While the Bears are posting dismal numbers across the board, their chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft are looking up.
Sunday's game for the Chicago Bears against the Kansas City Chiefs was a cascade of everything taking a turn for the worse, leaving Coach Matt Eberflus's squad seemingly gasping for survival three weeks into the season.
Currently sitting at the bottom of the NFL with a negative 59-point differential through three matches, the Bears have been on a downward spiral. Their defense isn't the worst in points against only because Denver conceded 70 points to Miami, with the Bears allowing 106 to Denver's 122.
Adding to the gloom, the Bears have chalked up 13 straight losses since the previous year, tying for the 25th-longest losing streak post the AFL-NFL merger and surpassing any losing streak in the franchise's history by five games.
With alarming statistics all around, the Bears are not presenting an encouraging picture, whether you look at raw numbers or advanced metrics.
Examining the offense, various elements appear broken. The offensive line is ailing, with three starters absent this Sunday, the receivers are underperforming, and the running game is offering no relief. However, quarterback Justin Fields cannot be exempted from blame. Ranking last among 34 qualified NFL quarterbacks in ESPN's Adjusted Total Quarterback Rating, Fields' QBR is at 21.5, contributing negatively to the game compared to an average replacement-level QB.
Moreover, there is a notable difference in the Bears' offensive approach compared to the previous season. According to Pro Football Reference, Fields executed only seven run-pass options (RPOs), with him retaining the ball just twice, reflecting a cautious strategy by opponents. With only six pass attempts out of play action this season, Fields' current record stands at 5-23 as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
While Fields may shoulder a part of the blame, the injuries within the offensive line are significant. On Sunday, the Bears had Lucas Patrick, Ja'Tyre Carter, and Larry Borom as starters, without having the expected starting lineup in play at any point so far.
Fields experiences pressure on 20.4% of dropbacks, tying for the 11th-highest rate among quarterbacks. He faces a high number of total blitzes, escaping leading the league in sacks only because Washington's Sam Howell took nine against Buffalo.
Concerningly, the Bears are struggling to establish a rhythm, running only 51 offensive plays on Sunday, a recurrent theme since Eberflus took over. With only 11 first downs in the recent game, the Bears are averaging 15.7 first downs per game, positioning them at 28th in the league. The lack of execution disrupts the offense's flow, as pointed out by receiver Darnell Mooney.
Defensively, there's also a lack of pressure. Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes had a comfortable game, with only two Bears, Yannick Ngakoue and Andrew Billings, providing above-average pressure. The team registered no sacks, continuing a trend since Eberflus took the reins, with a mere one sack in three games this season.
Despite recording their season's first two take-aways, the Bears are still struggling, as reflected by their unexpected fastest ball carrier of the day: Jack Sanborn, who reached 19.68 mph on his interception return. With no consistent carriers like Fields, DJ Moore, Mooney, Roschon Johnson, or Velus Jones Jr., the Bears face a challenging path ahead.
| POLL | ||
27 SEPTEMBRE | 64 ANSWERS While the Bears are posting dismal numbers across the board, their chances of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft are looking up. Will the Bears have the #1 overall pick next year? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 68.8 % |
| No | 20 | 31.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
