NEWSLETTER
Before we dive down the rabbit hole, let it be known that this is Mitchell Trubisky’s team. And without his contributions down the stretch, I’m not entirely convinced the Bears would’ve made the playoffs. So with that being said, I hope it’s clear that I’m not advocating a quarterback switch during a postseason game. Especially when it would mean going away from a quarterback whose efforts got Chicago there in the first place.
However, I’m also a realist. And someone who wants the Bears to win a playoff game. Moreover, I’m someone willing to roll every dice in an attempt to win. In turn, the Bears should be, too. By hook or by crook, Chicago’s players and coaches should be willing to risk it all to win a playoff game.
Even if it means sitting Trubisky down and replacing him with Nick Foles at some point if it comes to it.
Now, that isn’t a foreign concept. It’s not even a galaxy-brained idea. Foles was an in-game replacement for Trubisky in Week 3. And it’s not inconceivable for that scenario to play out again on Sunday in New Orleans. Think about it.
Trubisky is tied for third in total turnover-worthy plays that didn’t result in a turnover, according to Pro Football Focus. He had 13 such plays … despite missing SEVEN games. And even though Trubisky’s late-season surge was a welcome sight, his last five games came against the 17th, 18th, 30th, 31st, and 32nd ranked defenses by Football Outsiders’ DVOA stat. The Saints? Well, they rank 2nd.
Let’s be real with each other. Acknowledge that Trubisky’s roughest-looking outings have come against teams who challenge him with varying and complex looks. In other words, what the Saints tend to do to quarterbacks when their defense is at full strength.
So if things go sideways for Trubisky, where he plays a turnover-filled half, can’t move the ball down the field, and can’t generate an offense, but the game is close, shouldn’t Foles be in consideration? At minimum, that should be worth talking about if push comes to shove. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that. But if it does, we can’t say we weren’t warned.
