GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Chicago Bears have had a tumultuous week. Coming off a bye week into a flexed NFC matchup with Washington, the story should've been about how Caleb Williams shook off a brutal first three quarters en route to a massive road comeback.
Instead, we know what happened.
The fallout since then has been well deserved. Matt Eberflus took too long to (publicly) take accountability for his brutal coaching decisions on the final drive. Several Bears players have openly criticized the coaching decisions in the game, such as Shane Waldron's handoff call to Doug Kramer, and of course the final sequences.
Ugly stuff.
This team (and coaching staff) needed a win in the worst way to get back on track, especially after that unnecessary heartbreak. And they had to go into Arizona to take on a frisky Cardinals team that led the NFC West at the midway point (surprise!).
Win, and recover some of the mojo and get the season back on track. Lose, and things would get extremely challenging at Halas Hall -- quickly.
In the end, the Bears got their doors blown off by the Cardinals in the desert - microwaving Eberflus' likely firing after the season. An embarrassing and pathetic performance all around.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations below. Follow me on X (Twitter) @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. I'll admit, even though it's the right move, I didn't think Flus & Co. would follow through and sit Tyrique Stevenson's to start the game. Good on them to actually set an example after a colossal mental blunder last week. It's basic expectation, but good to see in practice. Stevenson is a talented player, and if he can get his head right, he can have a very good career. Messages like this will help him in the long run.
https://twitter.com/danwiederer/status/1851972458116509882
The good news is on the first drive, Smith broke up a 3rd and 6 pass to force a three-and-out.
2. The Bears' first quarter offense continues to kill itself. A nice series of plays -- highlighted by Caleb connecting with Rome Odunze a couple times -- got derailed by an OPI by Keenan Allen and a (phantom?) illegal shift call on Larry Borom. Then a sack. No points on the opening drive.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853183420912042000
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853185104723706325
3. After another three-and-out by Arizona, the Bears offense does nothing on the second possession. Rome Odunze dropped a beautiful pass to the sideline that would've gone for 15+ yards, and then Caleb overshot Keenan Allen by a mile on a similar route on third down. Just very out of sync right now.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853187788008796427
Greg Dortch then took the punt 27 yards into Bears territory. And a few plays later, Trey McBride found the end zone. A big run by James Conner and a big void found by McBride the play prior to the TD set it all up. Bears down 7-0.
4. I'll share my tweet that says the same thing, but I'm not sure why Keenan Allen is still being schemed as an outside receiver in any capacity that requires him to try to separate. Odunze should be the Bears' X. Moore should be their Z. Kmet is the Y (obviously). And put Allen in as the F. They're continuing to square peg, round hole this usage of Allen and it's getting them in trouble. (Granted, Allen probably should've drawn DPI on the third down play in the end zone.) 7-3 Arizona.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853193524201791622
5. Reddy Steward was a training camp and preseason darling - following his story was a joy. He was a difficult cut at the roster deadline, but made it back on the practice squad. He was elevated for this game to support Josh Blackwell in the absence of Kyler Gordon. And he just stripped Marvin Harrison Jr. after a big reception in Bears territory to get the offense the ball back. What a huge awareness play by the Bears' undrafted rookie. That's how you create opportunities for yourself!
6. The Cardinals walked the Bears' defense down the field with an aggressive ground attack. It was frankly beautiful to watch. Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter and the rest of the unit were just blown off the ball repeatedly. After what looked like a third down sack held them to a FG, Dexter was called for a "leverage" penalty on the FG attempt to give them new life -- and Trey Benson plunged home. 14-6 Cardinals.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853197551950020865
Undisciplined football. The Bears are simply poorly coached. Even with the injuries, it just looks ugly.
7. The end of that first half can be described quite succinctly: "The Final Nail in Matt Eberflus' Coaching Coffin." From more penalties putting the Bears behind the sticks, to Keenan Allen's terrible third down drop, to an absolutely inexcusable 53-yard touchdown run by Emari Demercado with 4 seconds left on a draw play... Just wow. 21-9 Arizona at halftime. Frankly, it's been a disgusting spectacle so far this afternoon and that touchdown run was one of the worst end of half plays we've seen since.......... oh yeah, last week.
Honestly, Ryan Poles can't be watching this first half in response to last week's disaster and thinking Flus is the guy to bring them to the promised land. Right?
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853202999956615455
At this point, it's all about Caleb.
<HALFTIME>
8. Bears got the ball after halftime and you won't guess what happened next! They went three and out.
And on defense, they let the Cardinals chew through them with ease for 8 minutes en route to a chip shot field goal to make it 24-9. The run defense was nowhere to be found -- and Andrew Billings went down, too. It's just too early in the year for fans to want to sim to the end of the season... but here we probably are.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853207564114411699
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853209923963994504
9. 4th and 11 and an all-out blitz for a 16 yard sack.
It's over.
10. See tweet:
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1853216102035423235
Early prediction: Patriots 23, Bears 13
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