Matt Eberflus Needs A Dominant Win To Add To His Coaching Tenure

The Chicago Bears will look to extend their winning streak to four games when they travel to Cleveland to face the Browns on Sunday. Head coach Matt Eberflus has been receiving more and more praise for keeping his team together despite multiple embarrassing last-second blown-lead losses and lopsided losses to elite-teams. With the team making a late-season playoff run and the roster playing better as a whole, Eberflus is now in need of the one specific type of victory he has yet to have during his Bears' tenure.

Eberflus Has Yet To Have A Dominant Win By His Team Where They Controlled The Game From Start To Finish

Since Eberflus was hired in January of 2022, his team has only won eight of the 30 games he has served as head coach. Last season, Chicago had the worst record in the NFL with a 3-14 record, which also was the worst in franchise history. Despite Eberflus' Bears starting the 2022 season with a 3-4 record, the team would lose their last ten games of the year and while also losing the first four games of this season.

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Following Chicago's 41-10 Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the team has performed better as they have a 4-5 record, with only one loss by more than seven points while winning three of their five games by 15 points or more. Although Eberflus has overseen victories where his team has won four of their eight games over the past two seasons by 15 points or more. The Bears' largest win margin over the past two years was the Week 5 win over the Washington Commanders by 20 points.

Even though Eberflus' team has won four games by double digits and is currently on a three-game winning streak, the head coach is lacking a dominant win in which his team has all the momentum heading into the contest. This week, the Browns lost several key starters on offense and defense, including offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr, safety Rodney McLeod, and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo. Despite Cleveland coming off a prominent win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, it feels like morale is significantly in favor of Chicago, given the winning streak and the Browns' mounting injuries.

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It appears that the Bears are catching the Browns at the right time, and it is a perfect situation for Eberflus' team to pick up their first blowout victory in which they dominated from start to finish. Chicago's defense has been one of the league's best units and will now play a depleted offense that must protect an aging quarterback in Joe Flacco, who, through two starts with the Browns, has been intercepted twice and sacked three times. There is no reason why Eberflus' defense can shut down Cleveland's offense.

From an offensive standpoint, the Bears offense, including quarterback Justin Fields and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, need impressive performances. Cleveland's defense had been one of the league's best units this year but has struggled over the past few weeks as they have allowed over 30 points in their last three games. Fields has no reason to turn in a dominating start, while Getsy has no excuse to have a game plan outsmarted by Browns' defensive coordinator Jim Swartz.

A Blow Out Victory Can Be Extremely Beneficial For Chicago In Their Push For The Playoffs

A potential blowout victory by Chicago against Cleveland by more than 21 points would go a long way in assisting the Bears with their drive to make the playoffs. Extending a winning streak to four games against a playoff-contending team would boost the confidence and spirits of Eberflus' roster down the stretch with three games remaining after Sunday. A dominant win would give the Bears' players swagger with two upcoming home games against inferior opponents in the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.

It is also vital to take advantage of the low morale the Browns may have with the costly injuries this past week, as a quick and early lead on Sunday by Chicago could demoralize Cleveland and have them lose any potential motivation as the game progresses. Having a secure lead midway through the second half of the contest could be vital from a healthy standpoint as Eberflus could pull his starters and rest them in the fourth quarter to better avoid injury.

Winning Sunday's game in a strong fashion will also put pressure on other NFC teams vying for a playoff spot, given the Bears' remaining schedule. If an NFC team has to worry about losing because the Bears are more likely to win against a lesser opponent, it can cause that team to play less freely and become more prone to mistakes or being off. Beating a quality opponent like Cleveland could cause a team like Minnesota or Seattle to play tighter in weeks 16 and 17.

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Eberflus needs his team to turn in their best overall performance on Sunday as it can set the tone for the remaining three weeks of the season, as there are several winnable games left. His team cannot afford to let a golden opportunity slip through their grasp with how everything appears to be breaking in their favor. Eberflus, if he has his team ready, can finally oversee the first blowout victory of his tenure.