Chicago Bears look unworthy of primetime in loss to Rams

The Chicago Bears got embarrassed by the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, and this team is not meant to play primetime games.

Several questions need answering by the Chicago Bears after their performance against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night.

A 34-14 loss begs the following; how can the Chicago Bears continue to roll with Andy Dalton after what took place in SoFi Stadium, especially when Justin Fields showed that he is worthy of at least getting on the field and showing what he can do?

Also, after seeing the secondary get shredded by Matthew Stafford and his new arsenal, was releasing Kyle Fuller really the right call here? Stafford had a very effective night, by the way, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.

With the offensive line struggling, was releasing Charles Leno such a good idea even though you drafted Teven Jenkins and gave up future draft capital to do so? Keep in mind, Jenkins is out for a period of time with back surgery.

Also, with both Jason Peters and Larry Borom suffering lower-body injuries against the Rams and depth being a significant issue, the optics are quite bleak, especially if these injuries continue to mount.

And finally, the biggest question that bears asking, no pun intended; where do they go from here in terms of playing under the bright lights? Week 1 or not, recent primetime woes continue to resurface for this franchise.

Last season, the Bears played in five primetime games, including the playoff loss to New Orleans, and went a combined 1-4, the lone victory coming when Tom Brady forgot the down. If you are looking for any answers, you may not have one. Not unless the Bears give it to you.

The Chicago Bears will struggle mightily this season if they can’t fix the issues they have.

These changes aren’t going to happen overnight. Still, these issues were brought up in the preseason and were not addressed as much as they should have, especially the questions about the offensive line, particularly at offensive tackle and the depth at cornerback.

Even though it may just be the first week of a new 17-game schedule, that won’t make much of a difference, and it can only worsen unless a change or changes are made to try and de-escalate the situation.

The Bears would be wise to start Fields now and at least allow him to provide a spark. Choosing to remain with Dalton comes with the risk of a locker room being divided, a situation no coach ever wants to be in.

Regarding the cornerback and offensive tackle situations, the team may have to wait until next year to address that without a first-round pick due to the trade for Fields and limited salary cap space, all while trying to extend their young talent on their roster.

Moreover, Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack aren’t getting any younger, and soon, fresh young talent will be required. But with limited draft capital, that may be a steep challenge. In simpler terms, things aren’t looking good in the Windy City.

It may just be Week 1, but the Bears are once again heading in the wrong direction, and their issues will only magnify if not addressed and addressed soon.