Bears' losing streak resembles a Choose Your Own Adventure book with all the positive outcomes removed.
Another gut-wrenching defeat for the Bears. This week's collapse saw a 28-7 lead dissipate in a familiar cloud of disbelief. The locker room's vibe was predictably filled with confusion, frustration, and despair.
Teams on a losing streak can typically identify a few areas of focus for a turnaround - maybe improving third-down stops on defense or enhancing red zone efficiency on offense. However, the Bears' troubles span the entirety of their gameplay. Thus, when players are quizzed on the root cause of the issues and the way forward, the responses are varied.
Tremaine Edmunds emphasized resilience, suggesting the team needs to prioritize turnovers, a significant tenet of Matt Eberflus' approach. Yet, the Bears' stats tell a different story; with an average of just 0.5 takeaways per game, their defenses, intended to force errors and offer the offense more ball-time, seems in disarray.
Russell Wilson's rapid ball release in the second half didn't make their task any easier. DeMarcus Walker tipped his hat to the Seahawks' quarterback, acknowledging his impressive game. But while sportsmanship is admirable, the Bears' evident energy dip and an all too familiar sense of impending doom took over Soldier Field.
The prevailing sentiment is that the Bears need to figure out how to win. But Walker pointed out, perhaps they first need to learn how "not to lose", and more importantly, to play smart football.
Game-changing moments seem to elude the Bears. Unforced errors, like the three penalties costing them crucial yards in their last two offensive drives, highlight the team's indiscipline at pivotal moments.
Ultimately, as Edmunds aptly put it, it's about finishing the job. Across their 14-game losing streak, the Bears had several opportunities to clinch a victory but consistently came up short. The team must finally make those defining plays towards the end of a game.
Eberflus believes it boils down to execution. Taking it one play at a time, ensuring correct alignment, and executing is the way forward for both offense and defense.
In a nutshell, it feels like the Bears are trapped in a "Choose Your Own Adventure" tale. Yet, no matter which path they select, they consistently arrive at a disheartening conclusion.
| POLL | ||
2 OCTOBRE | 38 ANSWERS Bears' losing streak resembles a Choose Your Own Adventure book with all the positive outcomes removed. is the Bears season done? | ||
| Yes | 28 | 73.7 % |
| No | 10 | 26.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
