Contrary to Conventional Wisdom, Bears Lose Games at the Beginning, Not at the End
The Illusion of Losses at the End
In the early stages of Egyptian mythology, there was a bird with feathers of scarlet and gold, referred to as the phoenix. A bird that flew to the "City of the Sun" (Heliopolis) to immolate itself on the altar of the sun’s fire only to rise from those ashes to become a younger version of itself. The phoenix is often viewed as an allegory for resurrection, for life after death, what one can become when one survives walking through the fire.
The 2024 Bears: Dead and Buried
The 2024 Bears are dead. Their string of improbable, incompetent ways to lose games will go down in Chicago sports infamy. And as much as many have made and will make of the epically mismanaged last 12 seconds of Thursday’s collapse, the core of their latest, possibly most damning loss can be found and targeted to the game’s first 30 minutes.
Failures in the First Half
Not saying that it was a microcosm or a snapshot of what the future of the Bears looks like (or indicates how much work the Bears need), but that Thanksgiving Day first half against the Lions represents everything. Before Tyrique Stevenson’s last-minute forced fumble on the 6-yard line, the Bears had 22 yards and no first downs. Then the three overthrows, one missed pass-interference call, a throwaway on the last play, and Matt Eberflus’ no-worries, everything’s-good, it-is-what-it-is demeanor during his on-field halftime interview with Tracy Wolfson (which fully explains his ‘I like what we did there" final-sequence postgame comment) reinforced how truly deep the waters are when it comes to what the Bears have to swim themselves out of.
The Power to Play from Behind is Not a Power
In a game to avoid losing six in a row, with zero road wins, the time of possession in that first half displayed the everything of everything: Lions, 23 minutes; Bears, seven minutes. Dead. The power to play from behind as a norm is not a power. The switch-flippin’ ain’t it. The bilateral, schizophrenic, anti-symmetrical culture that has shaped not just their performances and style of play but apparently their overall approach to each game is not the formula on which any "winning culture" has ever been built.
The Actual Problem
The actuality that all season long they’ve only had one opening lead in a game, a lead that lasted all of 59 seconds, should be all they need to reinforce to themselves that the cruel way in which some of their losses have occurred is not the problem. S—‘s way bigger than that. Bigger than the Eberflus removal.
The Need for Change
At some point, what they are and what they are capable of becoming (same with Caleb Williams) have to separate from one another. And as written in a predicted Week 1 column that once they go three games under .500, "we [would] turn on one another and on the Bears." They stand at four games under today.
The Core Issue
Even if the Bears had found a way to win that game Thursday, turning the second half into another of their cardiac game plans, how it takes them so long to wake up and ball and why — even in the most desperate of games — they wait until second halves to put on display any signs of life is the most high-priority mystery that needs to be solved over the next 12 months. (Meaning we will be revisiting this — or some other — problematic issue next Thanksgiving. Trust.)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2024 Bears are struggling to find their identity, and it’s not just about clock management or a few key plays. It’s about their overall approach to the game, their culture, and their ability to adapt. The first half of the game against the Lions was a microcosm of their season, and it’s a problem that needs to be addressed.
FAQs
- What is the key issue with the Bears’ performance?
The key issue is their inability to play from ahead and their poor time of possession in the first half, which leads to a lack of momentum and ultimately, losses. - Is the solution to simply fire the coach or make changes to the coaching staff?
No, the problem is deeper than that. The Bears need to address their overall approach to the game, their culture, and their ability to adapt. - What is the significance of the first half of the game against the Lions?
The first half was a microcosm of the Bears’ season, highlighting the issues they face and the need for change.
