Commentary: Bears inch closer to life after Eberflus |
The Bears had lost ten straight games against the Packers dating back to 2018’s win over the arch-rival Packers to clinch the NFC North. Since then, there has been an influx of dysfunction for the Bears and dominance from Green Bay.
Many thought the tides would finally turn when Aaron Rodgers left Green Bay, and the reins were handed to youngster Jordan Love, but the hybrid mix of Brett Favre and Rodgers won both of his starts against the Bears in 2023. Now came 2024, the Bears drafted Caleb Williams with their No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and Rome Odunze at No. 9. The Bears issued contract extensions to Montez Sweat, Jaylon Johnson, D.J. Moore, and Cole Kmet — arguably the Bears' four best players in 2023. Veterans Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift were added to the picture offensively, and the Bears had plenty of hype. The Bears were 4-2 through six weeks and had a quarterback firmly in the Rookie of the Year race. Since their bye week, they lost on a gut-wrenching Hail Mary in Washington, got embarrassed in Arizona, and lost their first home game of the year in a disappointing showing against New England. At 4-5, with the panic button firmly pressed, the Bears' chaotic locker room was altered with the firing of Shane Waldron and the in-house promotion of Thomas Brown to Offensive Coordinator. On the flip side, you have the Green Bay Packers at 6-3, fresh off of an embarrassing loss at home against Detroit and their Bye Week. It wasn’t exactly a perfect storm for Chicago. You could reasonably anticipate that Head Coach Matt LaFleur would have his team ready off the bye and that the Bears’ woes would continue. But the Bears, who got a few injured players back, looked great offensively. The play calling had improved desperately, spreading the ball around to the Bears’ playmakers, playing to Caleb Williams’ strengths, utilizing both running backs (Swift and Roschon Johnson) in their designed roles, and Williams trusting his instincts and using his legs. The Bears led 10-7, 13-7 and 19-14 during the game. After a Jordan Love rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams and the Bears got the ball back, knowing that a field goal would win the game. After two sacks in a row to start the drive, Caleb Williams delivered three straight clutch completions to march the Bears into field goal range. Next thing you know, Cairos Santos’ game-winning field goal attempt was blocked as the clock hit zeroes, and Williams had to walk to midfield to congratulate Love on winning what should’ve been Williams’ first win in the rivalry and the Bears’ first in 10 tries. Instead, the Packers improve to 11-0 against the Bears in the LaFleur era, and the Bears move to 0-5 in the Eberflus era. [For those keeping track at home, the record for wins in a row against an opponent is 20 from the Dolphins over the Bills.] The heartbreak as the kick failed to go through the uprights felt familiar to Bears fans. Look no further than October’s loss on the Hail Mary or Cody Parkey’s fateful double-doink that ended that exciting 2018 campaign. There were positives to draw from Sunday’s contest. Williams looked like a superstar quarterback, and the offense improved in just one week with Brown at the helm. However, when the arch-rivals come to town, you’re looking for more than a moral victory or a confidence boost. To add insult to injury, the Chargers, coached by Jim Harbaugh (whom many rumored the Bears would acquire last offseason when he became available), won on Sunday Night Football thanks to their defense of the game’s final drive. Harbaugh defended the play before the Hail Mary tightly so as not to allow any free yards. He called a timeout before the Hail Mary attempt to talk things over. Plus, he brought pressure on the game’s final play to not allow Joe Burrow enough time to get off a comfortable throw. While Sunday’s heartbreak for the Bears was present and Williams’ growth noticeable, both can be mutually exclusive while the Bears inch closer to life after Eberflus—which might be the biggest win of the afternoon.
