The Chicago Bears should understand how the opposite guys really feel now.
Throughout the locker room on Sunday in Baltimore, there was a typical theme among the many gamers. That they had an opportunity to win 5 in a row and preserve tempo close to the highest of the NFC North.
After profitable two of their final three video games by a single level, the shoe was on the opposite foot. A profitable streak ended with gamers singing the same tune.
“We let that one get away from us for certain,” operating again D’Andre Swift stated.
It was enjoyable whereas it lasted.
The Bears received 4 video games in a row for the primary time since Matt Nagy had his magical 2018 season. However, it’s not often ever that straightforward.
A 30-16 thumping by the hands of a determined Ravens workforce is a reminder of how a complete franchise can’t flip round in a single day, even Ben Johnson isn’t that a lot of a miracle employee. Getting the Bears to consider they will win was a giant first step. That led to wins over Las Vegas, Washington and New Orleans.
The assumption by no means wavered. However, perception can solely take a workforce to this point. They’ve received to comply with via on it.
This creates an inflection level of a Bears’ season the place a lot remains to be attainable, however nothing has been earned.
That was a stark reminder after the sport as Johnson challenged his gamers. He did his half in exhibiting the workforce that issues could be completely different. Nevertheless, profitable the video games, placing factors on the board and tackling gamers? That’s what the gamers must handle.
Johnson brazenly famous that as two banged-up groups squared off Sunday.
“I anticipated somewhat bit extra out of our squad to counter that,” Johnson stated, difficult his workforce to be higher.
It is on on the Bears to reply to that problem.
There’s an argument that the Bears needs to be profitable video games like this. With out MVP Lamar Jackson, the Bears had an opportunity to take one on the highway. They need to have, however the common suspects reared their heads.
For the second-straight sport, the Bears dedicated 10 or extra penalties. Had they dedicated yet one more flag towards Washington, that might’ve been three video games in a row with 10 or extra penalties. That is not good.
Actually good groups can overcome penalties. The Bears don’t fall into that class.
“We get away with it often, however it’s simply not the way in which you win,” Johnson stated. “I actually put it on the leaders to get this ship stepping into the correct path in that regard.
There are many leaders to select from. The Bears aren’t precisely a younger workforce. They’ve veterans who’ve performed video games and different youthful gamers who grew up quick throughout final yr’s dismal yr.
These gamers noticed what sort of sport it was.
The Ravens, who had Derrick Henry and a reliable operating sport, leaned on that as an alternative of asking Tyler Huntley to toss the soccer like Jackson might. The Bears couldn’t work out the right way to cease the small stuff, whereas the offense couldn’t end drives of its personal.
Permitting the Ravens to remain multi-dimensional is one factor, however the Bears’ self-inflicted wounds being the principle cause for that’s what stings essentially the most.
“We simply performed into their palms immediately,” Bears security Jaquan Brisker stated.
The penalties have gotten a difficulty that the Bears repeatedly battle to resolve. There’s nothing to pin it on, aside from it’s the identical factor occurring repeatedly.
Defensive deal with Grady Jarrett stated after the sport the optimistic is there’s lots the workforce can watch on movie to verify the identical errors don’t occur twice.
They’ve been occurring repeatedly. Even being down three starters means nothing.
“It had nothing to do with it,” Swift stated of the accidents that piled up. “Pink zone, penalties, we’re all right here for a cause.”
That cause is why Johnson referred to as out his workforce.
Anticipating a excessive degree of soccer a few video games into his tenure is unrealistic. That is comparatively the identical roster that just one 5 video games final yr. However, seven video games in, Johnson proved he can win some notable video games and handle enterprise when wanted to.
This falls beneath the latter.
It’s regarding to see Caleb Williams battle, however he hasn’t had a large meltdown of a sport but the place that trumps the penalties. If Williams struggles subsequent week towards a Bengals protection that allowed 39 factors to the Jets, then it’s time to have that dialog.
However, subsequent week affords an opportunity for the Bears to reply to their head coach’s problem.
“We’re going to get this factor cleaned up,” Johnson stated, providing no actual alternate options.
Both repair the penalties, or the employees will make the adjustments they want. They’ve executed that to this point this season.
