Moral victories are sometimes hard to accept for fans. However, it’s much easier for a rebuilding team like the Chicago Bears. They could’ve easily laid down and died in Minnesota on Sunday. They fell behind 21-3 at one point. Instead, they kept their heads in the game and battled back with 19 unanswered points to take a 22-21 lead in the 4th quarter. Sadly a late Vikings touchdown allowed them to escape, but that the Bears were even in that game despite clear talent deficiencies is a testament to the coaching job by Matt Eberflus and his staff.
Everybody will be talking about Justin Fields this week. Justifiably so. The young quarterback played his best game of the year. He looked more poised and comfortable than he ever has since arriving in the NFL. It was the first sign he’d figured out how to play at this level. Yet he shouldn’t be the only story. Almost as encouraging was Eberflus himself. One of the hardest things to do as a coach is change.
Many have a certain way they’re comfortable operating and rarely deviate from that.
It was becoming painfully clear through the first four games that Eberflus had a conservative streak, opting to punt in 4th and short situations, settling for field goals inside the 10-yard line, and running the ball when passing makes more sense. That changed in Minnesota, where the first-year coach embraced his aggressive side.
Matt Eberflus stayed on the attack.
It became clear what Eberflus was trying to do after the Bears scored a touchdown early in the 3rd quarter, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 21-16. Conventional wisdom says he should’ve kicked off and hoped his defense could get a stop. He bucked that trend, opting for a surprise onside kick. While the ambush didn’t work, it sent a positive signal to the players. Don’t let up. Stay on the attack. The defense backed him up, holding the Vikings to only 15 yards on their subsequent drive before the special teams blocked the field goal attempt.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
When the Bears took over again, they drove into Minnesota territory. However, they bogged down at the 37-yard line. Matt Eberflus had a decision. Let Cairo Santos kick a 55-yard field goal or give his offense a chance to convert on 4th and 4. He chose the latter. Fields made an outstanding scramble to pick up seven and the first down. Santos ended up kicking a 43-yard field goal instead.
It was good.
Last but not least, Eberflus proved willing to put the ball in Fields’ hands during the game’s final drive. He easily could’ve urged to run it with over two minutes left. Instead, he trusted his young QB to make plays. Fields obliged by marching 36 yards before a brutal fumble by Ihmir Smith-Marsette ruined it.
This new version of Eberflus was welcome to see. He proved that he isn’t a carbon copy of Lovie Smith after all. The head coach can learn from his past mistakes and is willing to take some risks when the situation calls for them. That is a welcome sign for the Bears’ future.
