Chicago Bears Finally Hit Rock Bottom with Loss to Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars were supposed to be the easy team to beat and, at first, it appeared that way. But the Chicago Bears lost their appetite to win.

All hail Brian Hoyer. Well, maybe just when it comes to his ability to not throw interceptions. But when it comes to crunch time and getting the job done, Hoyer was nowhere to be found. Coach John Fox can no longer be so complacent when it comes to the quarterback situation. Hoyer does not have the missile arm that Jay Cutler has. He is not mobile when the opportunity arises, as Cutler had been on several occasions. And Hoyer is not confident enough to trust his receivers with the over-the-shoulder pass. But instead, chose to throw it out of their reach.

There is a point in the season where Fox and Dowell Loggains will need to be on the same page and fix the obvious problems that are plaguing the team. There is no question, the heart is there to make plays and put points on the board. But if you are going to continue to play a quarterback who is afraid of simply making plays, then it’s time to try other options. The Bears played desperate football and nothing good ever comes from that type of play. If that was the plan all along, third-string Matt Barkley was ready to go and couldn’t do much worse.

As Hoyer passed for over 300 yards in his third week as the starter, the blame can’t all go on his performance. The offensive line has not been consistent in creating open lanes for the run game. But against the Jaguars, they took two steps back. Right tackle Bobby Massie had been cleaning up his blocks in the last two weeks, but seemed to revert back to his old habits, allowing the defense to overtake him.

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There were moments of clarity. Time of possession, first down completions, and the fact that the Bears were able to hold a lead in the first half. A bright spot in terms of progress came in the form of a touchdown drive that went 17 plays with no penalties. It is possible for the Bears to play a consistent drive, but they can’t seem to do it with nearly enough frequency.

The defense held the Jaguars to zero points in the first three periods. However, they then collapsed and gave up 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The Bears started off great and made some key tackles and takeaways. But several replacement players are just not there yet. Cornerback Bryce Callahan was as sharp and focused as in previous games. He was replaced by Jacoby Glenn, who had some good moments earlier in the season, but has been struggling with the penalty calls as of late. It could be that he is being a little overzealous, but the Bears can’t afford that in their current state.

There are some Bears fans who were riding the Hoyer train. Now, many of those same fans are wanting Cutler back as soon as possible. At this point, the Chicago Bears have hit rock bottom— just above the Cleveland Browns. But at least they are not alone in the ranks as the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers have volunteered to join them in the NFL’s cellar.

With this kind of start to the season, what does it say about the future of John Fox? If the Chicago Bears front office let Lovie Smith go after a 10-6 season, I can’t imagine Fox staying on board. The fans have voiced their displeasure starting at the NFL Draft and will continue to do so.

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Until then, the Bears organization needs to put together a winning team starting with a coach who has a plan. If that plan is to put in Cutler, then say that; play him and coach this team. But if it’s Hoyer, then for goodness sake, poke the Bear in him and see if he can show more fire. Either way, the fans and the part of the team that has been playing with heart deserves better.

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