Windy City Gridiron
The Bears have lost five in a row but there are still some things looking up.
Fans are over moral victories.
We’re sick of watching the Chicago Bears play close games every week, only to be let down by coaching in the critical moments and see the team flounder away from a win.
But here we are, in the middle of a five-game losing streak, looking for silver linings.
The Bears erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings. Their rookie quarterback threw for over 300 yards and led two heroic drives to tie the game and even put them in a position to win it.
This can’t be overlooked or forgotten, but it’s so disappointing to once again have to raise those “buts” when people point at Williams’s record.
Here we are again.
Stock up
Caleb Williams, QB - Williams not only led that late comeback and made some incredible throws, but he also broke a couple of rookie records in the process. Williams’s third 300-yard game is the most among Bears rookie QBs ever. His two touchdowns tie him with rookie record holder Charlie O’Rourke. Williams is special. If only the team could play to a level that would make it more obvious.
DJ Moore, WR - Moore has been revitalized with Thomas Brown calling plays. He’s getting involved in the game plan, and the team is making an effort to get him the ball. And it paid off Sunday with his second 100-yard game of the season and a season-high in yards.
Montez Sweat, DE - Sweat had his first real dominant game in some time. He faces a lot of attention because he is the Bears’ pass rush, but he’s also had some injuries this season. So it was nice on Sunday to see him get back to his old ways. Sweat finished with one sack, two TFLs and two QB hits.
Stock down
Matt Eberflus, head coach - Like every week, I have to ask, what is it you would say you do here?
Tyrique Stevenson, CB - I get it, the Bears’ game plan was to stop Justin Jefferson at all costs. But Stevenson and, to some extent, everyone else who covered Jordan Addison was not good. Stevenson has not been on the best trajectory in his second season.
Austin Booker, DE - Booker played 14 snaps, just 20 percent of the defensive snaps. He was shut out of the box score. I know there is a rookie wall, but Booker has disappeared at a point in the season when the Bears need all the pass rush help they can get.
Who is up and down in your world? Let us know in the comments or on X or BlueSky @SamHouseholder.
