One story you often find repeating over the course of sports history is that of a good team that loses a tough playoff game. Rather than get discouraged by missing the opportunity, they get angry. They know they should’ve finished the job. So they approach the following offseason with murderous intent. Everybody puts in extra hours of work. Players and coaches are laser-focused. The Oakland A’s did it in 1989. The Miami Dolphins did it in 1972. More recently, the San Antonio Spurs did it in 2014. By the sounds of things, the Chicago Bears might be entering that zone.
Reports out of spring practices indicated that quarterback Caleb Williams looked sharper and more motivated than at any point last season. Courtney Cronin of ESPN confirmed this and more in her recent column. It appears everybody on the roster has taken it upon themselves to put in extra work. Wide receiver Kalif Raymond, no stranger to extra reps from his time in Detroit, was shocked to find that he didn’t really have to push guys to stick around after practice. Many of them were already doing it.
“Before a June minicamp session, with the sun baking the Chicago Bears’ practice field, wide receiver Kalif Raymond approached tight end Colston Loveland about staying late to catch extra passes. But there was a problem — Loveland had already caught 100 extra balls before practice…
…The practice field routinely featured players who stayed 30 to 40 minutes longer to fine-tune their craft. Quarterbacks and receivers worked on their chemistry while defensive backs — a unit that helped the Bears lead the NFL with 23 interceptions last year — worked overtime with the JUGS machine.”
The Chicago Bears know they let one slip away.
Everything was clicking last season. They’d overcome a 0-2 start to finish 11-6 and won the NFC North title. This momentum carried into the wild card round, where they erased a 21-3 lead to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27. Then, against the heavily favored Los Angeles Rams, they again rallied in the final seconds to force overtime on a preposterous touchdown pass by Williams. The defense got an immediate stop, meaning the offense only needed a field goal to win it. They were driving down the field, knocking on the door.
Then Williams got greedy, throwing an interception that enabled the Rams to escape with the win. It was a frustrating way to end the season. The Chicago Bears knew they should’ve finished that game and gone to the NFC Championship. Given how that game and the Super Bowl went, it isn’t crazy to think they would’ve at least had a shot to win the championship. It came down to an uncomfortable truth. They weren’t prepared enough. Too many mistakes and not enough clutch plays in key moments.
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This is a lesson most future champions learn.
Look back at all the recent examples in Chicago history. The 1984 Chicago Bears lost in the NFC Championship. Michael Jordan and the Bulls had to get bullied by the Detroit Pistons for three straight seasons before they finally developed the mental and physical toughness to break through in 1991. The Blackhawks fell in the 2009 playoffs to the veteran Detroit Red Wings, fresh off their own Stanley Cup win. Then you had the Chicago Cubs getting swept in the 2015 ALCS. Heartbreaking losses are often the catalyst for forging eventual champions.
It seems like that gutpunch in the divisional round had a similar effect for this team. Obviously, they must still go out and prove it. The NFL won’t hand them anything. If the Bears want it, they’ll have to take it. That is what all the extra work is for. They are preparing their minds and bodies for war. Enough of the aw-shucks, just happy to be there attitude. This team is in it now. They’re not sneaking up on anybody. Every opponent will give them their full attention. If they want respect, it must be earned.
