The Chicago Bears’ Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders ended up being one of many huge turning factors of their 2024 season. In line with beginning quarterback Caleb Williams, the best way that loss was dealt with by then-head coach Matt Eberflus aggravated the staff’s locker room.
Williams made that revelation in an upcoming cover story with Esquire, saying: “How [Eberflus] dealt with it at the moment, for that recreation, was, I believe, one of many issues that all through the locker room folks talked about and have been aggravated by.”
On the time, the Bears have been off to a 4-2 begin and seemed to be on the verge of their fifth after they have been holding on to a lead within the closing seconds. The Commanders ended up profitable the sport on a last-second Hail Mary that was low-lighted by Bears defensive again Tyrique Stevenson dancing and taunting Commanders followers after the play had already began.
The participant he was chargeable for overlaying on that play ended up catching the game-winning go.
The place Eberflus confronted essentially the most criticism was for the best way the Bears performed the snaps previous to the Hail Mary, the place they allowed the Commanders to take a straightforward 15-yard completion on the sidelines to get themselves into Hail Mary vary.
Had the Bears performed a tighter, extra conventional protection they might not have given up a straightforward completion and Washington by no means will get right into a Hail Mary vary and sure doesn’t win the sport.
Eberflus was dismissive of that criticism within the following days, trying to argue that the performs previous to the Hail Mary didn’t matter.
It was a transparent signal that he was not keen to take accountability for a foul resolution that ended up costing his staff a recreation. It isn’t onerous to grasp why that might rub gamers the fallacious means. They have been merely taking part in the defenses that have been known as, knew these defenses seemingly price them, and needed to take heed to their head coach fail to take any blame for it.
The Bears ended up dropping their subsequent 9 video games after that and completed the season with a disappointing 5-12 report.
Eberflus was ultimately fired late within the season after a number of botched teaching choices.
The Bears employed former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson this offseason in some of the outstanding head-coaching hires of the offseason. His addition, in addition to the enhancements to the offensive line, have created a brand new sense of optimism for the Bears going into the season. Now they simply need to capitalize on it.
