Finishing a season as fun as the Chicago Bears’ season has been with two straight losses is a bummer.
Luckily, it doesn’t feel quite as bad as when they started the season 0-2.
It is discouraging but there are still games to look forward to with much higher stakes.
The playoffs will be incredibly stressful, no doubt. Especially considering how many games the Bears played that came down to the final seconds.
We’re not talking about the playoff matchup yet. No, we’re taking one last look at the last game
against the Detroit Lions.
It wasn’t pretty.
Stock up
Colston Loveland, TE – Can I keep bringing Colston Loveland up? Have I mentioned how much I love him? He’s pretty great. I know he had a couple of tough drops, but he finished the game with 10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. He finishes the regular season tied with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze for most touchdown catches and led the Bears in catches and receiving yards.
Gervon Dexter, DT – Dexter had one of his better games. He notched a TFL, a sack and three QB hits.
Caleb Williams, QB – It might not have been his best game, but he capped off his second straight season starting all 17 games. He broke the single-season franchise passing record. He’s led the Bears to a winning season and is an integral part of why they’re winning, all things that could not be said for any number of previous quarterbacks who’ve started for the Bears.
Stock down
Dennis Allen, defensive coordinator – The Bears have been absolutely torched by inside-breaking routes and shallow crossers in December. Matt LeFleur used them to smoke the Bears in their first meeting, Kyle Shanahan used them against the Bears two weeks ago and Dan Campbell put the Bears in a cycle on Sunday. Jaquan Brisker even said they got out-schemed after the game. How did DA have zero answers after the way these other recent games went?
Jaylon Johnson, CB – I commend Johnson for rehabbing and coming back from a difficult injury. But he is clearly still working his way back. Either that or his speed is gone, but I am hopeful it’s the former. He got burned more than once Sunday and was very slow. Doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence heading into the postseason.
DJ Moore, WR – Moore has been hot and cold all year. And unfortunately, heading into the playoffs, he’s cold. Much has been made of his effort on Caleb’s interception and I think it’s valid. Overall, he had just one catch for 11 yards on three targets.
Who is up and down in your world? Let me know in the comments.
