Like it or not, narratives have begun to shift at Halas Hall. After bottoming out at 5-7 after a 5-1 start, the Chicago Bears managed to pull themselves together just in time to deliver huge back-to-back wins to keep their playoff hopes alive. First, it was a blowout of the Houston Texans 36-7. Then to the surprise of many, they stunned the Vikings in Minnesota 33-27, getting revenge for their humiliation at Soldier Field over a month ago. This leads to the big question. Are Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace saving their jobs?
Based on the rumors going around of late, the general feeling is Nagy is in a better position to save himself. Not only because the team has continued to play hard despite the long skid a few weeks ago, but also because of his contract. Nagy still has two years left. The feeling the Bears ownership would prefer not to pay another coach to replace him if possible. The McCaskeys like him and want him to succeed.
Pace is a somewhat tougher evaluation.
He only has one year left on his contract. It doesn’t seem likely the Bears would let him run another offseason with lame-duck status like that. So team brass has a decision to make. Do they fire him or do they give him some kind of limited extension to give him another year? As of the past week, most believed of all the people in the team power structure likely to lose his job, it was Pace.
It was easy to understand why. He’d drafted Mitch Trubisky over two better quarterbacks. His offense wasn’t performing and his big purchase of the offseason in Robert Quinn looked like a lost cause. Then strange things started happening. The Bears began playing better. Even more important for Pace was those who were leading the way. It wasn’t the usual aces like Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Allen Robinson.
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It was the young guys. Several recent draft picks made by the embattled GM who have stepped up in a big way.
Ryan Pace is seeing his draft work blossom at the perfect time
It really is eye-opening how many young guys have stepped up at the same time. Let’s start with Bilal Nichols. A 5th round pick in 2018 out of Delaware, he had a promising rookie year but seemed to taper off the next season. It seems that was just a sophomore slump because he’s been close to unblockable for a month now. In the past six games, he has four sacks, three tackles for a loss, and an interception.
Mmmm Sunday brunch. 🥞 @BNichols98 & @urbanlegend96 eating good early.
📺: FOX#CHIvsMIN | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/jccDHPDvro
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 20, 2020
Then there is Darnell Mooney. Another 5th round pick. He arrived with zero fanfare from Tulane but the rookie receiver has opened a ton of eyes. Despite two different quarterbacks, the kid broke the 66-year old franchise record for receptions in a season by a rookie with 46. After a strong game in Minnesota, he sits at 499 yards receiving with four touchdowns.
Mitch ➡️ Mooney for the early strike!
📺: FOX#CHIvsMIN | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/MPpNvzbwzL
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 20, 2020
Yet the true man of the hour arrived last season.
Ryan Pace surprised a lot of people when he traded up to select David Montgomery of Iowa State. Many considered him a solid if unremarkable back. Yet there were moments he always seemed to flash, giving off indications the Bears should be getting him the ball more. At last Nagy and his staff made the commitment. In the last four games, Montgomery has run the ball 71 times for 439 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also 13 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. He’s been nothing short of superb.
It’s not just those three either. Roquan Smith, their 1st round pick in 2018, has been the best of them all. He has 128 tackles and four sacks on the season, putting him in the Pro Bowl conversation. Top 2020 pick Cole Kmet is emerging as a receiving weapon at tight end with 11 catches for 90 yards and a TD in the past three games. This in addition to his quality blocking.
Don’t forget Jaylon Johnson either. He leads all rookie cornerbacks with 15 passes defended on the season. If all that wasn’t enough? There is also Sam Mustipher. An unheralded undrafted free agent in 2019 out of Notre Dame, he’s taken over as the starting center and the transformation of the offensive line has been nothing short of massive.
Ryan Pace has deserved a lot of the criticism he’s received. Yet in a results-based business, his recent draft work can’t be ignored.