The Chicago Bears started the season 5-1. Yet anybody with a decent pair of eyes could see warning signs. Something was off about this team. Three of those victories required huge comebacks of 17, 16, and 13 points respectively. They also needed a goal-to-go stand for another. It was just apparent the team wasn’t playing its best football. Yet as George McCaskey said, as long they kept winning things would be fine.
So how about now? The Bears have lost three consecutive games. All of them punctuated by an offense that is harder on the eyes than staring directly into the sun. Sunday in Tennessee was another low point as the unit managed just three points in the first three quarters before two garbage-time touchdowns made 24-3 into 24-17 to help mask the stink.
This isn’t an isolated incident.
It’s a trend that began as early as the start of last season. Opponents routinely hold the Bears down most of the game, build a good enough lead and whittle away the clock after that. This is the offense head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace have built. Something they’ve worked on since 2018. During that time the offense went from 21st to 29th. Just an absolute embarrassment.
And apparently, one McCaskey is tired of watching. The Bears chairman has seen this before too many times. A source indicated he came out of the game in Tennessee extremely “frustrated.” While no imminent move is expected, it’s apparent this loss significantly impacted the status of both Pace and Nagy within the organization. If their jobs weren’t in question before? They certainly are now.
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George McCaskey made his message evident months ago
Keep in mind Bears media had a chance to speak with the Bears owner at length back in early September right before the season started. They pressed him multiple times on what the status was of both the GM and head coach were. Unsurprisingly, McCaskey never gave a direct answer. That said, his expectations were pretty obvious.
MCCASKEY: YEAH THERE ARE CHALLENGES. WE THINK THAT THE TEAM THAT BEST ADAPTS TO THOSE CHALLENGES WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING. THAT’S THE GOAL. TO WIN. THE GOAL EVERY YEAR IS TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL. TWO YEARS AGO, WE MADE A GREAT RUN. FELL SHORT. LAST YEAR WE REGRESSED. SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHICH TEAM IT IS.”
No getting around it. McCaskey expected this team to win. COVID-19 is a problem, yes. However, it’s a problem all 32 teams are facing. So using it as an excuse doesn’t hold a lot of water with him. Good teams find a way to win. For a while, the Bears were doing that. Not anymore. They’re 5-4 and look like they’re going to be 5-6 by December with the red hot Vikings and Packers up next.
Those games may well decide the fates of Pace and Nagy.
George McCaskey has tried to stay patient. He knew back in 2015 it was going to take time to get the Bears rebuilt. He’s waited five years and close to six seasons. So far just one winning season in that span to show for it. Both he and his mother Virginia don’t have forever. If those two can’t get the job done, he needs to once again try to find somebody who can.
Keep an eye on the calendar date of November 30th. A lot of questions should be answered by that point.