Sean Desai is getting a taste of the challenges of being an NFL defensive coordinator. While he’s had some nice games over the course of this season, the past three have undeniably been the most frustrating for a variety of reasons. Not being able to stop the run. Not being able to consistently rush the passer and also not being able to get off the field on 3rd down. The Chicago Bears defense has looked like a shell of its former self.
Never was that clearer than against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite playing an opponent that didn’t have their All-Pro tight end George Kittle and starting running back Raheem Mostert, the team still managed to hang 33 points on the Bears. It was an absolute clinic in bad football. Some may have had some sympathy for the defense. They were missing Khalil Mack. Eddie Jackson left the game early with a hamstring issue. Akiem Hicks was battling a groin problem. Desai though didn’t seem interested in excuses.
That was evident in his latest press conference.
Indeed the second half was the equivalent of watching a horror film. Rather fitting since it was Halloween. San Francisco’s first four drives all lasted less than three minutes. They went as follows:
- Touchdown
- Touchdown
- Touchdown
- Field goal
The backbreaker came with just over nine minutes left. Justin Fields had just done his insane 22-yard scramble TD to cut the lead to 23-22. A defensive stop would’ve given the Bears momentum. Instead, the 49ers went 75 yards in five plays to instantly respond with a touchdown of their own. That was the first true indication that the defense may no longer be able to close games like they used to. The look of pure frustration on the faces of guys like Hicks and Roquan Smith was impossible to miss.
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Sean Desai has every right to be upset
This is not the standard the Bears defense has set for itself. He’s been there for a long time. He understood the expectations Vic Fangio placed on the unit back in 2015. Expectations they lived up to between 2017 and 2020. They still have plenty of talent to be a solid group this year despite some age concerns. For them to fall apart so abruptly is both shocking and depressing.
This is not the legacy Sean Desai wanted to inherit. He has a standard not just for this defense but for himself as well. He expects guys to be disciplined and give maximum effort. They didn’t do that enough against San Francisco and it may have cost the Bears a must-win game. Now at 3-5, the odds of rallying to make the playoffs are exceedingly long. Especially with a rookie quarterback in Justin Fields.
Things aren’t going to get any easier.
Pittsburgh is up next. They’ve been running the ball well lately. Then comes Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens after the bye week. They still have two games against Minnesota and another against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Not to mention Kyler Murray and Arizona. There is no easy stretch in this schedule. So either the Bears defense fights or they die.