Head coach Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears head into Thursday night’s game against the Washington Commanders having lost 14 consecutive games dating back to last season.
They are seen as the biggest laughingstock in the NFL with drama also taking hold off the field, including the shocking resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams and the entire Chase Claypool situation.
Meanwhile, the failure to oversee progression from young quarterback Justin Fields has been a major backdrop here.
While Fields did toss four touchdowns last week against the Denver Broncos, it came within the confines of the Bears blowing a 28-7 lead at home — only to lose by the score of 31-28. It has led to speculation that Eberflus might not finish out his second season as Chicago’s head coach. He heads into Thursday night’s road outing against a superior Commanders team having lost 18 of his first 21 games as the Bears’ head coach.
“You cannot lose 14 games in a row and hang on to your job,” NFL insider Peter King said recently. “I would not be surprised if it’s a bad loss Thursday and the Bears make a change. Just wouldn’t be surprised.”
Chicago doesn’t have a bye until early December. It can’t just continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result. That’s the definition of insanity. A loss on Thursday while refusing to move on from Eberflus would simply be Chicago’s way of delaying the inevitable.
Here’s why he’ll likely be out of a job should the Bears put up the same showing we’ve seen each of the last 14 times the downtrodden team has taken to the field.
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Chicago Bears power elite is prepared for a change
Former Big 10 Commissioner Kevin Warren didn’t take the Bears’ CEO and president job back in January to oversee the misery we’ve seen thus far this season.
Let’s put this into perspective. Chicago ranks 22nd in the NFL in scoring and 31st in points allowed. It is being outscored by an average of 15.5 points per game. The Bears rank 21st in total offense and 24th in passing. They are only in the top half of the league in rushing due to Fields’ ability on the ground (134 yards, 4.8 average).
As a defensive mind, Eberflus’ failure on that side of the ball has to be most alarming. After finishing dead last in the league in points allowed last season, this unit is yielding 34.3 points per outing thus far in 2023. It ranks 28th in total defense, 29th against the pass and in the bottom half stopping the run.
Any way you spin it, the Bears have been a disaster class under Eberflus throughout his young tenure. Again, Warren is not going to have the patience for this given that he doesn’t have a built-in relationship with the head coach.
“There is a growing suspicion that team president Kevin Warren has seen enough to realize another reboot is in order,” the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora on Chicago Bears situation.
This would also likely include firing general manager Ryan Poles, who made the decision to hire Eberflus in the first place. You don’t fire a head coach in the midst of this losing streak without the chief decision maker in the front office also walking the unemployment line.
This is the expectation among those who are in the inside within NFL circles, too.
“Kevin has seen enough to clean it out,” one unnamed general manager said. “It’s my understanding that he has the power to do it, and the coach and GM can’t go around him to ownership.”
Warren has experience in a variety of roles outside of being a commissioner in one of the biggest conferences the college sports world has to offer.
That includes working with the then-St. Louis Rams (1997-2000), Detroit Lions (2011-03), Minnesota Vikings (2005-19). He’s seen this before. He’s been in the rodeo.
Matt Eberflus will not lead the Chicago Bears’ continued rebuild
Let’s be clear here. A surprise win over the Commanders on the road Thursday night does not save Eberflus’ job. He’d have to lead a lengthy winning streak to be retained beyond the 2023 season. Based on their shared history, that’s unlikely to happen.
It poses a real question. As of right now, Chicago is slated to have the first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. That includes its own selection and the Carolina Panthers’ first-round pick stemming from last spring’s blockbuster trade.
Is there anyone who really thinks Chicago’s brass is prepared for Eberflus to be that guy manning the sideline when a fresh batch of youngsters make their way to the Windy City, including likely No. 1 pick Caleb Williams from USC? Just look at how Fields has performed with Eberflus leading the charge since he was hired ahead of last season.
- Justin Fields stats (2022-23): 62% completion, 3,103 yards, 24 TD, 16 INT, 85.6 QB rating
Eberflus will not be the caretaker for another young quarterback, even if the Bears come to the conclusion Fields isn’t the answer moving forward. Meanwhile, the Bears’ job will be appealing given their draft capital next spring.
An ugly showing Thursday night will likely lead to Matt Eberflus being given his pink slip by the Chicago Bears before the sun rises on Lake Michigan Friday morning. That’s the harsh reality.