NEWSLETTER
Even after the most maddening 60 minutes of the year, the Chicago Bears still had an opportunity to beat the New Orleans Saints in overtime.
But in the spirit of 2020, the Bears fell apart just when you started to think things were turning around.
Nick Foles engineered two fourth-quarter scoring drives, including one that set up a 51-yard field goal that sent the game into overtime in the first place. But the Bears’ six plays in the extra session didn’t muster up much of anything, which allowed the Saints to march in and steal a 26-23 win with a 35-yard Wil Lutz field goal.
Let’s keep it real. This game wasn’t lost on an overtime kick.
Penalties continue to mount up. The Bears had seven, including two that allowed the Saints to gain first downs. Drops? There were a handful. Some thwarted drives, others tripped up momentum. In the end, they were all bad. A missed blocking assignment here and there happened to just be crud icing on a poopy cake. And that’s saying a lot, considering a Bears player was ejected for sucker-punching an opponent.
There will be plenty of hand-wringing regarding the quarterback, as there should be. But bring that same energy when discussing the general manager who put this team together and the head coach who pushes the buttons. In the end, the Bears could’ve still won this game. And I suppose there’s an argument that they should have won this one. Because I look at this game, and I see a loss that was a product of a lack of attention to detail. A lack of focus and undisciplined play really did a number on these Bears. You can point fingers as much as you’d like, but everyone at Soldier Field should be pointing a thumb at themselves when they get to the locker room.
Chicago has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. But there is no rest for the weary. The Bears travel to Nashville to face a Titans team next Sunday that lost to the Bengals.
We’ll talk tomorrow.
