Chicago Bears: Second half collapse reminds Bears of who they really are
The first half was exciting and giddy, but the second half was another painful reminder that the Chicago Bears are the same old Bears of disappointment.
What was Matt Nagy’s halftime speech to the Chicago Bears? Seriously, what did he say? Whatever was said did not translate to a victory.
How is it that after a first-half where the Bears were playing inspired football, at least offensively and on special teams, that in the second half, they go back to the same methods that contributed to their losing? Case in point, a 45-30 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, after leading 27-21 through two quarters.
Seriously? Three points in the second half? Twenty-seven in the first half and then nothing the rest of the way? Outscored 24-3 after intermission? It’s not like the Packers’ defense suddenly resembled the Steel Curtain? To be honest, for much of this rivalry between these two teams, Green Bay has undoubtedly been the better team, to the chagrin of the Windy City faithful.
The first half was mostly a teaser of what a rivalry game would look like. Back and forth intensity. Jakeem Grant’s spectacular plays on offense and on special teams combined with a Damiere Byrd touchdown catch and run. It was too good to be true.
But then the real show began when both teams came out of the locker room, the show of why the Packers will always be the better team unless changes are made. And thus, by night’s end, Lambeau Field rocked in victory, and even Bears fans joined in the fun of jumping around, signifying just how bad it has become for the Navy and Orange.
To a Bears fan, the second half was as ugly as the night Marc Trestman’s troops got 55 hung on them in 2014. Ok, maybe that’s a bit much because that game was a disaster from start to finish, but this second half was terrible. It took till the near end of the game for the Bears to score in the second half, and despite a surprise onside kick recovery, the outcome was clear.
The Chicago Bears won’t change, and even when they do, the results are still the same, and it’s very sad
There’s no need to bring up the stats for this game. It was clearly visible that despite his flaws, Justin Fields is going to be a star in this league. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, let’s face it, he just has his way with the Bears. The real questions, though, will be what happens with the coaching staff and the upper personnel outside of owners George and Virginia McCaskey.
Fans have chanted for the firing of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace. Even if they do get let go, who can they get to come in and fix this? Ted Phillips, their team president, has shown no signs of stepping down, but his tenure with the Bears has been disappointing.
So who really can fix this? More importantly, even though Fields has so much potential and the elite physical traits to back him up, the inconsistencies are what will continue to hold him back. Who is going to help him?
Cold weather is synonymous in Chicago, as are blurry visions, icy conditions, and sadness. The last trait resembles what currently exists within the Chicago Bears. It’s always the same thing—sorrow, followed by more grief and pain, and ultimate heartbreak.