The Chicago Bears’ Playoff Hunt Is On?
It’d have sounded unbelievable a month ago, but Matt Eberflus may have turned the 2023 Chicago Bears around.
What was once a hapless team with a bottom-3 defense that couldn’t intentionally stop a 3rd & long has become a team that dominates the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, pressures passers into mistakes downfield, and plays a clean, balanced brand of offense that turns opening game scripts & quality field position into the points their defense needs to win games.
It hasn’t always been a pretty formula, but since September’s 0-4 start it’s been a winning one. Eberflus left Detroit weeks ago in desperate need of a statement — now, after a pair of divisional wins & a two-score pounding of the division-leading Detroit Lions, he’s made his statement is loud and clear.
This team is young & hungry. They make life hell on quarterbacks & Jared Goff is no exception — Goff’s 5 interceptions against the Bears equal the 5 interceptions he’s thrown against the rest of his opponents combined. Their super-athlete quarterback, Justin Fields, has the burst to turn a sure sack into an explosive run at any moment.
JUSTIN FIELDS STRIKES AGAIN
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/H1wreS7R6E
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 10, 2023
This team has plenty of warts, and there’ll be plenty of time to discuss them later. With the Carolina Panthers in a death spiral, every game begs questions about what to do with the #1 overall pick.
But even if for only one day, enjoy this win. After all, pending the Packers’ results , your Chicago Bears remain only two games away from an NFC Wild Card spot.
This picture is hilarious
The #Bears are in an emphatic 12th place in the NFC… but with both wildcard teams currently sitting at 6-6, all Chicago needs is a win streak down the stretch and they may pull a rabbit out of their hat
The Bears are… in a playoff race?? pic.twitter.com/UMhzWlRTCZ
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) December 10, 2023
We’ll save more detailed discussions about player performance, this game’s meaning, and everything else for another day. For now, raise a toast to a divisional Victory Monday — Go Bears!
Postgame Podcast:
Nick and I recorded a podcast where we talked through the ups, the downs, the ins, and the outs of Chicago’s latest win here:
Your Turn: How do you feel about yesterday’s game?