Make no mistake. The offense is by far the biggest problem over the first half of 2020. Anybody who watched the first half in Philadelphia could see that. However, the Chicago Bears defense can no longer shrug off blame for this losing record as well. Most of the team’s financial resources and start power are on that side of the ball. One should expect them to deliver when a game hangs in the balance. Ever since January, this has not been the case.
It started with that late drive in the playoffs that saw the Eagles score their go-ahead touchdown on 4th and goal. The Bears lost 16-15.
Fast forward to the game in London. The Bears have a 21-17 lead. One more stop pretty much puts the game away. Instead they allow a 97-yard drive by the Oakland Raiders to give it up and lose 24-21.
Last week? The Bears are up 16-10. A bad turnover gives the Chargers good field position but the defense still has a chance to hold them to a field goal. Nope. They promptly give up a touchdown. The Bears lose 17-16.
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Now here they were again, this time in Philadelphia. There’s plenty of time left. The offense has scored 14 unanswered to make it 19-14. All they have to do is get off the field. Sadly, it was more of the same. The defense allowed the Eagles to convert four times on 3rd down on a drive that spanned over eight minutes to drain the clock and the game away. Chicago lost 22-14.
Chicago Bears defense is no longer elite
The Bears defense was absolutely elite last season and even to start 2019. They were fast, confident and making plays. However, it seems like things have only declined further and further for them has the weeks pass. Losing Akiem Hicks, their beating heart was a tough blow but a lot of their stars aren’t playing like stars. Eddie Jackson still doesn’t have an interception this year. He had six last season. Roquan Smith hasn’t made a big play all year as well. Only Kyle Fuller and Khalil Mack have delivered such moments and that’s not enough.
This unit just doesn’t have the closing mentality great defenses do. Part of that is probably because they’ve been saddled with the worst offense in football that leaves them on the field too often. Still, they’ve had their opportunities to close out two wins and give their team a chance at another this year and failed to deliver each and every time. These guys felt they could be as good as the 1985 Bears when the season began.
They’re not even as good as the 2005 Bears.
