Bears Fans Are In Complete Meltdown Mode, And Rightfully So

Entering the season, I had high expectations for the Bears. 

That doesn't necessarily mean I thought they were gonna go out there and run a train on the rest of the league, but I expected them to play "clean" football, I.E. 

- limited penalties

- high quality in game decision making

- clean fundamentals across the board - I.E. tackling, gap integrity, and Caleb stepping into throws and hitting targets on time with anticipation and in the hands  

Is any of that too much to ask? For Bears fans, probably. 

Instead, we watched the same movie we've seen already seen 100,000x last night. 

1. WAY too many penalties, even if a few of them were garbage: 

Vikings: 8 for 50 yards
Bears: 12 for 127 yards

There was a version of last night's game where the Bears still lose and still look "fine". Everyone knows the Vikings are a deeper, better, more experienced team (sans the QB). I mean, they won 14 games last year and added two stud DTs. I'll never be flat out "cool" with a opening week loss, personally, but if Caleb balled out, the team limited its penalties, and the team had a "clean" loss? Then...fine. Something to build on. 

That wasn't last night though. Last night was am abomination to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

2. High Quality in game decision making: 

This part also annoyed me last night. Take the fucking 3 points in the 1H instead of going for it? Bad move, and a move I'm not even operating in hind sight after saying it's a bad move. It just didn't feel right in that situation, at least not to me. 

But the call to not kick it out of bounds before the 2 minute warning? Come onnnnn mannn... You know Cairo Santos can't kill the ball, to use a baseball phrase. If he does nut up and put one through the back of the end zone? The ball's placed on the 35. If not, the game is over. Kick it out of bounds? There's literally zero chance they can return the ball and take time off the clock...but the ball is *only* placed at the 40 instead. 

Just take the fucking 5 yard difference to guarantee yourself the extra stoppage. Even Jersey Jerry knew that was the move last night, and he's sitting in the gambling cave with a bunch of idiots like me. Not coaching NFL football games.

I don't care that it was Ben Johnson's first game of his head coaching career. It was a boneheaded move and lack of experience shouldn't be the excuse for him making it. 

3. Clean fundamentals 

This part obviously goes hand in hand with #1 but my god Caleb's anticipation and footwork was BRUTAL last night. Sure, there were some highlight reel throws and runs. But not nearly enough, especially out of a 1st overall pick and ESPECIALLY out of a 1st overall pick in game 18 of his career. Piss poor fundamentals. 

I don't want to say Ben Johnson should totally neuter Caleb Williams of trying to make plays on his own, as we all have seen the glimpses of what he can do when he improvises, but Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams have to find that happy medium NOW. Not tomorrow, now. 

It was a sickening 4th quarter last night, and I haven't even mentioned the defense, which went from domination to getting gashed in the 4th. All 11+ players and Dennis Allen need to fix that shit too. 

I was one of Caleb's most ardent supporters this offseason, at least compared to Ed, Chief and Big Cat, but my god was he brutal last night and over the course of 12ish hours I've done a complete 180 on him. 

The worst part? The cycle is STILL completely fucked up. If Caleb busts you have to find a new GM,  as he can't be allowed to draft the next guy who will (probably) stink butttttt....he was just extended, and even if the Bears did nut up and can him with *many* years left on his deal, then what happens with Johnson, who we all think has the chops to be a GREAT coach in this league?

No clue. Neverthless...

It's all just so, so bad. Can any of it change? Maybe. Hopefully. I don't have much hope left in me, as a Bears, White Sox and Northwestern fan, but hopefully. History says it won't, though. Just have to pray Ben Johnson really is the QB whisperer and last night was an aberration for what we deem a "successful" season for the two, because Caleb Williams looked like complete and total shit last night. 

PS - this is one of the worst throws I've ever seen

My god that's embarrassing. I'd expect a HS quarterback to hit throw throw. No bullshit if I were coaching a HS team and a QB missed this throw and say, "wtf was that?"

Lots of dark, dark thoughts are swirling…