The Bears have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season, as the 12-win squad from last season had Super Bowl aspirations.
But their 2019 campaign has been anything but.
Chicago has regressed in all three phases of the game, with the defense having taken a clear step back now that former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio having departed to become head coach of the Denver Broncos. The team returned much of the personnel on that side of the ball, but the players aren’t playing up to their full potential that they showed last season, especially not All-Pro defensive end Khalil Mack, who has had games where he was completely invisible, not impacting at all. And the young secondary has looked exactly that — young, and inexperienced.
Dec 22, 2019; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) takes the field before a game at against the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
On the other side of the ball, the offensive struggles have mostly been blamed on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. And while he’s been extremely inconsistent, he’s shown a few flashes of what he can be when at his best — keeping plays alive in the pocket, and making throws on the move, using his physical assets. Unfortunately for him, he’ll likely be out as starting quarterback next season, with a number of signal-callers on the market, including guys like Philip Rivers and Cam Newton. It won’t be easy for them either, though, as the offensive line play has been poor, and the tight ends have struggled to stay healthy.
Dec 23, 2019; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Anthony Harris (41) celebrates during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
This sets up for an interesting offseason for the Bears, as a number of coaches and coordinators could be on the move. Developing a plan at quarterback will likely be first on the team’s to-do list, so they can then look to build around whoever they choose to bring in and have atop the depth chart for 2020. Head coach Matt Nagy’s job does appear to be safe, as the Bears aren’t an organization known to have a quick trigger-finger, but he does appear to be on the hot seat next season.
The Bears are just a mess right now, but don’t expect them to just lay down against the Vikings — their heated division rival. Minnesota is coming off an embarrassing home loss to Green Bay — mustering only three points that didn’t come off turnovers. The Vikings are going to the playoffs, so the Bears can’t be a spoiler, but expect Chicago’s players to look to send a message at home, with full effort involved. If interested in wagering on the game, visit the Best Online Sportsbook, and get some action down on it.
