The Chicago Bears have started their season with two losses, including a 52-21 defeat by the Detroit Lions.
Despite high expectations for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the team’s performance remains consistent with past disappointing seasons.
Head coach Ben Johnson and Williams both expressed the need to stay positive and united despite the frustrating start.
With a new coach, new offensive line and new start for Caleb Williams, this was supposed to be the year the Bears weren’t a disappointment. And yet, here we are, two games into the season and Chicago is already in its usual tailspin.
Six days after their fourth-quarter meltdown gave the Minnesota Vikings a stunning win, the Bears put up less of a fight than some practice squads in a 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. For those who haven’t looked at the NFC North standings yet, that means Chicago is again (still?) in the division basement, and it sure doesn’t look as if it has much hope of finding its way out.
“We’ve got 15 more games. It’s the first two games. There’s been multiple occasions of teams that have rallied back to go on a run,” Williams said.
“We’ve just got to keep believing, keep pushing,” he added. “And not let anything divide us or anything like that. We’ve got to keep going. It’s only two games and we’ve got to keep moving along.”
Which sounds good. And is the right thing to say.
But it is troubling that the Bears can change coaches (Ben Johnson is their third in five seasons and fifth in 12 years), change quarterbacks (Williams is their third first-round QB in the last six years), change other personnel and the results … stay the same.
Williams can make some unbelievable plays that are testament to why he was the overall No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. Like that sweet, sidearm throw to Rome Odunze for Chicago’s second touchdown. But he can also make some plays that leave folks wondering if the Bears used that pick on the wrong guy. Like his inexplicable decision in the second quarter to try and make a play rather than throwing the ball away when he was flushed out of the pocket, resulting in an interception that Detroit would turn into another touchdown and a 21-7 lead.
Williams was 19 of 30 for 207 yards and a 91.9 QB rating before being replaced by Tyson Bagent for the last seven-plus minutes of the game.
“In that situation, it sucks that your guys are out on the field and you’re not. And that’s frustrating because you put so much time, energy and effort, and those guys are out there still battling and you’re on the sidelines,” Williams said. “… It was coach’s decision and I’ve got to move on from it.”
This loss wasn’t all on Williams. The Bears were whistled for eight penalties at a cost of 50 yards. Those included two false starts as well as offensive holding and face mask penalties that put Chicago in second-and-32 before Williams’ interception.
As for the defense, well, what is there to say about a unit that gave up 511 yards and 52 points?
Johnson knows Jared Goff and his tendencies about as well as anyone after spending the past three seasons as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, and it made no difference as Goff ran roughshod on the Bears. Goff finished 23 of 28 for 334 yards and five touchdowns, and a near-perfect passer rating of 156.
“Anytime you lose a game like this, man, it’s a kick in the teeth. Nothing about that feels good,” Johnson said.
It does feel familiar, though.
The Bears have not had a winning season since 2018 and have not made the playoffs since 2020. The rest of the NFC North has put themselves among the league’s elite — Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay all made the playoffs last year — while the Bears keep spinning their wheels.
“We’re not going to hang our heads and get down on this. It’s one game,” Johnson said. “We’re going to be just fine.”
Maybe. But at some point, it can no longer be brushed off as a rough game or a bad season. At some point, it’s a broken franchise.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.