The Chicago Bears were the laughing stock of the NFL entering Week 3's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and after getting demolished 41-10 at Arrowhead Stadium, the Bears have gone from punchline to knocked out.
Matt Eberflus is starting to sound like a punchdrunk coach, too. Now 3-17 since taking over as Chicago's head coach in 2022, there's a growing sentiment that he could be the first-ever Bears head coach who gets fired during the season.
If the Chicago Bears lose in Week 4 to the Denver Broncos, who just surrendered 70 points to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and finish the first quarter of the season winless, the Eberflus Watch will officially be on.
Until then, the embattled coach offered some thoughts after Sunday's defeat.
"I would just say that everybody's got to take a hard look at what they're doing, in terms of the schemes we're running, what we're doing," he said. "We're charged with putting our players in the best position to execute, and that's what the coach does. And develop the players at the same time. We just got to do a better job. It's also on the players because it is a partnership, both of us together. The execution part on the field is always player and coach."
Saying that the Bears coaches need to do a better job is an understatement.
The Bears defense over the last two seasons combined under Matt Eberflus:
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) September 24, 2023
- 32nd in EPA/Play
- 32nd in Dropback EPA/Play
- 32nd in pressure rate
- 32nd in pressure rate w/ four-man rush
- 32nd in sacks per game
- 32nd in yards conceded per coverage snap pic.twitter.com/5GzOO3hjJd
Bears fans are dejected, which is understandable considering how much optimism surrounded this team over the summer. Fields was supposed to be an NFL star; he's been a dud. The defense had several new starters, which was supposed to result in a respectable pass rush and improved run defense. Instead, under Eberflus' watch, they're one of the worst defenses Chicago's ever fielded.
All that aside, the Bears can still turn their season around with games against the Broncos and Washington Commanders up next. It would be a mistake to have faith in Chicago at this point, but we could be sitting here with a 2-3 team entering a suddenly meaningful Week 6 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
At best, the Bears will restore relevancy over the next two weeks. At worst, they'll be in the hunt for Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft.
For now, Bears fans are left to deal with the jokes that come with supporting this franchise, and Matt Eberflus is slowly becoming the biggest of them all.
