NEWSLETTER
I’ve been pretty clear that while I want the Bears to lose out and have a shot at the No. 1 pick, I completely understand why Matt Eberflus sees value in trying to win in these final games. He’s an NFL coach; it’s his job, reps, experience, etc. Yeah, cool. No issue there.
But when you’re down by four touchdowns in the second half, and your franchise quarterback has been sacked five times, been in the medical tent, and received treatment for his legs on the sideline, and you continue to run him out there to take more unnecessary hits, I’ve got a problem with that.
What Matt Eberflus did today was downright negligent. Full stop; I don’t care what coach speak he musters up in the post-game press conference; that should have never happened.
We knew that the over in this game was never in doubt. There was no question whether or not Detroit would score in bunches against this decimated Bears defense at home. I did, however, believe that the Bears offense would put up more points in this one, but the Lions pass rush was a problem for the Bears all afternoon.
It looked like the Bears offense might be able to keep pace with Detroit’s on the first couple of drives. The Bears scored on the opening drive for the 12th time this season with a heavy dose of the run game moving them down the field to set up a Justin Fields touchdown pass to Cole Kmet.
The Bears also used some nifty play calling involving Kmet and Fields on that opening drive:
And, of course, Justi Fields broke off an electric scamper of 60 yards to set the Bears up for a second straight scoring drive, ending with a field goal.
Fields surpassed Michael Vick for the second spot on the all-time single-season quarterback rushing list in the first quarter, an opening frame in which Fields ran for over 100 yards.
But that was it. Injuries to Teven Jenkins (neck) and Michael Schofield (knee) both left the game, and the Lions pass rush feasted on the Bears’ decimated offensive line all day, sacking Fields seven times. Like last week against the Bills, Luke Getsy’s offense fizzled out after an excellent start. The Bears didn’t pick up a first down in the second half until the seven-minute mark in the fourth quarter and only logged nine first downs in the game.
Fields ran for 132 yards on 10 carries (13.2 YPC) with most of it coming in the first quarter and completed just seven passes on 21 attempts for 75 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
In the end, the Bears lost (which was optimal), Justin Fields appeared to leave the game healthy, and we’re one week closer to putting a bow on this baby.
