NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears losing streak has now reached seven games after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14.
FINAL: San Francisco 49ers 38, Chicago Bears 13 (ESPN Box Score)
Thoughts on another Bears loss
- A tale as old as time: Chicago sports team fires its coach, only to immediately find out the problems go much, much deeper. This isn’t to say that Matt Eberflus should have remained the Bears head coach after that Week 13 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. However, I feel as if too much stock was put into the “dead-cat bounce” effect of a new coach coming in. Don’t get it twisted. I appreciated what Thomas Brown brings to the table as a breath of fresh air. But the reality is that this team isn’t a coach away from being where it wants. Sunday’s loss to San Francisco was a cold reminder for those who might’ve forgotten.
- Should we have seen this coming? The New York Jets fired their defensive play-caller head coach and saw that side of the ball crater upon his departure. For what it’s worth, Chicago’s defense had been trending in the wrong direction since the loss to the Washington Commanders. So perhaps a game like this was always in the offing. Anyway, I hate how often I ask myself if Phil Snow was the true mastermind behind the defense’s strong play down the stretch last year. The idea that a consultant might’ve saved Eberflus from the firing block last year is going to keep me up tonight.
INSTANT BEARS PLAYER GRADES: Week 13 vs. 49ers
- If you were wondering what a well-coached machine looks like, then I hope you were paying attention to how the 49ers performed on Sunday. Without its best pass-rusher, San Francisco collected 7 sacks and 7 quarterback hits. No Nick Bosa? No problem. With Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on injured reserve, RB3 Isaac Guerendo averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored a pair of touchdowns. But even if you took away those contributions, the 49ers had the look of a team that had a plan and was prepared to execute it from the jump. The Bears did not. And that is a good reason why the final score looks like it does
Bears Week 14 highlights
At least Rome Odunze had a nice game.
- Rome Odunze scored two touchdowns as he finished with four catches and 42 receiving yards. This toe tap was beautiful:
The toe tap from @RomeOdunze 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fugR0o0rKF
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 8, 2024
ROME ODUNZE TOUCHDOWN CATCHES: The First Score | The Second Score
- Linebacker T.J. Edwards made two nifty plays on defense:
.@TJEdwards8 bringin' the BOOM 💥
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 8, 2024
📺: #CHIvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/4bbCofolps
.@TJEdwards8 is EVERYWHERE today 🔥
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 8, 2024
📺: #CHIvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/VTlwwmW89V
How did the three Bears perform?
The D — This was an ugly showing by a group that looks like a shell of what it was down the stretch last year and early in the 2024 season:
- 452 yards allowed
- 7.4 yards per play
- 22 first downs allowed
- Scored TDs on 5 of 6 red zone trips
- Brock Purdy posted a 145.4 passer rating, threw two touchdowns, and averaged 13.0 yards/attempt
The Bears defense had just one sack, three quarterback hits, and four tackles-for-loss on Sunday. Gross.
For as ugly as the first half looked, Caleb’s second half looked equally wonderful. Williams was dropping dots and making chicken salad out of chicken spit after intermission. Maybe he was inspired by Shaboozey’s halftime performance.
Keenan Allen — The veteran wideout finished with 3 catches an 30 receiving yards, but he did hit a nifty milestone:
Tremaine Edmunds — The Bears linebacker finished with eight tackles (including three solo) but I can’t remember a single moment that made me go there goes the team’s highest-paid linebacker making a splash play. I had higher hopes for Tremaine Edmunds coming into this season. And after watching George Kittle rack up 151 receiving yards on six catches over the middle, I am reminded of how much was invested at the linebacker position. It feels wasteful.
WHAT’S NEXT: Monday, Dec. 16 at Minnesota Vikings, 7 p.m. CT on ABC-7/ESPN (Monday Night Football)
The national spotlight will be on Chicago’s football team (again) in Week 15 as the Bears head to Minnesota where they’ll face an impressive Vikings squad. That team is 11-2 with Sam Darnold playing like someone who will be paid handsomely by some QB-starved franchise this offseason. I’m not sure I’ve been more wrong about anyone than I have been about Darnold. I begrudgingly tip my cap to him because that level of perseverance paying off doesn’t happen often.
