Bears Suffer Heartbreaking 20-19 Loss to Packers
November 17, 2024, 4:49 PM CST
Even when they do just about everything right, the Bears are still cursed.
The streak was set to end today with Cairo Santos stepping up to attempt a 47 yard field goal as time expired to end the Bears 10-game skid to the Packers. Cairo had just reached 1,000 career points earlier in the game as well, so it seemed like it was destined to end in a big win for the Bears.
Until it didn't.
Santos' kick was blocked, and the Packers defeated the Bears to extend the streak to 11 games. This all came after an incredible final drive from Caleb Williams, when he went from 3rd and 19 in his own territory to finding Rome Odunze twice for big yardage, and then connecting with Keenan Allen to put the Bears in the spot they needed to attempt the winning field goal. Caleb played great today, completing 23 out of his 31 passes for 231 yards while also rushing for 70 yards. He didn't throw for any touchdowns, with Roschon Johnson and D'Andre Swift each running for a TD today.
The defense was alright, they had managed to make two redzone stands with an interception by Terell Smith on one, and stopping a Jordan Love run on fourth and goal to get the ball back up 19-14 with a chance to seal it. Christian Watson torched the defense all day though, and especially on the final Green Bay drive after they got the ball back with a long catch to set them up with the chance to take the lead, which is exactly what they did.
The offense was almost as perfect as they could've been. Thomas Brown was getting the ball out of Caleb's hands, and having Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright back was a huge help. But alas, I still have yet to write about a Bears win over the Packers. We really need to beat them in Week 18, and hopefully it would be in a spot that would end their playoff hopes.
Image Credit: Chicago Bears
Game Preview: Bears vs Packers
November 17, 2024, 10:54 AM CST
Switching it up this week from my typical Keys to the Game. The Bears (4-5) today host the Packers (6-3) at Soldier Field in what effectively is their last chance to salvage this season. A loss basically does them in at this point with how competitive the NFC is and how hard their remaining schedule is. But a win could really swing momentum, especially if the Bears offense bounces back under new OC Thomas Brown.
Coming off of three straight losses, the Bears have only managed to score two touchdowns across those three games (both against Washington). Shane Waldron is out, and Thomas Brown is in. Green Bay is coming off of their bye week, but in their last game they lost 24-14 to the Lions. It's been a long time since the Bears beat the Packers, you have to go back to Week 15 of 2018 when the Bears clinched the division with a 24-17 win, eliminating Green Bay from playoff contention that year. Since then, they've lost 10 straight to the team up north, a streak that has to come to an end today.
Caleb Williams will get his first chance to face the Packers today, and his first game against an NFC North opponent in general. Growing up idolizing Aaron Rodgers, Williams has watched first-hand how the Packers have dismantled the Bears in the past, and he should be wanting to flip the script today. It's a chance to start 1-0 against your most hated rivals, and he better take full advantage of it. Matt Eberflus' job is hanging on by a thread, and a blowout loss today could mean the end of his tenure as Bears Head Coach. If they win, he'll buy himself more time. But if Matt LaFleur gets his record against the Bears to 11-0, then Eberflus could very well be gone by this time tomorrow.
My score prediction for this game is Packers 31, Bears 17. I don't think the Bears will have enough to beat Green Bay, and I think the offense could still struggle despite the switch. Would this result be enough to get Matt Eberflus fired? Maybe, depends on how they lose. Either way, it's a massive game for many people in the Bears organization and a must win if we want any chance of keeping our faint playoff hopes alive.
Image Credit: Windy City Gridiron
Fire Flus Chants Ring as Bears Lose 19-3 To Patriots
November 10, 2024, 6:53 PM CST
There's a chance the Bears make history tomorrow morning.
In their over 100 year history, the Chicago Bears have never fired a Head Coach during the season. Matt Eberflus has a good chance to break the trend after yet another display by the Bears against the Patriots, who I had ranked last in my power rankings this week.
The only thing that's for sure is Shane Waldron is definitely done running the offense. While nothing is official, Eberflus saying that changes will be examined at offensive play caller in his postgame press conference says a lot. The Bears have not scored a touchdown in two weeks, but the entire team just looks deflated. The coaching staff has appeared to have lost the locker room. Bears fans were even chanting "Fire Flus" during the fourth quarter of today's game. It's been a disastrous few weeks for the Bears, and it's pretty much cost us the season as we have the hardest remaining schedule in the NFL.
I want to recap the game more than I have, but it was such a boring game that there's no real events to go over. Caleb Williams was sacked nine times, largely thanks to an offensive line missing both tackles and one of their guards after Teven Jenkins got hurt during the game. The defense actually did a solid job, only allowing one touchdown, but the offense had no response. I expect Thomas Brown to be calling plays against Green Bay next week, hopefully with someone else other than Matt Eberflus leading the team. That's the only way I see us even having a chance against the Packers, otherwise, we're in for an embarrassment.
Image Credit: SB Nation