Cubs News: Owens on losing streak: "You are playing for pride regardless of the situation" |
CHICAGO - Safety Jonathan Owens has been getting some starting time since safety Elijah Hicks has been unable to play. He has been making some big plays, like his interception against the San Francisco 49ers last week, although that pick was a bit too late to make much of an impact on the game as Chicago lost 38-13 in their biggest blowout of the season.
Most of San Francisco’s points came in the first half, as they rushed for over 300 yards and 24 points. Tight end George Kittle had arguably one of his best games of the season, with six receptions for 151 yards. The 49ers like to use a pre-snap motion to open up their playmakers. Even without numerous players, including running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, San Francisco was highly successful in creating explosive plays. “They’re second in the league in pre-snap movement. So, that’s a big thing where a team will try to do a bunch of things to mess (with) your eyes and just try to hold the ball as long as they could to identify what coverage you’re in and just try to make plays and make checks off of that,” Owens said. “So, it honestly (comes) down to executing, and it was on us and just everybody being where they’re supposed to be, playing team football, and so, that was a big thing. We just all have to execute.” Chicago made some halftime adjustments, forcing San Francisco to punt on its opening drive of the second half. Offensively, Chicago scored its only points in the second half, thanks to two touchdowns from rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze. However, the defensive failure that was in the first half put the Bears in a hole too large to overcome. Given the change in defensive play caller, there are some questions as to whether defensive coordinator Eric Washington is qualified to call the plays. San Francisco was his first attempt at doing so for the Chicago Bears as former head coach Matt Eberflus called the defensive plays every regular season game until being fired following the Detroit Lions game on Thanksgiving. “I wouldn’t say it’s anything with the new playcaller (because) we still have the same defense. So, we’ve all been with each other since the spring. So, the plays are the (same). It’s just different flows,” Owens said. “So, (it) comes down to us communicating and us executing. That’s all. But, (a) big part of their game plan is a bunch of pre-snap movement. (They) get guys moving laterally and you just try to catch guys’ eyes for a split second and get a gap or get a pass. So, that’s what I attribute it to.” During Eberflus’ tenure, the Chicago Bears had a franchise-record 14-game losing streak. Now, they are halfway there, on a seven-game losing streak. With that kind of adversity, it would be understandable if the locker room was divided. However, Owens said the team remains close as they are fighting for each other. “We (are) so close. Everybody’s so close. You are out there playing for your brother. You are playing for pride regardless of the situation, the scoreboard, or our record,” Owens said. “No one’s going out there to lay an end or you going into a game not trying to play as hard because it’s still a standard that we all have to uphold and just with the leaders and the vets that (we) have on the team. (There’s) guys, you don’t want to let down.” The Bears will attempt to end their losing streak against the Minnesota Vikings on Mon. Dec. 16 (7 p.m. / ABC). Chicago has only defeated the Vikings once in the last seven games against them. Going against playmakers like wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Bears cannot afford to give up explosive plays like they did against the 49ers if they hope to get a win on Monday.
