For the primary time in additional than a yr, the Chicago Bears locker room at Soldier Field was full of postgame pleasure.
Players danced. Coach Matt Eberflus handed out recreation balls to Tyson Bagent, Jaylon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman. And the Bears reveled in a 30-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders to interrupt a 10-game dwelling dropping streak.
Now they’ll attempt to maintain the nice vibes going as they put together for a “Sunday Night Football” recreation on the highway towards the Los Angeles Chargers behind Bagent, who’s prone to make one other begin rather than injured quarterback Justin Fields.
Tribune writers Colleen Kane and Dan Wiederer have a look at what’s subsequent with 4 true-or-false conversations.
Wiederer: True or false? Tyson Bagent’s strong efficiency Sunday sophisticated the Bears quarterback dialog.
Kane: True. I’m not saying there’s a quarterback controversy but. There isn’t. Eberflus made it clear after the sport that Fields will return because the starter when his thumb heals and that Bagent did a pleasant job as his backup. But is the quarterback dialog sophisticated? Yes, as a result of Bagent helped the Bears do one thing they’ve carried out solely 4 occasions with Fields within the final two years — win a recreation.
The offense was fueled largely by the run recreation and quick passes, however Bagent operated it easily and effectively whereas throwing for 162 yards and didn’t have any turnovers. For an undrafted rookie from a Division II college making his first NFL begin, it was good. Was it spectacular sufficient to make all people query whether or not the Bears ought to return to Fields as they consider him for his or her long-term future? No. But if Bagent does it once more Sunday towards the Chargers, would it not enhance these questions? Probably.
Whether it’s teaching, supporting forged or his personal play, Fields hasn’t produced constantly sufficient over 31 begins to calm such chatter. And that’s the guts of the matter.
Wiederer: Well mentioned. And, sure, the standing bar of the Bears quarterback state of affairs should learn “It’s complicated” now. Because the crew is headed towards some fairly main choices within the 2024 offseason because it tries to ascertain long-term course at crucial place.
Can Fields return for the ultimate two months and play his approach into the long-term plans of basic supervisor Ryan Poles and his entrance workplace? Of course. Is it additionally attainable Fields continues to wrestle sufficient that the Bears pivot and draft their quarterback of the long run within the first spherical in April? Yep. Bagent’s effectiveness additionally may give the Bears so much to consider, notably if he stacks a handful of environment friendly, victorious performances by doing his half for the offense, which does its half in producing profitable complementary soccer.
We all have to withstand the temptation to attract grand conclusions after each recreation and permit the remainder of this season to play out. But, sure, Bagent’s skill to play inside himself and management the sport towards the Raiders added an fascinating wrinkle.
Kane: True or false? The Bears could make their approach again to .500 earlier than the following mini-bye.
Wiederer: True. That is 100% mathematically attainable and easily requires victories over the following 16 days towards the 2-4 Chargers, 3-4 New Orleans Saints and 0-6 Carolina Panthers. But — and, sure, with me there’s at all times a sensible “but” that must be included — child steps. These Bears want to remain the place their ft are at each second of Week 8 as they put together to move west for a prime-time recreation. It’s past untimely for a crew that hasn’t had a three-game successful streak since December 2020 to all of the sudden begin chasing a four-game surge and a spot within the NFC playoff image. Before you possibly can win 4 in a row, it’s important to win three. And earlier than you possibly can win three in a row, it’s important to win two.
If something, Sunday’s victory was most encouraging in how thorough it was and the way the Bears steered round game-losing errors. When the soccer world talks about “learning to win,” that’s a part of it. It’s about taking part in complementary soccer. It’s about being project sound and taking part in with cohesion. It’s about getting a lead, constructing on it after which guiding that lead throughout the end line.
Kane: Yeah, there’s an enormous distinction between what’s technically attainable and what’s doubtless. Call me cynical — that’s what watching 19 losses during the last two years will do to you — however stringing collectively a four-game successful streak for a crew we have been writing off after an 0-4 begin looks as if an enormous ask. So I’m with you on the infant steps.
OK, so the Bears protection can shut down a Minnesota Vikings offense with out Justin Jefferson and a Raiders offense with out Jimmy Garoppolo. Great. Now try this to the Chargers. The offensive line helped pave the best way for 173 dashing yards and allowed just one sack of Bagent towards the Raiders. Good efficiency. Now do it for a couple of recreation in a row. And on and on.
It did really feel like some confidence was constructing throughout the Bears locker room Sunday. Defensive gamers have been speaking concerning the rising chemistry they really feel as they log extra reps collectively. But we’re a good distance from with the ability to name this a turning level within the Bears season. Let’s see a two-game successful streak first.
Wiederer: True or false? Jaylon Johnson deserves to be paid.
Kane: True. I’m not going to argue towards participant getting paid, and I loved Johnson’s showmanship after his pick-six towards Brian Hoyer, indicating he’s prepared for his cash. Now, are the Bears and Johnson going to align on their contract numbers? That I don’t know. Because as dependable as Johnson has been defending a number of the finest huge receivers the Bears have confronted, he made simply his second and third profession interceptions towards the Raiders. He additionally has missed at the very least a few video games with accidents each season.
It looks as if Johnson is conscious of how each of these issues would possibly have an effect on his contract state of affairs, so it will likely be fascinating to see the way it performs out. I’d assume the Bears would do what they will to not half with homegrown participant at a premium place, however additionally they have two younger cornerbacks in Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith who’ve carried out some good issues to date. Does that have an effect on their pondering in any respect?
Wiederer: This league is all about constructing via the draft, growing good younger gamers and preserving them as a part of your core as you make a run at successful huge. Johnson needs to be with the Bears so long as he needs to be. Poles ought to discover a method to construct a bridge in contract talks that makes that attainable.
I’m not saying the Bears ought to give Johnson a record-setting payday that reshapes the market at cornerback. He’s not a star of that caliber. But he’s a high-quality starter for a crew attempting to climb, and if he can proceed to remain wholesome and produce splash performs, he ought to get what he deserves. That would profit all people, and the Bears need to watch out to not make this tougher than it needs to be, notably given their salary-cap flexibility from the preliminary roster teardown below Poles’ watch.
Kane: True or false? The Bears made a mistake by preserving working again D’Onta Foreman inactive for 4 video games.
Wiederer: False. I’m admittedly conflicted with my reply as a result of I really like what Foreman did Sunday on his method to 120 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. The dude was a beast. He ran with a cool mix of persistence and goal. He offered steadiness that Bagent benefited from. He was gritty and hard and productive.
Still, one of many causes Foreman wasn’t taking part in for a month was the depth the Bears constructed of their working backs room. They had Khalil Herbert as their prime again and a promising rookie in Roschon Johnson incomes extra taking part in time. Quality depth is a staple of most successful rosters. Certainly, it was troublesome for Foreman to manage his frustration with admirable persistence. But when his alternative got here, he seized it and delivered in an enormous approach. Now he’ll have further alternative, with Herbert nonetheless out, to proceed constructing on that efficiency.
Kane: You’re proper. I used to be a bit shocked that Foreman was minimize out of the combination after coming off a breakout season with the Panthers. But I additionally understood the Bears’ reasoning. Herbert, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2022, was averaging 5.3 earlier than he was damage, fourth within the NFL. Johnson, whom the Bears wish to develop, was taking part in effectively and had particular groups worth, and Travis Homer is a key to particular groups.
There are solely so many game-day roster spots for working backs, and it’s a testomony to the Bears’ depth on the place that Foreman was ready within the wings. But I’m with you: I’ve actually preferred watching Foreman play, and I like his story of perseverance too. If he retains taking part in this fashion, I’m undecided what occurs when Herbert and Johnson come again. But as you mentioned, for now Bears followers can maintain watching him attempt to take advantage of his likelihood.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com