There will be changes in Chicago following the Bears’ 19-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday. What exactly that entails remains to be seen, however.
Head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters Monday that he’s still in the evaluation process of an impending decision that will bring change to a struggling Bears (4-5) squad.
“For the game last night and for going forward, I know what I said last night and we’re in the process of that right now,” Eberflus said. “We’re less than 24 hours after the game and we’re in the process of that. Obviously watched the game last night and evaluated that, came in this morning and I had my normal meetings, normal Monday process. Again, there’s gonna be a change, an adjustment to what we’re doing because we obviously lost three in a row. But there’s also the sight of we’re 4-5, we haven’t played our division yet, and we’re in the process of starting that this week in a big football game. So again, just in the process of getting that done.
“There will be changes, adjustments being made. Again, I’m not going to disclose those right now. I’m not at that point in the process. Monday’s a long day in terms of the evaluation of everything, in terms of lineups, in terms of the coaching, in terms of how we need to do better in that coaching and how we need to do better in the communication in game, during the game, after the game, prior to the game. So it’s important that we take time to make those decisions and make the right decisions that’s for the Bears, best for the Bears going forward, for this week and going into the future. So I think that’s the most important thing that we do, that we have some steadiness here but also make the necessary adjustments and changes that we need to make, what’s best for the Bears going forward.”
Sunday’s defeat extended the Bears’ losing streak to three, a span that began with a heartbreaker in Washington on a last-second Hail Mary.
Since that fateful play, the Bears offense has struggled mightily, going 23 consecutive possessions without scoring a touchdown. According to NFL Research, it’s the longest such streak for Chicago since Mitchell Trubisky‘s rookie season in 2017 (Weeks 6-8, 23 straight possessions).
After scoring just 9 points in Week 9’s loss to Arizona, the Bears saw season-low totals in points (3) and total net yards (142) in Sunday’s home defeat to the Patriots. With his two starting tackles out with injury, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked nine times, the most taken by a player in a game this season. The protection issues were an extension from the prior week’s result, and allowing six-plus sacks in back-to-back games is something that hasn’t been seen in Chicago since 1993, per NFL Research.
Eberflus did say on Monday that Williams will remain the starter in an effort to clear up any confusion, but how the Bears adjust going forward — through a roster or coaching adjustment, possibly to offensive coordinator Shane Waldron — will be determined in the coming days.
“In-game communication, in terms of that, it’s got to be better,” Eberflus said. “The adjustments, the tactical adjustments need to be better with that on all sides. Everything’s on the table and it’s important that we look at everything and we take the time to get that done.”
The Bears enter a crucial and challenging back-end schedule beginning Sunday against the Packers, their first divisional game of 2024 within a top-heavy NFC North. Eberflus’ changes will be known by then, but if those adjustments are successful is just another thing that remains to be seen.
