Matt Nagy made the controversial move last week to sit most of the Chicago Bears starters in the teams’ fourth preseason games against Kansas City. This was supposed to be the “dress rehearsal” game where they got to play at least a full half. By choosing this unusual course of action, Nagy was making it clear that the starters were done with preseason.
This did not sit well with a lot of people, fans and media alike. They felt that given the fact Nagy was installing a new offense, his starters needed as many game-simulated reps as possible to iron out the kinks. He was risking that the unit wouldn’t be prepared for when the real action began in September.
Nagy wasn’t moved by such an argument. He countered that the starters had already logged over 2,000 total snaps in practice and the prior preseason games. He wasn’t going to risk the health of his key players over an extra 25-30 snaps. Yet there was also another aspect of his decision that sent an even greater message.
One that people have grossly overlooked.
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Matt Nagy wasted no time making the Green Bay Packers the focus
One of the things about this city and this team that previous head coaches don’t understand is that Packer Week is different from any other. No team has tortured Bears fans for longer than Green Bay over the past 25 years. Beating them not only is a greater joy than any other, it’s also proven to be a vital key to their success.
The last time the Bears beat the Packers at home was 2010, which is also the last time they made the playoffs. Green Bay has owns a 39-18 record against Chicago since the start of the 1990s. That includes an ugly 14-3 run over the past eight years. Part of the reason why is that certain head coaches didn’t view the Packers as anything more than just another opponent.
It was true for John Fox. It was true for Marc Trestman, Dick Jauron, and Dave Wannstedt. Lovie Smith and Mike Ditka were the only two coaches who made it clear those games meant something extra.
Now Nagy may be adding himself to that list.
Matt Nagy said of the Bears resting key players: "I want our guys to be ready to go, 100 percent health-wise for that Week 1 Packers game. And that's as simple as it gets."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) August 25, 2018
Don’t forget that Nagy came up through the NFC East and AFC West divisions during his coaching rise. He learned exactly what rivalries are all about and how they can impact a second. The Eagles and Giants. The Chiefs and Raiders. Those are blood feuds that go back decades. Anybody who thought he didn’t have an understanding of what beating the Packers meant to this team and this city needs to recognize his personal experience.
Rather than have his starters waste a week focusing on a meaningless preseason game, he sent a clear message. From now until opening night, you will consume your entire being with a singular goal: beat Green Bay. Will it get the desired result? That’s impossible to say, but it’s a welcome change to see a head coach who has his priorities straight.
