I struggled to figure out how to even begin this post. I haven't posted in a couple weeks because I did not fully watch the Cardinals game (29-9 Cardinals). That was the first game of the season I turned off midway through and this blog is for me to post my thoughts and opinions and I had none other than "this is hell". Turns out I still have the same opinion and thought after this Green Bay game - "this is hell".
Sunday the 17th started off with a walk through the neighborhood, my two dogs accompanying me. It was the first sunny day we've had in Chicago for a week as the typical gray wetness of fall/winter has started to set in. I wasn't feeling good physically or mentally. I was tired from the night before. As I walked my dogs and kept them from eating pieces of vomit splattered on the sidewalk outside the bars from the night before, I ran through all possible scenarios of how this game could go. Jordan Love 35 yard bomb down the field for a TD - Packers 28, Bears 3. Caleb Williams sacked for a 4th time, ball is lose, Packers recover on the 5 yard line. Appearing like a shining beacon I see the sign for my local liquor store and decide "I'll need something to get through this game." A couple Welch's transfusions (does every juice or soda brand have an alcoholic beverage now?) and a tall boy of Coors Light. The cashier gave me a brown paper bag for the Coors Light. I should have asked for a larger one to go over my head.
Watching this game proved to be difficult. Not for the scenarios I had drawn up in my head, but for a different more glaring reality. "Bears just can't beat the Packers. There's a mental block for some reason". The text from my friend Jack could not be put more succinctly and correct, and it really makes me realize how much better (less bad?) it used to be. It used to be so simple, Aaron Rodgers is a HOF QB and the Packers are a better football team. Full stop end of story of course they beat us. Now we're losing games to our most hated rival because our own HC is an incompetent moron. For the life of me I don't understand how you convert on TWO fourth downs and then just decide that nope, we won't convert on another 4th down. I believe this is what then lead to Jordan Love passing down the field to put up 20 on the Bears. I don't understand how you have a miraculous drive by Caleb Williams to put the Bears in a position to win - you have 2nd and 8 yards on the 28 yard line with 30 some odd seconds to go and you... Let the clock almost expire? What the fuck are you doing Eberflus? You're playing not to lose and it is so heartbreaking and so sad to watch. He is not a winner and he is not cut out to be a HC. He has proven time and time again that he cannot make tough decisions and we're punished with another loss and bullshit platitudes in his press conference about a "hard fought game" and "you don't want to risk anything." There are a lot of plays you could have run, no one said you had to go for a hail mary. Literally ANYTHING to get more yards.
After the game, the Packers said they were surprised that we didn't run another play. Apparently in their film study of the Bears they noticed that Santos does sort of "under kick" at that yardage. They were prepared for this kick and Eberflus had his head in a hole and that stings so much worse than a blowout loss. To have the Packers once again prove they are the better, more competent, well prepared organization that the Bears. It just sucks man. We didn't go for a 4th down play - again could not tell you why - The Packers are (again) handed a call from the refs, which by the way Watson did NOT have control of the ball it hit the ground before he did as it bobbled between his forearms. Typical. Then our coach decides to the let the clock run down and fall right into what the Packers wanted us to do.
I'm starting to just rant so I'll end it here. Positives: the new OC is good, loved the quick releases by Williams and the route simplifications. Williams overall looked great and I'm sad that he's stuck with a sorry excuse for a head coach. Time is a flat circle. The Bears still suck.
If I hear Bang the Drum All Day this week I might lose my mind.
Admittance is the first step to recovery!