The nice aroma of cigar smoke nonetheless hung within the air somewhat bit within the locker room at Soldier Field after the Chicago Bears polished off a 37-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
10 ideas after the Bears received their fifth consecutive house sport, one thing they final completed in 2018.
1. It’s somewhat uncommon to see cigars handed round a locker room for a 7-9 staff, however contemplating it was New Year’s Eve, why not?
Also consider the place this staff has come from after a moribund 2022 season and a disastrous 0-4 begin to this yr.
The staff’s playoff hopes had been all however extinguished and so they have been left to root for a tie within the Green Bay-Minnesota nightcap. There hasn’t been a tie within the league this season and solely 5 because the starting of 2019.
That’s the vibe I received, anyway. The Bears are a younger staff that’s coming collectively and starting to really feel itself in a league the place confidence is a prerequisite for any probability for achievement. This group has needed to study from bumps within the highway and painful classes, notably in heartbreaking losses to the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. What’s been spectacular is that they haven’t allowed these setbacks to begin a downward spiral. One horrible loss results in one other and by the point you’ve flipped the calendar to the subsequent month, the staff is careening uncontrolled. The Bears have a house successful streak and are 4-1 of their final 5 video games.
This sport was received with the form of system coach Matt Eberflus has been preaching by way of complementary soccer. Quarterback Justin Fields was 20 of 32 for 268 yards and one landing and didn’t flip the ball over. He additionally ran for a rating and made some dazzling performs along with his legs. Running again Khalil Herbert carried 18 occasions for a season-high 124 yards and a rating and large receiver DJ Moore was focused 13 occasions, making 9 catches for 159 yards with a rating. The offense ran a season-high 72 performs, possessed the ball for 37 minutes, 14 seconds, and 7 of the Bears’ 13 possessions have been six performs or extra.
Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had two of the protection’s 4 interceptions, rookie defensive sort out Gervon Dexter had 1 1/2 sacks. Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke was pressured right into a depressing scenario as he accomplished solely 10 of 29 passes for 163 yards and one landing (a 75-yard display screen to Tyler Allgeier) with three picks earlier than leaving with an ankle damage.
That’s why within the locker room there’s an actual feeling issues are trending upward with the Bears one journey to Lambeau Field and a gathering with the rival Packers away from heading into what shall be a pivotal offseason for common supervisor Ryan Poles and his workers. There is younger expertise that’s closing the season sturdy. Sometimes you close to the top of the schedule and first-year gamers encounter rookie partitions. This group is trending up. No query, although some warning is required when contemplating the opponents the Bears have overwhelmed:
- Week 5: Washington Commanders (4-12) QB Sam Howell
- Week 7: Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) QB Brian Hoyer
- Week 10: Carolina Panthers (2-14) QB Bryce Young
- Week 12: Minnesota Vikings (7-9) QB Josh Dobbs
- Week 14: Detroit Lions (11-5) QB Jared Goff
- Week 16: Arizona Cardinals (4-12) QB Kyler Murray
- Week 17: Atlanta Falcons (7-9) QB Taylor Heinicke
Young, Goff and Murray is perhaps the one three quarterbacks beginning for his or her present groups when subsequent season begins. The Bears are 1-4 in opposition to groups presently projected to be within the playoffs. Their final three victories have come by 15, 11 and 20 factors, so that they’ve soundly overwhelmed one good staff (Detroit) and two mediocre golf equipment. The Falcons had a shot on the playoffs, so it’s not like they have been an opponent that was simply taking part in out the string.
The vitality within the Bears locker room is palpable and also you get the sense this group is legitimately bonded.
“I know it’s a couple wins and all that, but I’m just saying that just to get that vibe in there of, ‘Hey, we can do this,’ that was certainly exciting for the players in there,” Eberflus stated.
Maybe that’s why Moore introduced a field of cigars that have been set out on a desk, in line with Fields.
“I think it was a very important thing for us and of course we want to win every game,” Fields stated. “This one was just special, New Year’s Eve, just the atmosphere. It was almost like a movie, to be honest with you. I came in the locker room after everybody, just run in there and cigars in there. I’m surprised because we had ain’t never had cigar smoke in there. I was surprised and everybody had a good time after the game. It was really fun.”
The objective, in fact, is to intention greater in 2024 and the assumption is the inspiration — or a lot of it — is in place.
“We are getting closer and closer to the playoffs and I think that is everybody’s goal, really get to the playoffs,” stated cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who left the sport within the first half with a shoulder damage. “Get to the big dance and then reset and the season starts again after that point. We’re just getting closer and closer to that.”
Said nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon: “You’ve been seeing the slow changes that we’ve been making, defense, offense, special teams and everything is starting to click.”
Fields stated he’s not a cigar fanatic, “however in fact I (fired one up) within the locker room to have fun with the blokes. You received’t catch me at house lighting up a cigar. Maybe sooner or later.
“I know DJ is a cigar guy. One workout we had over the summer, this man pulled up in the truck with a cigar. I’m like, what? Then worked out crazy and balled out and drove off with a cigar in his mouth. I know DJ was happy to see the cigars in there for sure.”
Stevenson stated he virtually choked when he puffed away on a cigar.
“I put it down immediately,” he stated. “Whatever it is to celebrate with these guys, I’m happy that we came together throughout the year. All the doubters, all the haters, we overcame all that. We showed the world what type of team we are and how we believe in each other.”
Veteran tight finish Cole Kmet, who overcame a knee damage throughout the week to play in his 66th consecutive sport, had amusing concerning the celebration.
“Maybe a little much with the cigar smoke,” Kmet stated. “But no, it’s good. I think the results are showing up. The results have been there. We’re coming together as a team. I think you can see where this is going. We’ve got some really good pieces and we have a really good team coming together. I really believe that. And I couldn’t have said that in the past.”
Hey, social gathering prefer it’s 2024.
2. More momentous than a powerful dismantling of a Falcons staff that has misplaced to Washington, Arizona and Carolina this season was the result of the Panthers sport.
Jacksonville posted a 26-0 shutout victory over the Panthers that secured the No. 1 general decide within the 2024 draft for the Bears.
Returns on that March 10 commerce by GM Ryan Poles with Carolina proceed to bolster the Bears for the longer term. DJ Moore has become probably the greatest large receivers in franchise historical past. He has 92 receptions for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns with one sport remaining. In return, the Panthers used the No. 1 decide on quarterback Bryce Young. The Bears acquired the No. 9 decide, which they traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, transferring down one spot to pick proper sort out Darnell Wright. The Bears will get a fourth-round decide from the Eagles in 2024 as a part of that commerce.
Also secured from the Panthers within the deal was a 2023 second-round decide. The Bears moved up 5 spots with that decide to decide on cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Still to come back are the No. 1 decide within the 2024 draft and a second-rounder from the Panthers in 2025. It’s the reward that continues to provide and you can’t assist however marvel if Panthers GM Scott Fitterer will wind up out of labor after this season. Maybe he had an order from proprietor David Tepper to make the deal, but it surely’s been an absolute windfall for the Bears, organising almost 4 full months for draft evaluation.
Bears gamers have been both legitimately oblivious to the event or well-choreographed in taking part in dumb when requested about locking down the highest decide, one thing that’s appeared an increasing number of like a certain factor since early November.
“Honestly, I didn’t know that until you told me,” cornerback Kyler Gordon stated. “We’re just focused on the here and now. What’s about to happen next week.”
“Who knows what can happen?” center linebacker Tremaine Edmunds stated when instructed concerning the No. 1 decide. “It’s about finishing strong.”
“That’s not my job,” stated cornerback Jaylon Johnson, additionally unaware of the excellent news.
“We’re not really on it like you are,” defensive finish Montez Sweat stated. “It’s news to me. We understand the significance of draft picks and all the stuff like that. No. 1 pick, that’s cool, whoever it is, they gotta come in here and get right with this culture.”
“For the future, where this team is headed and the momentum we have, the foundation we’re building, the camaraderie we’re building, adding top picks can only help,” tight finish Robert Tonyan stated. “That is beyond our job but it is cool knowing that we will have some big guys coming. The trade worked out. Poles is doing his thing. That’s why he is in that seat.”
I didn’t run into Poles after the sport however I’m prepared to wager he not less than had a fist pump when the Panthers sport ended. He instructed the amusing story of backing into the No. 1 decide final yr when the Houston Texans pulled off a late rally to defeat the Indianapolis Colts within the season finale. Poles was pulling into his driveway at house when a neighbor yelled out congratulations. Poles stated it felt somewhat odd to have fun.
I’d additionally wager Matt Eberflus might be happy with the way in which his gamers responded with their concentrate on the current.
“Really don’t give attention to it right now,” he stated when requested concerning the significance of the draft decide. “I don’t think we’re picking tomorrow, you know what I mean? So the focus — like I said, for you to do your job the right way — is you got to be here right now, get your eyes forward for the next thing. Next thing for me is go spend some time with my wife and family tonight. I will look at the tape at the house. I got it hard-wired in. Then we will move on to the next 5:05 (a.m.) wake-up and head to the office.”
There are an array of prospects for the Bears to think about at No. 1. They can draft a quarterback. They can commerce down and get one other haul. They can keep put and choose a participant. I’ll say it’s unlikely, in my estimation, they’d stand pat at No. 1 and choose Ohio State large receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The final time a large receiver was chosen No. 1 was Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. Before that, it’s a must to return to Irving Fryar in 1984. Receivers don’t go on the high of the draft class and this appears to be a terrific yr for receivers, so there wouldn’t be a have to rush it.
There is MORE than sufficient time to dissect the chances, weigh the professionals and cons and contemplate the entire choices. Maybe Poles grabbed one of many cigars from the Bears locker room and fired it up when he received house to start ruminating.
When the Bears traded the No. 1 decide final yr, it was simply the thirteenth time because the NFL/AFL merger in 1967 that the highest decide was dealt and the second time since 2001. No staff has traded the No. 1 decide in consecutive years.
3. With gentle snow falling and the wind blowing, the Bears got here out with a plan.
It was to throw the ball and get Justin Fields going straight away along with his high goal DJ Moore. It helped stake them to a fast 14-0 lead and offered a sizzling begin to one among Fields’ finest video games this season.
Moore motioned to the slot and received behind Falcons security Jessie Bates III on the primary play from scrimmage for a 32-yard acquire. The Bears figured Atlanta would lean closely on its tendency to play man protection (the Falcons used much more Two Man than a variety of groups) and so they appreciated the matchup with Fields throwing to Moore. On third-and-goal from the 7-yard line on the opening possession, the Falcons have been prone to be in man. Everyone performs man protection within the low pink zone. You must.
The Bears ran a double smash route with Moore lined up because the No. 3 on a nook route. The two in-breakers opened a void on the surface third. Moore received his matchup — once more in opposition to Bates — and there was nobody to cease him. There was a variety of room and it was a extremely good throw by Fields.
“They were in what we call triangle coverage where basically the safety and the slot is outside leverage and outside is basically one-on-one,” Fields defined. “DJ just really has to beat the safety on that. Just make sure the corner outside attaches to the under route and then, boom. Line did a great job protecting on that one and great catch, great route by DJ.”
The Bears received cooking once more on the subsequent possession with one other huge third-down throw. Fields dropped a magnificence simply over Moore’s shoulder alongside the Atlanta sideline for a 32-yard acquire on third-and-7.
“That was a crazy catch,” Fields stated. “I’m not going to lie to you. He told me the same thing. He said he couldn’t even see the ball. He was tracking it and boom, it just fell in his hands. That was a circus catch right there. Any time I see DJ one-on-one, I’m most likely throwing it up. He is a hell of a player and teammate, so glad to have him here.”
On a play-action, Fields rolled out left and related with Robert Tonyan for a 10-yard acquire and on the subsequent play, a draw, he went across the left aspect 9 yards for a landing. The Falcons, who noticed kicker Younghoe Koo miss area targets of their first two possessions, have been in no place to recuperate.
Fields made two extra nifty performs and whereas they didn’t immediately result in factors, they have been notable. Facing third-and-8 from the Bears’ 35-yard line within the third quarter, he spun out of sack efforts by tackles David Onyemata and Calais Campbell and linebacker Bud Dupree, turning what appeared like it might be a loss right into a 13-yard acquire and a primary down.
It’s the form of magic Fields could make occur along with his legs just a few occasions a sport, performs that paralyze a protection when it’s in place to get off the sector with a well-executed rush.
“I actually can’t tell you what happened,” Fields stated. “I just felt like it was one guy, boom, another guy on me, boom. When I got out of the third tackle, I looked up and I saw green grass. Just when you’re running, just taking a peek at the first-down marker and seeing where that is, trying to convert.”
Later, he made the form of pocket throw you need to see extra of, placing a ball on the spot for streaking rookie large receiver Tyler Scott, whose diving effort was damaged up by Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes. It was a lovely throw within the good spot and would have been a 33-yard landing on a drive that finally led to a Cairo Santos area objective.
“First read was DJ,” Fields stated. “Didn’t like him, however I noticed the security transfer firstly of the play towards DJ’s aspect, and, you already know, Tyler has received that inside launch, skinny put up. Didn’t join on it, however Tyler is sort of there. He has grown a lot all year long. I texted him after the Browns sport, ‘Just great,’ to say how a lot he’s grown as a receiver, as a participant.
“I know it’s tough that we haven’t connected because we almost had a touchdown today, but it’s coming soon with him. Just going to tell him to keep working and keep grinding. That was an almost great play by Tyler.”
In six video games since coming back from a proper thumb damage that sidelined him 4 video games, Fields has solely three interceptions however two occurred on Hail Mary efforts within the loss at Cleveland. He’s defending the soccer whereas mixing in explosive performs within the passing sport and making key performs along with his working capacity. The 268 yards was his third-highest whole for the season and fifth-highest for his profession.
He’s giving Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus and the workers loads to think about when the Bears stay up for the approaching offseason, the draft and a choice on the fifth-year possibility in his contract. Seeing all of it begin to come collectively — the passing sport in live performance with the elite second-reaction performs — is what supplies hope for Fields sooner or later.
“That’s what we’ve been searching for, right,” Eberflus stated. “He has the flexibility to flee the pocket when it breaks down. On these crucial conditions, third down, two-minute, these conditions we actually need him to throw the ball on time on a regular basis on first and second down.
“There are sometimes you’re creating because that’s the critical down, we need to get that down, he will create. Before it was mostly with his legs but now you’re starting to see him work out of the pocket and look down field and make some big strikes. The last couple weeks are a great example of that. That’s how you gut a defense and makes it really hard when you’ve got a scrambling guy like that, can move around, is very accurate on the deep passes too.”
The Soldier Field crowd erupted in cheers of “We want Fields!” and it wasn’t misplaced on the quarterback or his teammates.
“Yeah, I heard it,” Fields stated after the ultimate house sport of the season. “It was great. Ever since the moment I got here, the fans here have been great to me, to the team. I was saying to somebody in there last year when we didn’t have a good record, they’re still showing up late in the season, cheering us on.”
He acknowledges there’s uncertainty about what the longer term holds. Nothing is assured once you mission forward to 2024.
“I did,” Fields stated when requested if he took a second to take all of it in. “But I all the time do this. I simply made an enormous emphasis on residing within the current second. Definitely bear in mind this sport for the remainder of my life, simply the environment, the followers, the chants, the snow.
“I don’t like snow as a quarterback, but looking back on it, it was great. Just the atmosphere, the fans, the game, playing the hometown team where I’m from (he went to high school in Kennesaw, Ga.), beating them. It was a good day.”
One sport stays and the Bears seemingly all the time put inventory within the consequence of encounters with the Packers. It’s another probability for Fields to point out his stuff and provides the Bears extra to think about.
“I’ve said it before I’m going to keep saying it: What makes him not the quarterback?” Moore stated. “The Houdini act (on third-and-8) should’ve put the nail in the (coffin). He’s not a running back. He is him. I want him to be the quarterback.”
4. Before the beginning of the season, I wrote the largest enchancment the Bears may make defensively could be to see rookie defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens develop.
That was earlier than anybody may foreshadow a commerce for defensive finish Montez Sweat. Development is going on with Dexter now and that’s terrific for the Bears at a place the place there have been main query marks.
Dexter had 1 1/2 sacks in opposition to the Falcons and he’s had not less than a 1/2 sack in three of the final 4 video games. He’s received 9 quarterback hits over the past seven video games and not less than one in every of these video games as issues are starting to click on for the second-round decide from Florida.
The sport is slowing down for Dexter. He’s studying — at 6-foot-6, 312 kilos — to play with extra constant leverage. He’s successful his one-on-one matchups, after they current themselves, extra repeatedly. He’s understanding blocking ideas higher to have a really feel for the place the opponent is, the place he’s going and what he’s making an attempt to perform.
“When you hit home and you know what it feels like to do it right and get that, get home and get that hit on the quarterback, it builds confidence,” Dexter stated. “I’m a totally different player. My knowledge of the game, knowledge of how to rush, prepare for the game. My first couple games, I really didn’t know how to prepare up to the game and my … routine, now I am kind of consistent. I think I’m a different player for sure.”
Sure, Dexter’s ascent has matched up with the arrival of Sweat, who has reworked the entrance seven. But Sweat can’t make performs for Dexter and the rookie is starting to point out up with extra than simply occasional flashes.
Sweat had an inkling of what sort of participant Dexter may flip into. When he began offseason coaching in Pensacola, Fla., he met Dexter at a facility the place he was ramping up for the scouting mix. As they are saying, gamers know gamers.
“Before he got drafted, I understood he was going to be a dynamic guy,” Sweat instructed me. “You don’t just see big, tall guys that can move the way he does and come with that kind of strength. When I arrived, noticed he was here too, I was like, ‘(Shoot), I’m ready for that boy to blossom like a flower for real.’ It’s only a matter of time. He’s just going to keep getting better and better. Strong and he can move.”
Figuring out the inside — Pickens has had his moments too — shall be an merchandise of enterprise within the offseason, however the Bears must really feel like Dexter is poised to make a leap ahead.
“He’s been a lot better,” stated a professional scout for an additional staff. “He’s coming off the ball. He’s received some juice to him. That’s what you anticipate. Obviously, you need it earlier however it’s a must to bear in mind (firstly of the season), he was taking part in on a nasty staff. He didn’t have Sweat with him for the primary half. Look how significantly better everyone seems to be taking part in. T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, Justin Jones, DeMarcus Walker, all of these guys are taking part in higher. But Dexter is a younger man, how previous is he? (He turned 22 in October.) He in all probability didn’t develop absolutely in faculty so he’s nonetheless in that developmental arc.
“He’s figuring out how to play at an NFL level, like what speed do I have to play at every level. I am sure his conditioning was an issue at the beginning of the season. He’s never had to play this hard. He’s realized he can’t do things like go back door against some guard from Vanderbilt and still make the damn play. That doesn’t work in the NFL. He’s got the traits. He’s got the size. He could be a player. I’m not saying he’s going to be an All-Pro, but he could be a really good player and he’s got juice, man. He’s coming off the ball the last few weeks, he’s being more disruptive when you watch the film and he’s being much more disruptive play to play.”
I don’t imagine the Bears are stunned. Dexter actually isn’t both.
“Those guys, (Ryan) Poles and (Coach) Flus, they kind of knew what they were getting,” Dexter stated. “They scouted me. They knew and I knew who I was … so maybe to the fans that didn’t know, I always knew who I was.”
5. There was a buzz Saturday when NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported issues have been trending towards Matt Eberflus returning for a 3rd season as Bears coach.
That dovetailed with what I heard early final week in chatting with people across the league who prompt the vibe was that Eberflus certainly could be protected.
The rationale I acquired included quite a lot of causes, starting with enhancements the younger staff has made this season, particularly on protection, which Eberflus oversees. Sunday’s victory over the Falcons improved the Bears to 7-9, 4 extra victories than they totaled final season. The Bears have typically been considered as a affected person group, and the one coach within the Super Bowl period to not get a 3rd season was Marc Trestman, who was two-and-done after 2014.
Things seem even higher for Eberflus after a fifth straight house win, the fourth within the final 5 video games general and a 6-4 file within the final 10 video games.
“Like I said many times, my eyes are forward on the corrections of this game and I really don’t pay attention to that,” Eberflus stated when requested concerning the NFL Media report. “I’m a soccer coach, so I do know there shall be noise on the market, good or dangerous. If you hearken to both one, you’re not doing all of your job.
“For me, doing my job is focus on the men in that locker room and the coaches and the development of the Chicago Bears. That’s what I’m going to do.”
In discussions about what the Bears will do with Eberflus, one of many pushbacks to retaining him is the concept if the Bears draft a quarterback within the first spherical — and I wouldn’t low cost that risk — are they making a scenario through which the coach is underneath stress to succeed with a rookie quarterback?
That dynamic proved fateful on the finish for the earlier two coaches. The Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky within the first spherical in 2017 and fired John Fox after a 5-11 season. That pressured Trubisky to study a brand new system with a head coach who wasn’t concerned within the resolution to draft him. That coach, Matt Nagy, was fired in 2021 after Justin Fields’ rookie season and a 6-11 file. Former GM Ryan Pace additionally was fired, creating openings for the brand new regime.
There’s an alternate, although, and it’s the chance that the present energy construction — Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Kevin Warren and possibly most significantly GM Ryan Poles — is comfy sufficient with Eberflus at this level that the coach wouldn’t enter 2024 on a win-now mandate whether or not the Bears are rolling with Fields or a rookie quarterback.
In that state of affairs, Eberflus would have extra runway and it wouldn’t arrange a playoffs-or-bust season.
“If you are doing things properly, which has never been done there before, you have to commit to three years of the quarterback, coach and the GM,” one league government stated. “Otherwise, you’re doing the very same factor that has been performed time and again and over the place you modify the quarterback after which a yr or two later change the coach. Or you modify the coach and you then change the quarterback.
“There’s been no continuity between these positions over the past a number of years. If you’re going to maintain Poles, tremendous. If you’re going to maintain Eberflus, you possibly can’t give Eberflus a brand new quarterback after which fireplace him a yr later. If you fireplace Eberflus a yr from now and have Caleb (Williams), now you’re giving that subsequent coach the identical (expletive) you gave Nagy, the place he’s considering, ‘Well, (Trubisky) isn’t my quarterback.’ Well, you took the job, so he’s your quarterback.
“It’s attention-grabbing as a result of in some unspecified time in the future, the place are these candidates going to come back from? All of those head coaches which can be getting fired, who’re going to be the seven to 10 new head coaches you’re going to rent? Now you’re hiring seven to 10 offensive coordinators to go together with these guys. And there are going to be another OCs fired, proper? Look at this yr. Half the league had a alternative at offensive coordinator. There have been 16 new offensive coordinators. Now you’re going to try this once more this yr. Where the hell are these individuals coming from? Where are you going to search out them?
“I don’t know what they’re going to do, but they can’t keep going through this cycle where it’s not aligned all the way.”
Maybe that’s a path to extra time for Eberflus. All I’m saying is that inside Halas Hall, the angle may not be that Eberflus is underneath stress subsequent season — irrespective of which quarterback the staff has.
Asked if he has been instructed he’ll return, Eberflus stayed the place his ft have been.
“I’m focusing on right here, right now,” he stated. “We’ll have all those conversations at the end with everybody that’s involved. Certainly excited to have those conversations.”
6. If Matt Eberflus returns, will probably be attention-grabbing to see how a number of issues shake out.
One of the primary issues I’m interested in is whether or not or not he’ll select to stay his personal defensive coordinator.
I’m wondering if the expertise working the protection because the departure of Alan Williams will lead Eberflus to the conclusion he’s the perfect man for that job. It’s extra frequent for head coaches to function offensive play callers than defensive play callers, but it surely does occur. You can’t argue with the outcomes because the Bears have made vital enhancements in actually each space, particularly because the acquisition of defensive finish Montez Sweat in Week 9. Eberflus rose via the ranks as a defensive coordinator, first at Missouri after which with the Indianapolis Colts — it’s in his DNA. As I’ve chatted with people across the league all through the season, together with coaches and personnel males with groups the Bears have confronted, they’ve been complimentary of the work Eberflus has performed guiding the unit.
Why not roll with it? In that state of affairs, Eberflus would wish to rent a coordinator, who would have the position in title solely, and contemplate different strikes. That may imply a promotion from inside or maybe an outdoor rent. Eberflus took his time discovering assist after Williams left, because it was just a few weeks earlier than he introduced the addition of Phil Snow, 68, as a defensive analyst. How a lot Snow has offered stays unknown. Eberflus stated he would support prematurely scouting and I’d anticipate the staff and workers have been fairly pleased with the work he’s performed. Whether or not Snow is interested by full-time teaching work is unknown.
There’s additionally the query of what course Eberflus would need to go on offense whether or not the staff is retaining quarterback Justin Fields, which appears unlikely to me, or trying to exchange him with a first-round draft decide. Eberflus has backed coordinator Luke Getsy not too long ago, however his actions after the season shall be much more telling than phrases in Week 17.
Given a second rent within the secondary, Eberflus made a big improve when he added Jon Hoke as passing sport coordinator/cornerbacks coach, changing James Rowe, who left late final season to go to South Florida. Given that it was a lateral transfer to a non-Power Five faculty, that led me to imagine Rowe was inspired to depart. The upshot is Hoke, in his second stint as an assistant for the Bears, has been wonderful with rookie cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith and the group as a complete.
Because a variety of occasions rookies don’t know what they don’t know, I requested veteran Jaylon Johnson about Hoke’s influence.
“He just pushes us each and every day,” Johnson stated. “He’s been consistent. He brings a certain level of expectation to the room in terms of what we’re being asked to do and being demanding to do it. He acknowledges that it is hard, that he’s asking a lot but he still continues to push us in that way. That’s how he’s been from Day 1. His biggest thing is details and really just pushing us to be great whether it’s in coverage, run, physicality, whatever it is. He pushes us to be great.”
Hoke’s gamers previously have echoed a typical sentiment that he’s very robust on them.
“100%,” Johnson stated. “That’s just him. He is a tough guy. He demands a lot out of his players and I feel like depending who the player is, you respond or you fold. For me, just being able to respond, just being able to build a relationship and have an understanding of what it is he wants and being able to go out and perform.”
If given the chance to make extra workers hires, maybe Eberflus can have comparable success. It’s been a very long time since Lovie Smith was working the Bears, however he made some tactical strikes along with his teaching workers that upgraded it fairly shortly. Maybe Eberflus can do the identical.
7. The Atlanta Falcons got here to Soldier Field with a roster that included acquainted faces.
Defensive sort out LaCale London, working again Cordarrelle Patterson and tight finish MyCole Pruitt are on their roster. The teaching workers contains Dave Ragone, Michael Pitre and Mike Snyder. Of course, former Bears GM Ryan Pace landed in Atlanta in 2022 and was promoted to director of participant personnel over the summer season.
Two of the Bears higher gamers this season — cornerback Jaylon Johnson and tight finish Cole Kmet — have been second-round picks by Pace and his workers in 2020. The roster has turned over considerably in almost two seasons since Pace was in cost and 11 gamers stay who have been initially acquired by him. There’s a twelfth for those who depend apply squad large receiver Nsimba Webster, who joined the staff initially in 2021 and has bounced round.
That’s commonplace turnover. New GMs typically inherit rosters that want a big makeover and are sometimes full of older gamers. That was the case with the Bears. When you consider scheme modifications that include a brand new teaching workers on either side of the ball, the roster churns at a quicker price and earlier than you already know it, the locker room is filled with virtually utterly new faces.
I chatted with a former member of Pace’s workers to ask about what influence — if any — remained from his seven-season tenure, which included one successful yr in 2018. He started the dialog speaking about participant acquisitions — some that labored, some that didn’t — after which pointed to the huge renovation of Halas Hall and the addition of two extra apply fields behind the Walter Payton Center that the membership credited Pace with being the driving drive behind.
“That’s a big deal, a major deal,” stated the previous workers member. “I don’t suppose (George McCaskey and Ted Phillips) would have performed it on their very own. They have been reworking (Halas Hall) not lengthy earlier than Pace arrived in 2013. It was embarrassing earlier than that (transform) but it surely was ok after. Now? It’s considerably higher.
“I’m certain Pace was behind (the transform that started in 2018) and had loads to do with the design and all the things. That’s an enormous deal. When Pace received there, there was no emphasis on the dietary element. He elevated the areas of diet, sports activities science, psychological efficiency, these issues have been taken to a different stage. Even the energy workers and the way that group developed from what it was prior. I do suppose he was given far more assets than Phil Emery needed to do these issues. I don’t suppose it was one thing Phil was neglecting to do.
“Pace was able to somehow, whether it was leverage or being a nice guy, he was able to get the McCaskeys to invest more money in the soft things like the facility and the support staff areas. To be able to convince ownership to invest more in things that no one outside the organization really sees or feels, I think that is a skill and deserves to be commended because a lot of people can’t convince their owners to spend money in those areas. That’s probably what he did most for the organization that the current regime is benefiting from.”
8. The NFL did monster tv scores on Christmas with a tripleheader: Raiders at Chiefs, Giants at Eagles and Ravens at 49ers.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ upset win had a mean viewers of 29 million viewers on CBS, the most-watched Christmas Day sport in 34 years. The nightcap, when Baltimore rolled San Francisco in a battle of 11-win groups, had an viewers of greater than 27 million viewers, the second-largest quantity for a “Monday Night Football” sport in 27 years.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported the NFL presently has no plans to play video games on Christmas when the vacation falls on a Tuesday or a Wednesday (Christmas is on a Wednesday in 2024). And Florio isn’t shopping for it, saying he believes the league’s takeover of tv viewers on a day beforehand dominated by the NBA isn’t one thing NFL house owners will need to cede — even quickly.
It would create a sport of Twister with regards to scheduling late-season video games.
“I don’t know, man,” offensive lineman Dan Feeney stated with a chuckle after I requested about the potential for taking part in on a Wednesday. “We play Thursday nights so … I could see it for the ratings, but I don’t know. It’s very hard on the body.”
Feeney prompt groups taking part in on a Wednesday may have a Saturday sport the week earlier than, one thing that would offer the identical timeline gamers have within the fast turnaround from Sundays to Thursdays. The query is what occurs on the again finish of a Wednesday sport? When do they play once more? They may play the subsequent Monday — offering another day of relaxation than groups get from Sunday to Thursday — however three video games in 10 days (Saturday-Wednesday-Monday) may very well be a aggressive drawback and admittedly doesn’t sound doable. For starters, a Christmas Day sport would fall in Week 17 and there’s not a Monday sport in Week 18 (or there hasn’t been thus far). Any form of plan would possible require extra outside-the-box considering.
The league performed on a Wednesday not way back. A Week 12 sport in 2020 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens was moved to Wednesday, Dec. 2, due to COVID-19. The Steelers performed the next week on a Monday. The Ravens’ subsequent sport got here on a Tuesday. In 2021, nonetheless impacted by COVID-19, two Week 15 video games have been moved to a Tuesday.
“At this point in my career, I’ve seen a lot of crazy things, especially playing through COVID and stuff,” proper guard Nate Davis stated. “I used to be on that Titans staff that performed on a Tuesday and we needed to flip round and play on Sunday. I wouldn’t put it previous the league to do. But on the finish of the day, it’s out of our management.
“They’d have to figure out a way to schedule it. I wouldn’t say no (to a Christmas game happening in 2024). There’s two sides to it. Obviously, Christmas, you want to be with your family. But this is our job. If you have to do it, you go out and do it as long as there is adequate time off on both sides.”
If the NFL doesn’t play video games on Christmas subsequent season, certainly the league will return to the date within the close to future. In 2025, Dec. 25 falls on a Thursday. It’s on a Friday in 2026 and Saturday in 2027. No scheduling gymnastics shall be required to fill these dates with as many video games because the league wishes.
9. For a second it appeared like Dee Alford would cement his title within the NFL file books with a 109-yard landing.
You can’t have an extended rating than that and it’s solely been performed 3 times in league historical past, most not too long ago when Jacksonville’s Jamal Agnew returned a missed area objective for a landing in 2021.
Alford caught a 55-yard area objective try by Cairo Santos 9 yards deep within the north finish zone on the ultimate play of the second quarter and located some area alongside the Atlanta sideline, weaving 96 yards earlier than he was finally tackled by middle Lucas Patrick, who’s on the sector objective staff.
There have been shades of Nathan Vasher and Devin Hester, who returned missed area targets for touchdowns in 2005 and 2006, respectively, every 108 yards.
It was a desperation strive for a area objective on the windy day, inside what Matt Eberflus stated was the “monster line” to kick.
“The thing is the wind was switching end zones all day,” Santos instructed me. “Sometimes it felt like that way (kicking to the north), we could have had the wind at our back. When I went out to the field on that 55, it switched straight in my face. I tried to communicate with (special teams coordinator Richard) Hightower and we just couldn’t get it.”
“That’s precisely why we didn’t kick (on the finish of the primary half) in Cleveland. We knew it was in our face. We knew it was going to come back quick. This time, we felt like we may have had an opportunity.
“When (Alford) got to the left side and across the 50, I didn’t see anyone … at one point, he felt my presence and he turned around and I think that’s when he ran into Lucas and Bobby (Tonyan). Just great pursuit by those guys to save a touchdown.”
“It was a lot of running,” Tonyan stated. “I dove and I received a hand on him. I didn’t know I received him down after which I received smoked by two individuals. That’s a momentum-changing play. I do know we get the ball to begin the second half however nonetheless going into halftime — we’re all in right here exhausted, laying on the ground. It’s totally different in the event that they rating. We would really feel it.
“(Hightower) puts us through that scenario every week in practice. It’s tough, seven linemen, two tight ends, a kicker and a punter. It’s a tough spot. It was a great kick by Cairo. Into the wind, into the snow. He still drove it pretty well. Thank god they didn’t score.”
Santos wound up making area targets from 22, 42 and 42 yards and is now 32 for 35 (91.4%) for the season. If he finishes at 90% or above, he triggers a $500,000 bonus in his contract. That means he’s in all probability must be good at Lambeau Field as a result of my hunch is the clause requires Santos to be 90% with out rounding up.
10. With the victory, the Bears’ personal first-round decide could be No. 10 general based mostly on present standings.
This is in line with Matt Hoover, who runs tankathon.com. Hoover instructed me that with a win over the Packers, the Bears may probably drop as little as No. 13, relying on different outcomes. With a loss at Green Bay, the Bears may decide as excessive as No. 8, requiring wins by Atlanta (at New Orleans) and the New York Jets (at New England).
10a. We’re per week away from understanding exactly who shall be on the Bears schedule in 2024. Three video games shall be decided by the standings. The Bears will host the corresponding finishers within the NFC South and AFC East and play a highway sport on the like finisher within the NFC East.
At 7-9, the Bears are tied with the Minnesota Vikings within the NFC North, though the league web site has Minnesota in third place based mostly on file in opposition to frequent opponents. The Vikings will shut out the season at Detroit. Obviously, loads can change if the Bears are third or fourth within the division, and the Packers (8-8) are just one sport forward of Minnesota and the Bears with extra tiebreakers probably being required.
Here are the house opponents that aren’t the standard NFC North rivals. The Bears will play host video games in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans. They can have highway video games on the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers.
As far because the TBD opponents, listed below are the present standings within the three divisions price understanding:
- NFC South: Tampa Bay (8-8), New Orleans (8-8), Atlanta (7-9), Carolina (2-14)
- AFC East: Miami (11-5), Buffalo (10-6), New York Jets (6-10), New England Patriots (4-12)
- NFC East: Dallas (11-5), Philadelphia (11-5), New York Giants (5-11), Washington (4-12)
10b. Pro Bowl Games rosters shall be introduced Wednesday and the Bears have a small handful of gamers who ought to have an opportunity and will do effectively in voting by coaches and gamers. They every get 1/3 of the vote, with the fan vote additionally counting 1/3. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson, large receiver DJ Moore, defensive finish Montez Sweat have all performed effectively sufficient to be deserving of choice. If the Bears had received extra, I’d suppose weak-side linebacker T.J. Edwards in all probability would get extra consideration. Kicker Cairo Santos has had an amazing season, but it surely’s exhausting to argue in opposition to Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey, who’s 35 for 35 on area targets.
10c. Tight finish Cole Kmet stated a pregame warmup with a knee damage made him really feel comfy run blocking, however he knew he wouldn’t have the ability to do loads within the passing sport. He stated he was hopeful the Green Bay sport could be on Sunday (it’s), giving him an additional day to heal as a substitute of taking part in on Saturday.
10d. Congratulations to Bryan Pett, the staff’s stadium operations director, who’s retiring in February after 34 years with the membership. The Bears had a tribute to Pett on the video board earlier than the sport. He’s all the time been an aesthetic consultant of the group, keen to assist and share a form phrase. Pett did much more for the staff than simply work on the stadium. He was a pleasant face to run into at coaching camp. Best of luck in retirement.
10e. The Packers opened as a 1 1/2-point favourite over the Bears for Sunday’s season finale at Lambeau Field.
10f. Happy New Year!
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Source: www.bostonherald.com