Defenders of Matt Nagy continue to point out the fact that the man still technically has a winning record as head coach despite his recent downturn. Some wonder though how much of that has to do with him and how much had to do with arriving just as the Chicago Bears defense was reaching its zenith. The unit was fantastic in 2018, ranked #1 in the NFL and forcing 36 takeaways. It is difficult not to win games under such conditions.
They were great again in 2019, allowing the 4th-fewest points in the league. As for 2020? While they weren’t quite as dominant as they’d been the two previous years they still finished a respectable 14th. The defense had always been there to mask the fact Nagy couldn’t fix the area of the team that was supposed to be his specialty. The offense. So it is rather fitting that as he sits on a seat growing hotter by the day, he’s forced to watch the defense disintegrate.
Akiem Hicks is OUT.
Allen Robinson is DOUBTFUL.
Eddie Jackson is QUESTIONABLE.
Khalil Mack is OUT FOR THE SEASON.
Happy Friday, #Bears fans.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 19, 2021
It is an ugly situation.
Khalil Mack and Danny Trevathan both went on Injured Reserve this week. Hicks continues to miss games with a variety of different injuries. First, it was a groin problem and now an ankle issue. On top of all that, it is apparent the Bears have a serious deficiency at the cornerback position. Outside of Jaylon Johnson, their other starters are subpar. This is why the unit ranks 23rd in points allowed. Its worst ranking since 2016.
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With a record of 3-6, the Bears stare down the barrel at their first losing season of the Nagy era. Three of the next four games will be played against top NFL quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Aaron Rodgers. There is a somewhat poetic nature to all of this. Nagy can’t expect the defense to carry this team through that. If he wants to save his job, he’ll have to do something he hasn’t done for most of his tenure. Score points.
Matt Nagy has nowhere left to hide this time
Each of the past two years when the Bears went on long losing streaks, he’d been aided by considerable cushions from strong early starts. They went 3-1 in 2019 and 5-1 in 2020. This kept them afloat long enough for Nagy to institute a turnaround to save face with 8-8 finishes. That is no longer possible. Both of those rallies were aided by strong defensive efforts for one. For another? They were aided by favorable stretches of schedule that included a string of cupcake opponents.
That isn’t going to happen this time. At least not before it’s too late. Baltimore, Arizona, and Green Bay all lead their respective divisions. All are expected to make the playoffs. There is something poetic about that. Matt Nagy has to save his own skin by doing two things he has done much of the past two years. Put up points and beat good teams.
With a rookie quarterback no less.
As much as Justin Fields has improved, it is probably asking too much of him to engineer any sort of turnaround over the final two months of the season. Is it possible? Sure. This is the NFL. Crazy things happen all the time. Yet smart money says Nagy is facing the last weeks of his time in Chicago. That is unless he solves the puzzle that has confounded him for years.
