CHICAGO — Bears coach Matt Eberflus mentioned he’ll consider “every thing from the highest to the underside” following Chicago’s third consecutive loss, a 19-3 defeat to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
That features probably altering who calls offensive performs, Eberflus acknowledged.
“We’re every thing,” Eberflus mentioned.
Six days after declaring that Shane Waldron would proceed in his function as offensive coordinator after Chicago misplaced 29-9 at Arizona, Eberflus didn’t rule out making a change at offensive playcaller after the Bears’ struggles have been magnified by the Patriots.
Chicago has not reached the tip zone in back-to-back video games and has gone 23 straight offensive drives and not using a landing, which marks the longest lively streak within the NFL. The Bears’ final landing was Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard go-ahead rating in Chicago’s 18-15 loss to Washington on a last-second Hail Mary in Week 8.
“Simply actually been in a funk the previous three weeks and we have to discover a means out of it,” tight finish Cole Kmet mentioned.
The Bears’ offensive struggles weren’t restricted to their execution on the sphere.
Chicago went into its Week 10 matchup down 4 offensive linemen, together with beginning tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright. Guard Nate Davis reported again tightness on Sunday morning and was subsequently dominated out and informed to remain house by the workforce “as a result of we do not need a man standing on two ft with a again difficulty,” in accordance with Eberflus. The rash of O-line accidents continued within the sport when left guard Teven Jenkins injured his proper ankle and was dominated out.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 9 instances by the Patriots, which brings his complete from the previous three video games to 18. Throughout Chicago’s current dropping streak, Williams has logged his three highest pressure-percentage video games of his profession
Williams accomplished 16 of his 30 go makes an attempt for 120 yards, his lowest passing output since throwing for 93 yards in his NFL debut towards the Titans. Collectively, Chicago’s offense was 1-of-14 on third down (7%), its worst mark since 2012.
The Bears have by no means fired an offensive coordinator in-season. Williams expressed confidence in his capability to adapt to a brand new playcaller ought to Chicago elect to make adjustments.
Editor’s Picks
“They are not going to reinvent the wheel, in a way,” Williams mentioned. “We’re midseason, and it is not a call for me. I’ve to do what Coach says. I’ve to cope with no matter resolution he makes, and I’ve to be high-quality with it. Will I be capable to adapt? Sure, I’ll. We’ll be capable to adapt, no matter resolution Coach makes. From there, we’ve got to exit and execute and win video games.”
Waldron was employed in January 2024 after the Bears fired former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after two seasons. Getsy, who was employed by the Raiders shortly thereafter, was fired final week amid Las Vegas’ 2-7 begin.
Waldron served in the identical function for the Seattle Seahawks from 2021 to ’23, which coincided with quarterback Geno Smith’s profession resurgence in 2022, when he was named the league’s Comeback Participant of the Yr.
The one different member of Chicago’s teaching employees with in depth playcalling expertise is Thomas Brown, who was the offensive coordinator in Carolina in 2023 and beforehand known as performs for the College of Miami from 2016 to ’18. Brown is presently Chicago’s passing sport coordinator.
Within the waning moments of the fourth quarter, “Hearth Flus” chants rang via the gang at Soldier Subject. Upon listening to followers calling for his job, Eberflus mentioned that his focus was to “get again to work.”
“I do know it is a part of the job,” Eberflus mentioned. “It is a part of it. You have to stand robust, you have to be the identical chief you’ve got at all times been and make the mandatory changes that you could make. Be robust and brave all through all of it, take a look at one another within the eye, inform one another the reality, and that is how I do know to do it.”
In a largely empty locker room postgame, Bears security Kevin Byard was requested whether or not gamers nonetheless consider in Chicago’s teaching employees.
“I am not gonna go there,” Byard mentioned. “On the finish of the day, we have to play higher. We have got to win.”
The Bears start a stretch of six division video games over the subsequent eight weeks after they host Inexperienced Bay in Week 11. All three of Chicago’s NFC North opponents maintain successful data.
Eberflus’ message to Bears coaches and gamers was to “take a tough look, inward look, settle for accountability, and be accountable to the man to the best and the man to the left” following the loss.
The third-year coach mentioned he doesn’t consider he runs the danger of dropping the locker room if he doesn’t elect to make important adjustments to his employees.
“I do not suppose so,” he mentioned. “I do consider in these guys. They think about us working collectively. I consider in our soccer workforce. I consider within the leaders within the soccer workforce. We’ll simply need to get again to work.”
