Windy City Gridiron
Happy Belated Birthday, Virginia McCaskey!
1. When you have no expectations for the Chicago Bears, they can’t hurt you when they lose in embarrassing ways. But it also adds some spice to the good moments. It might’ve been ugly as hell, but we’ll take a season-ending win over the Packers that will send them to Philadelphia as the seventh seed. Happy 102nd, Virginia!
2. The fact that this win marked Caleb Williams’ first 4th-quarter comeback is criminal. He should’ve had about four by now. Put this one up there with the Commanders’ game as his gutsiest one because the Bears did everything possible to lose.
3. Someone needs to explain to me why special teams Richard Hightower wasn’t named the interim head coach when Matt Eberflus was fired — especially after Hightower was a head coach down at the Shrine Bowl last year at this time. Pulling out that fake punt return for a TD might earn him some looks as he heads into an uncertain offseason.
4. The New England Patriots showed Sunday it’s possible to admit when you’ve made a big mistake, firing Jerod Mayo after a 4-13 season that devolved as the year went on. Is it totally fair to Mayo? No. The roster was awful, and the Krafts hired him knowing he was inexperienced. But instead of doubling down and hoping things got better with time, they took the out they should’ve taken last year when they fired Bill Belichick and now have a shot at a much better coach who can help Drake Maye reach his next level. Bears, take notes.
Side note: Jaguars, also take notes. Because ain’t no way you’re really keeping Trent Baalke around when he might prevent you from getting Ben Johnson. Speaking of him ...
5. The Pats job opening up may complicate things for the Bears. Laugh all you want, but New England having the fourth overall pick, enough cap space to run a small country, and a rising star QB in Drake Maye that people love (plus a far better ownership group than the McCaskeys) could pull Johnson and other top coaches’ attention away from the Bears opening. Given the Patriots’ ability to play Josh Allen and the Bills tough despite being horribly outgunned roster-wise, it might not be far-fetched to see them as a quicker path to success than Chicago, which is by far the worst team in the NFC North. Mike Vrabel might be the favorite for the New England job, but the Pats have said they’ll interview candidates properly this time. Also, everything I hear is that Johnson loved Drake Maye coming out of college...
6. If you would allow yourselves to CONSIDER the possibility of a defensive-minded head coach in case Johnson doesn’t come, his counterpart on the Lions sideline, Aaron Glenn, might be doing the most impressive assistant coaching job of anyone in the league. The Lions defense should’ve been BBQ chicken with Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, and the other injuries they’ve suffered,...
