Save for a few fourth-down disasters, it doesn’t take a lot for the thoughts to wander and take into consideration the potential for the Chicago Bears using a six-game successful streak with two weeks remaining within the season.
The failure to shut out shut video games has been examined from each angle and the Bears didn’t enable Sunday’s assembly with the Arizona Cardinals to show into that, ending a 27-16 victory at Soldier Field. Theyimprove to 6-9 and have received 5 of their final 9 video games after a brutal begin.
In the spirit of the vacation season, listed below are 10 ideas following the win with a have a look at how far off (or not) the Bears are within the NFC North.
1. The NFC North was shaped in 2002 when the league expanded to eight divisions and the Detroit Lions simply clinched for the primary time.
The Green Bay Packers have received the division 12 instances with the Minnesota Vikings proudly owning 5 crowns and the Bears at 4 — and nonetheless attempting to “take the North and not give it back” as normal supervisor Ryan Poles stated when he was employed.
The Lions are 11-4 and a half-game behind the San Francisco 49ers (11-3), who host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. The Bears beat them up fairly good in Week 14, a 28-13 win at Soldier Field, and had a 12-point lead at Detroit again on Nov. 19 earlier than blowing the sport late.
If the Bears are evenly matched with the Lions in head-to-head play proper now, are they nearer than a five-game distinction within the standings suggests?
“We’re a young team and we’re in kind of the same position they were in last year where you just take it one day at a time and try to be in the best position you can,” left sort out Braxton Jones stated. “They’re starting to figure it out. Even though we did whip on them that last time, we can’t live in the past. Just look forward and what we can do now and moving into next year as well.”
I checked in with a senior personnel man aware of the division for his ideas on the place the Bears stacked up, although there’s a massive hole within the standings.
“The Bears are not that not far off,” he stated. “They’ve found a way to match up really well with the Lions when they’ve played them. That’s a positive sign. They are a young team with a lot of developing talent. They’ve got key players in key positions. Look, the right tackle is solidified. They’ve got a playmaker at wide receiver and a good tight end. I think they still need to work on the interior of the offensive line. Right now, their defense is really good. Lot of young players under contract. They have to take care of Jaylon Johnson. They are a team that is not far away from competing for a division title. They’re not that far.”
I might think about inside Halas Hall the assumption is progress is being made because the Bears have now doubled their win whole from final season. They’re most likely not trying carefully on the division day by day, not at this level within the season, however they’re conscious of how they stack up and I assure there can be a significant emphasis placed on the Week 18 finale in opposition to Green Bay at Lambeau Field it doesn’t matter what is at stake for the Packers.
The Bears have received three of their final 4 video games and have stored the main focus shifting ahead as a substitute of letting the meltdown at Cleveland, a loss that ended any chatter of the playoffs, eat them.
“That’s three out of the last four now that we’ve finished the fourth quarter, going back to Minnesota, the Lions, and obviously this one here and we were real close to getting it done last week,” coach Matt Eberflus stated. “I can certainly see growth. The guys are understanding it and believing it and they are doing the things necessary to get that done, and that’s the proof that we have. All you have is what you do on tape and what you do on the practice field, and they are doing those things, and now it’s starting to pay off.”
It’s going to be an enchanting offseason as a result of the Bears are going to have a possibility to dramatically improve the roster with draft capital and strikes in free company and the personnel man pointed to that.
“It’s just what they decide to do in March and April,” he stated. “You can’t watch that sport at present and say that Justin Fields threw for 35 yards within the second half in opposition to that Arizona protection — that is perhaps the worst secondary I’ve seen this season — and say he’s the quarterback. You can’t. It’s simply not adequate.
“In Detroit, they’ve got Jared Goff and I think we all understand he’s limited when you get people around him. He’s struggled at key moments this year. He still acts fragile inside the pocket when he gets people at his feet. So, the Lions are a very good football team. The Lions look like they are a quarterback away from being a potential championship team. Then, you’ve got a bigger gap between them and the Bears if that somehow happens.”
Minnesota (7-8) has one of many older rosters within the league and an enormous query at quarterback with Kirk Cousins popping out of contract and set to be a free agent. The Vikings can’t use the franchise tag on defensive finish Danielle Hunter both. He leads the staff with 15 1/2 sacks, so there are quite a lot of questions in Minnesota.
Green Bay (7-8) has the youngest roster within the league and Packers QB Jordan Love has proven constructive indicators in his growth all through the season. He’s beginning to look poised and cozy within the pocket. He’s received good mobility. He might doubtlessly be an excellent participant and so they have younger items round him.
“That’s a team that is lying in the weeds right now, along with the Bears,” the personnel man stated. “Green Bay, at the least it will seem, already has the quarterback place discovered. That’s the distinction.
“But the Bears are a lot closer in the division than just a glance at the standings right now would otherwise suggest. I believe that.”
A tangible profit in closing out the season sturdy is having younger gamers discover methods to make performs late in video games. This season was executed in by the late losses to the Browns, Lions and Denver Broncos. Now the Bears have to seek out extra paths to victory within the fourth quarter so hopefully the roster — with quite a lot of items in place for 2024 — isn’t trying to find solutions in unfamiliar territory a yr from now.
“I think we’re focused on this year right now and where we’re at and trying to just keep stacking wins, keep playing good football,” stated weak-side linebacker T.J. Edwards once I requested concerning the hole between his staff and Detroit. “We’re simply targeted on the second and being current with these guys.
“December football is where it’s at. We’ve got to keep playing good football. Exactly. We’re focused on enjoying the holidays with family and then getting right back to work. We definitely want to take some lessons from some of those tough losses we had. I think we’ve shown some growth.”
2. Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith proceed to make performs and present development.
It’s spectacular contemplating opposing quarterbacks go at them and work to keep away from Jaylon Johnson on the opposite aspect.
What’s evident once you see how the rookies work together is that it’s a wholesome competitors the place they’re rooting for each other and never quibbling over taking part in time and alternatives. Cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke held a short — very transient — assembly with them earlier within the season the place he laid out the plan. Both had executed effectively sufficient in coaching camp to earn taking part in time. Both had been going to be on the sector. Both had been anticipated to enhance.
Smith had two cross breakups — one on the essential Arizona possession late within the fourth quarter when the Bears led 24-16 — and Stevenson had one on the Cardinals’ second possession of the sport when Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon additionally had PBUs in a six-play stretch in opposition to Kyler Murray.
On Smith’s final cross breakup, he beat large receiver Michael Wilson to the spot on an out route on third-and-6. On fourth down, he shadowed Greg Dortch deep downfield earlier than the receiver stumbled and the Bears took over on downs.
“That’s just growth for him,” Matt Eberflus stated. “The extra you try this, the extra assured you’re going to get. We have quite a lot of first- and second-year gamers which might be on this soccer staff which might be getting that have to rise and take that subsequent step at a soccer staff, and we’re going to want these guys. And (Smith) is one among them. He’s executed a very good job, coming in there, executing, consideration to element.
“Coach Hoke has done a wonderful job since he’s been there with those corners and those guys, if I was going to be a rookie corner in the NFL, I’d pick one coach and that would be Coach Hoke. He’s done a really good job with developing those guys.”
It was a great second for Smith after Stevenson made a diving interception at Cleveland final week and he spoke fondly of the bond creating between them.
“We’re both going out there to put our best foot forward,” Smith stated. “We’re both cheering for each other. We’re both happy when the other guy makes plays. It’s a good dynamic. It’s more than just football. We’re close friends off the field too.”
Said Stevenson: “Hoke was just upfront. We both knew coming off camp, both earned a spot on the field. We knew we were going to rotate. We didn’t know how it was going to go and we really didn’t pay attention to that. It’s about going out there, taking advantage of our opportunities.”
With taking part in time at stake — and everybody desires to be on the sector — it’s the type of setting that if everybody isn’t invested can get somewhat uncomfortable at instances.
“I love Smitty and I know Smitty loves me,” Stevenson stated. “Every guy in the room knows we have two good rookies that are unselfish. What type of guy would I be to block anyone else’s blessings?”
3. The Bears rolled up 250 yards dashing for simply the fourth time for the reason that 1988 season.
The earlier three events had been all final season when the staff set a franchise document operating the ball.
Khalil Herbert, who scored on an 11-yard run across the left aspect, carried the ball a season-high 20 instances for 112 yards and Justin Fields had 97 yards on the bottom on 9 carries with one nifty 39-yard run down the East sideline. Roschon Johnson added 37 yards because the offense totaled 420 yards.
Asked concerning the 1-yard landing reception he had halfway by means of the second quarter that pushed the Bears’ result in 21-0, the fortieth landing of his profession, tight finish Marcedes Lewis immediately shifted the dialog to the operating sport.
“To be quite honest, I really don’t even think about (the touchdown),” Lewis stated. “I put quite a lot of great things within the run sport on movie at present. Touchdown is cool however I simply assume all through your entire sport, I like what I placed on movie and we received the W so that’s what issues.
“I can’t wait to watch the film. We were getting after it in the run game. That’s something we talk about all the time, just imposing our will, especially in December. Teams don’t want to come out here and play. Let’s give them a reason to quit and go out there and try to be the most physical team every time we step on the field.”
Said left sort out Braxton Jones: “I’m not surprised. When we communicate and we’re all on the same page, we’re really good running. When you’re on point like that and just don’t blink even when we do have a setback or anything like that, just come back out and do the same thing.”
When the Bears can run the ball like this, they do a pleasant job of staying forward of the sticks and it contributes to going 8 for 15 (53.3%) on third down.
“It starts up front,” Matt Eberflus stated. “I liked (Herbert’s) tempo and the way he brought it to the game. Everything starts with passion, right. You’ve got to start with that, that’s the No. 1 thing, and he did a really good job with that.”
The Bears have been strong on the bottom all season. Yes, they haven’t been tremendous in short-yardage conditions (extra on that in a bit). But they entered Week 16 fifth within the league in dashing averaging 134.4 yards per sport and this solidified they could be a machine, particularly when Fields will get free as he did in opposition to the Cardinals, who struggled to include him within the pocket.
“The offensive line did a great job,” Fields stated. “In the first quarter, we were dominating the run game. I felt like, shoot, after I toss the ball or hand the ball out, Khalil had a lot of space to run. They were like high school out there. I think the Cardinals adjusted well in the second half, and there weren’t as many big gaps as there were in the first half. But the O-line did a great job blocking. Khalil, Roschon (Johnson) did a great job running the ball. Really credit to those guys for working hard and attacking practice each and every day like they do.”
4. The Bears hope tight finish Cole Kmet averted a severe knee damage within the second quarter.
He was checked out within the medical tent, did some operating on the sideline and returned to the sport for one snap earlier than being declared questionable to return after which shortly downgraded to uncertain.
“We’ll know more (Monday),” Matt Eberflus stated.
Kmet was questionable in the course of the week with a quad damage and it regarded like Cardinals security Budda Baker put a giant hit on his thigh but it surely was dominated a knee damage. That ended a giant night time as Kmet, who caught 4 passes for a career-high 107 yards, the primary time in his profession he’s reached triple-digits.
It’s good the Bears consider this isn’t a severe damage and I’m certain Kmet takes nice satisfaction in his streak of 65 consecutive video games performed. That’s one thing I guess he’ll do absolutely anything to increase, if potential.
Kmet had a 53-yard reception on the primary play of the second collection when Justin Fields created time by shifting out of the pocket and Kmet ran deep behind security Jalen Thompson, shielding the defender to make the catch and arrange a 3-yard landing run by Fields.
“(Thompson) was just panicking there,” Fields stated. “He wasn’t even looking back at me. I looked up, gave Cole a shot and he came down with it. Cole does a great job with extended plays and stuff like that. You all saw that last week. I fully trust Cole. Cole is a great player. It was a pretty easy decision with me just down there, him one-on-one and throwing it up and he made a play.”
They linked for one more massive play, a 29-yard shot to the Arizona 7-yard line, when Kmet was injured on the hit by Baker because the ball hung up a short time.
“Good play designed by Luke (Getsy),” Eberflus stated. “That was a play that was kind of a hideout play, and that was a good gainer, too, into the red zone.”
Fellow tight finish Robert Tonyan stated Kmet was in good spirits following the sport — he was not on the sideline in the course of the second half — and that’s one other constructive signal.
“Cole is a young professional,” Tonyan stated. “It’s something, he’s been young and had a lot put on him. Obviously, being a high draft pick and stuff like that. When I came into the league, I had Marcedes (Lewis) and stuff helping me out. When Cole came out, he sort of had it all — well not all figured out, he’s still learning — but he’s a professional and our room is solid and we don’t ever have to worry about each other. He’s been on his own doing it and it’s a credit to him how he’s been a professional.”
5. Two weeks in the past the Bears had arguably their finest defensive sport of the season.
They intercepted Jared Goff twice and recovered a fumble by the Detroit Lions quarterback. Eddie Jackson went out with members of the family to rejoice, a becoming finish to Jackson’s thirtieth birthday.
The Bears have been surging on protection. Many enhancements are linked to the arrival of defensive finish Montez Sweat in a commerce with the Washington Commanders, and rightfully so. Statistical enhancements can be tied to the return of the free security Jackson from a foot damage.
The Bears did a pleasant job of corralling Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who accomplished 24 of 38 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns however didn’t eclipse 200 yards till the ultimate possession of the sport (Arizona took over by itself 31-yard line with 62 seconds remaining down 11 and with out timeouts) in rubbish time.
Except for a calamitous fourth quarter in Cleveland per week in the past, when Browns quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 212 yards, the Bears’ cross protection has been one of many higher models within the league. Mind you, nobody is excusing what occurred per week in the past. The level is the Bears have been strong for a great stretch. Murray, Goff (223 yards in Week 12 when he had three turnovers) and New Orleans’ Derek Carr (214 yards) on Nov. 5 are the opposite quarterbacks to high 200 yards since Week 10.
Sweat has invigorated a cross rush up entrance and the Bears have been tighter on the again finish with coach Matt Eberflus, who’s serving because the defensive play caller, having extra flexibility and choices for calls with the rangy Jackson on the sector.
When Jackson missed 4 video games (and most of a fifth) with a lingering foot damage, second-year professional Elijah Hicks changed him and the Bears didn’t have the expertise or the type of man who can erase home windows on the again finish. Jackson is the one security on the roster with publish vary who can shut the center of the sector, the one one between the numbers who can pose a risk to opposing quarterbacks. He has the type of ball abilities that may change the result of a sport if a quarterback makes a poor determination. Jackson’s presence permits Jaquan Brisker to have a 17-tackle sport in opposition to the Lions in Week 14 as a result of the Bears can put Brisker down within the field and never fear about being uncovered taking part in with a single-high security.
When a protection is compelled to play and not using a rangy security, it has to rely extra on Cover Two or danger permitting explosive performs, one thing the Bears have executed an excellent job of eliminating. Entering Week 16, the Bears are tied for the third within the league for permitting the fewest explosive performs — on this occasion outlined as rushes of 10 or extra yards and cross performs of 20 or extra yards. While schemes across the league differ, they’re all aimed toward engaging in the identical aim: lowering massive performs for the offense. It’s extra vital than an total run protection within the minds of most.
That’s the place Jackson, who had three tackles in opposition to the Cardinals, and his talent set comes into play.
“Look at the first play of the Minnesota game (Nov. 27),” Matt Eberflus stated. “They took a shot on our rookie (Tyrique Stevenson), which we at all times count on them to do early. (Jackson) did a pleasant job of ranging that out and making a play on that and getting that ball out (from Jordan Addison).
“Eddie’s been good. What’s great about Eddie is the communication. He really does a nice job of settling everybody down on the back end. We do have some checks to our calls based on formations and with certain calls, and he’s done a really good job with that. Making the adjustments. He plays mostly in the deep part of the field. We don’t pressure him very much and those types of things. He’s made some good tackles in the run game when the ball squirted to there. To play good run defense you have to be able to do that. I think he’s done well.”
Jackson received his first interception of the season final week in opposition to the Browns, organising the one offensive landing of the sport for the Bears. He stepped in entrance of an errant throw for Cedric Tillman and almost scored, getting tackled on the Cleveland 1-yard line. He received caught within the open subject on Arizona’s second landing — a 38-yard reception for Greg Dortch — and couldn’t get an angle on him.
Jackson’s future goes to be attention-grabbing. He is underneath contract for another season with a base wage of $14.05 million and a $100,000 exercise bonus as a part of the five-year extension he signed after the 2019 season. His salary-cap quantity for 2024 is $18.14 million. The Bears can reduce him earlier than June 1 and save virtually $12.6 million in cap area. The staff can be working with loads of room. Overthecap.com tasks the Bears to have almost $64 million in cap area for 2024, the seventh-most within the NFL. The staff can clear greater than $9 million in room by releasing offensive lineman Cody Whitehair. A choice on Whitehair appears fairly apparent. Some thought can be concerned in terms of Jackson.
“It’s a big number,” Jackson stated of his 2024 wage.
He is aware of how the enterprise works. He was right here earlier than the Bears traded for edge rusher Khalil Mack and when the staff traded him to clear cap area on the books. He noticed linebacker Roquan Smith traded. He’s seen the Bears rise to prominence, fall to having the worst document within the league and now within the early levels of enchancment because the staff has performed higher within the second half of this season.
“It’s definitely different when you look around and see everyone gone knowing you’re the only person on that defense from 2018,” Jackson stated. “It’s different. Just gives me a little more of a chip on my shoulder and also more knowledge to pass along to the younger guys, let them know how this city is when we’re winning and how things are here. And being in those situations with three different head coaches, two different GMs, being able to have that kind of experience and knowledge to pass to the younger guys and giving them things I’ve seen and tell them just to keep working.”
Brisker talked about a number of instances final yr throughout his rookie season how Jackson mentored him inside the ability and after hours at his dwelling. Brisker would recurrently go to Jackson’s home to check movie and he routinely has youthful defensive backs over.
“Eddie’s been like a big brother since I got here,” rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson stated. “Twice a week, probably, I will go over there and chill with him, go kick it. I just ask him questions. Sometimes we go on Thursday and watch games, we talk coverages and how we play and are preparing for the game on Sundays. He’s helped with all that.”
Jackson has a private chef who prepares meals for the group. They examine movie, play video video games and discuss life within the league.
“My door is always open,” Jackson stated. “I just extend the invitation. Football, how it’s played in the NFL, it’s a little different than college. These relationships go by fast. So, you build a relationship with a guy and the next thing you know, you look up and he’s gone. I feel like that’s kind of important to keep that bond strong, especially with the younger guys and just get them around us and being around each other, building chemistry.”
The Bears have to determine on Jackson’s future by figuring out what he provides on the sector, not as a giant brother, and it’s vital to do not forget that. Assessing his play since he returned from the foot damage, Jackson stated issues have gone fairly effectively.
“As long as we are winning, we’re creating turnovers, my time is going to come,” he stated. “It’s robust once you’re not getting (the ball as a lot as you need), particularly after final yr. You need to come again and choose up proper the place you left off however you go searching and also you see the success that everybody is having, it’s loopy.
“I’ve been saying since training camp what kind of defense we have. We have a young secondary, the chemistry we’re building, we just want to continue to get better week in and week out. Everyone is back healthy. Everyone is rolling and everyone knows what the goal is.”
It appears unlikely the Bears would pay Jackson greater than $14 million at age 30 for his eighth NFL season. He’s not oblivious to that. He understands a choice is coming.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Jackson stated. “I’ve been around. I know how stuff goes. I would love to be here, would love to be a part of that — whatever that looks like in the future. I am going to leave that (to the team). Right now, we’re guaranteed (two) more games.”
I’ve puzzled if there’s a path for him to return in 2024. It doesn’t occur fairly often however there are cases when groups will see if a participant is amenable to a pay discount to return. Those are tough conversations and if a staff proposes a pay reduce, it must be ready to maneuver on from the participant if a deal can’t be reached.
It’s at the least value contemplating if the entrance workplace will mull the concept of seeing if Jackson will conform to return subsequent season at a lowered quantity, maybe with some incentives tied to his availability so the membership is protected within the occasion he has an damage. In the uncommon cases the place groups discover this selection, egos and satisfaction get entangled. It’s onerous to inform a participant how worthwhile he’s to a staff and a locker room whereas additionally explaining he’s not deemed to be value all the cash in his contract.
“I would have to figure that out after the season,” stated Jackson once I floated the chance. “I love being here. I get it, the business of it. I love Chicago.”
Maybe the Bears like the concept of retaining Jackson and drafting a younger security with vary to develop. Perhaps they’re prepared to maneuver on and can change him in free company. Box safeties are simple to seek out nearly wherever within the draft. Finding a high-caliber free security can generally be somewhat like discovering a quarterback for the protection. Think about how onerous it’s to seek out that centerpiece for an offense. You want that man in your protection in the event you’re going to play any type of single-high protection, whether or not it’s Cover Three or man. You want a risk excessive of your protection to scare the offense somewhat bit.
Jackson has been that participant for the Bears. He’s assured two extra video games.
6. Cairo Santos’ agent Paul Sheehy referred to as Wednesday and knowledgeable him a possible deal may very well be coming along with the Bears.
The staff had been working with Sheehy for just a few quick weeks on an extension for the kicker and Sheehy doesn’t need to distract purchasers till there’s one thing substantive to debate.
Sheehy laid out normal parameters of the place the deal might fall — Santos in the end signed a $16 million, four-year extension on Saturday that features $9.5 million assured. It provided a $1 million increase per yr on the bottom $9 million, three-year contract he received final time from the Bears. But there are 12 kickers with a mean annual wage exceeding $4 million per yr and 10 with a assure above $9.5 million.
Santos stated Sheehy stated he may have the ability to do higher in free company. One caveat? Lots of the groups with kicker points may not be those to spend on the place. Plus, there are a few first rate prospects within the draft.
“I trust Paul,” Santos stated. “He is aware of me as an individual, type of what my motives are. It’s not, ‘This is my number and this is where I rank.’ We need to have a partnership with the staff. The staff feels prefer it’s an excellent worth that I add to the staff so there was no ego in that. It’s some huge cash. That’s type of the dialog we’ve had since Wednesday.
“We’ve gotten to this point and Paul said, ‘It’s your decision what you want to do. Your numbers are very good. There could be more.’ I didn’t feel like I needed it. It’s a deal that made me really happy and hopefully the team felt the same. I am thankful. Year 10 and I’ve got four more years.”
There remains to be cash on the desk for Santos. If he finishes the season making greater than 90% of subject objectives, he’ll gather a $500,000 incentive that was written into his earlier contract and stays within the reworked pact. That’s a great chunk of change and with two video games remaining, it’s inside attain. Santos was 2-for-2 in opposition to the Cardinals, connecting from 49 yards and 29 yards. He’s now 29-for-31 on the season and at 93.5%. That leaves him somewhat wiggle room down the stretch.
7. If there’s a staff envious of the Bears proper now in terms of draft capital in 2024, it’s the Cardinals.
The Bears weren’t the one staff to amass a future first-round choose after they traded the No. 1 total choose to the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals, in Year 1 of their rebuild with GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon, additionally performed the lengthy sport.
Arizona traded the No. 3 choose to the Houston Texans (who used it on Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson), shifting all the way down to No. 12 and getting a 2024 first-round choose, amongst different alternatives within the return bundle. So, the Bears and Cardinals have been eyeing the upcoming draft for almost a full yr.
A case might have been made again within the spring and over the summer season that the Cardinals had been higher positioned than the Bears. Take a have a look at the opening win totals for the 2023 season launched by Caesars Sportsbook in late March, about two weeks after free company received going:
- Bears: 7 1/2
- Panthers: 7 1/2
- Cardinals: 5 1/2
- Texans: 5 1/2
The over/underneath for Bears/Panthers wins was 15 and the over/underneath for Cardinals/Texans wins was 11. That would have indicated a bonus for Arizona.
I might have guessed the Houston choose headed to Arizona was a darn good guess to be a top-10 choice, perhaps even top-five earlier than the season began. The Texans had a tough roster popping out of final season and had been beginning over with a rookie head coach in DeMeco Ryans, a rookie play caller in Bobby Slowik and a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud. The Texans have exceeded all expectations and even with Stroud sidelined with a concussion, they’re 8-7.
The Cardinals should not in a foul place. Based on the present standings, they’d personal the No. 2 and No. 16 picks within the first spherical. But that’s not almost as advantageous as the place the Bears are at No. 1 and No. 8.
8. The Carolina Panthers fell to 2-13 on Sunday with a 33-30 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Rookie quarterback Bryce Young handed for 312 yards and two touchdowns however Carolina couldn’t do higher than tie the sport late after trailing 30-16 early within the fourth quarter.
It’s been a tumultuous season in Carolina and I used to be curious concerning the opinion of two gamers on the Bears roster who spent final season with the Panthers.
Are you stunned by the depth of Carolina’s struggles, which can solely profit the Bears?
“Honestly, there are a lot of great people there,” stated operating again D’Onta Foreman, who has spoken glowingly of interim head coach Chris Tabor, the previous Bears particular groups coordinator.
“But the struggles, I would say no, it’s not a surprise,” Foreman continued. “Because I just feel like the group we had last year, to finish the year off with the head coach and where he was going and the way we were going, the camaraderie that we built, when you break that up and try to start it all over again … it’s tough. That was tough.”
Foreman was referencing Steve Wilks, now the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers and a former defensive backs coach for the Bears, who went 6-6 because the interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired following a 1-4 begin. Players favored Wilks. The Panthers performed onerous for him and wound up ending 7-10, one sport behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place within the NFC South.
“I won’t say I am surprised by it either,” stated large receiver DJ Moore, who spent the primary 5 years of his profession in Carolina. “Because what do you count on once you let a lot of the guys, a lot of the offense for final season, you allow them to go?
“I’m not really surprised by their record only because it was a topsy-turvy thing over there with the whole new coach situation.”
Moore retains in contact with some former Panthers teammates.
“They say it’s getting better,” he stated. “But it’s going to take some time and they want instant results. It’s going to be interesting.”
9. A late win for New England on Sunday moved the Bears nearer to the No. 1 total choose within the draft from the Carolina Panthers.
The Patriots received 26-23 at Denver on a 56-yard subject aim within the closing seconds.
With two video games remaining, Carolina is 2-13 and closes the season at Jacksonville and residential in opposition to Tampa Bay. The Jaguars all of the sudden appear like they’re within the tank after they had been walloped 30-12 by the Buccaneers — however Tampa Bay might have an NFC South crown on the road within the season finale so there’s something to play for there.
The Cardinals are solely 3-12 however the tiebreaker is energy of schedule and there’s sufficient of a spot between Carolina and Arizona that it seems like that may go the Bears’ means within the occasion they find yourself with the identical variety of victories.
The Cardinals are at Philadelphia this week and host Seattle to finish the season.
As far because the Bears’ personal choose, they dropped to No. 8. If they proceed to win, it’s potential they slip exterior of the highest 10 however their energy of schedule is so low they are going to probably win any tiebreaker and have the very best choose between staff(s) they’re tied with.
10. The Bears tried a wildcat play with a direct snap to Roschon Johnson on third-and-1 from their very own 34-yard line with 5:18 remaining and a 24-16 lead.
He was stopped for no achieve and it highlighted what has been a battle. Entering Week 16, the Bears had run the ball 13 instances on third-and-1, gaining 23 yards and producing 10 first downs. That’s not nice but it surely’s additionally not dangerous. On fourth-and-1, they’d run eight instances for eight yards with 4 first downs. That’s dangerous.
They’ve struggled selecting up 1 yard in gotta-have-it cases. I’m wondering if a part of the problem is that heart Lucas Patrick struggles to maneuver opponents off the ball. Remember, left guard Teven Jenkins (concussion) additionally missed the sport. That makes a QB sneak robust to name and it’s proven in Luke Getsy’s play calling. He’s began to be somewhat funky in short-yardage conditions and one factor that may inform you is he doesn’t belief the offensive line to get a yard. He’s tried performs to get to the perimeter. He’s used movement. It’s truthful to criticize the Bears right here however the coaches know the gamers finest — and so they’re struggling to get downhill in these conditions. It’s telling after they flip to a wildcat play on this second.
10a. Kudos to Illinois highschool principals who voted to make women flag soccer an IHSA-sanctioned sport starting in 2024. According to the IHSA, there are already greater than 100 highschool women flag soccer groups throughout the state with most of them within the metropolis and surrounding metropolitan space. The variety of applications taking part in flag soccer doubled from the earlier yr.
The Bears deserve credit score for being extraordinarily supportive in serving to promote development and the initiative of the sport over the previous couple of years after which lately in selling it to achieve the IHSA stage. The Bears helped launch this system domestically in 2021 and hosted state championships (not IHSA sanctioned) at Halas Hall in 2022 and 2023. It can be attention-grabbing to see how the variety of applications multiplies and the way participation amongst student-athletes will increase. Well executed by everybody concerned.
10b. Got a cool description from large receiver Tyler Scott about his function on Justin Fields’ 39-yard run when he wound up being out entrance and blocking.
“It was a wild play,” Scott stated. “The unique name, I had an beneath route. I noticed him type of transfer out of the pocket and felt a man type of trailing me so at that time, I’m pondering scramble guidelines. I escape type of operating towards Justin. I used to be going to interrupt upfield to return again however as I checked out Justin, he type of gave me like a pump (the ball) or one thing. I used to be like, ‘OK, should I go? Is he trying to throw it?’ I needed to flip it upfield and he takes off. I attempted to show and see, ‘OK, did he throw it?’ I see he’s operating after which I noticed a complete bunch of open grass.
“There were like four or five defenders so I’m trying to figure out, ‘Which one of these guys is the greatest threat?’ Do I turn back and block this guy? Or do I block this guy? I saw Budda Baker ahead and I thought Justin could outrun these other guys so it’s probably best to get the guy that is right in front of me. Budda can come and bring it every time so I knew I had to bring it. I hit him and then I see Justin ended up sliding. I was like, ‘You could have at least cut or something to make me feel like I did something.’”
Scott was joking. He’s comfortable to see Fields slide down and keep away from a success.
10c. The Bears opened as a 3-point favourite over the Atlanta Falcons for subsequent Sunday’s sport at Soldier Field at Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas.
10d. Happy holidays and thanks for studying.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com