
At 5-2 the Bears are fourth in the NFC and the first wild card team, but the schedule doesn't get any easier. Three of the next four games are against the Saints, at the Titans and at the Packers. Very quickly they could find themselves 6-5 and Chicago still has both games against Green Bay. Nagy's squad does have both Vikings games, the Lions, Texans and at Jacksonville. With how they performed a 10 win season is in the cards but, to use a family quote, it'll be because they beat the tomato cans of the league.
There are plenty of bad teams in the league and Chicago has taken advantage of a manageable schedule, and you can only play who you face, but it doesn't instill confidence in the Bears actually being a threat. Getting that first wild card spot is a win as it'll be against the winner of the NFC lEast, but will Nagy's squad stand a chance in the next round against actual good teams?
The offensive line is an issue, there aren't enough weapons, the play calling doesn't help and Chicago has just two journeymen at the QB position. I, of course, want to see my team win but the team really isn't a Super Bowl contender. Despite having an offensive coach, and yes personnel is a problem, the coach isn't elevating the unit and has been a detriment at times also. There's still plenty of season left but the Bears are a fraud and what the heck is this team when it comes to the future?
