Unbelievably, the head coach of the Bears was suspected of the awful deal, and…
To call for Matt Eberflus to be fired as the Bears’ coach would be likened to the well-known pile-on known as the “tush push,” in which enormous bodies dive on one another for first downs and similar plays. We can all agree that poor Matt is feeling the brunt of public criticism, and he may be doomed, just like the other guy, Ryan.
At this point in the Bears season, criticism takes the place of annoyance. Although the quarterback is typically the target, Justin Fields plays every game without taking responsibility, leaving people in his immediate vicinity and above to shoulder the brunt of the criticism.
Fields does more good than bad, which feeds into the narrative that he is (1) misapplied, (2) misinterpreted, (3) mismanaged, (4) mishandled, and (5) all those big misses, like misjudgment, miscalculation, and, most obviously, mistake.
If Fields isn’t at fault, then who is?
That would be Eberflus up front, with Luke Getsy and other assistants hanging (two of Eberflus’ coaches having already quit or been fired), and Ryan something or other, the guy in charge of it all, waiting for confirmation that he is as intelligent as he believes himself to be.
Even though irresponsibility has been a well-known and calculated Bears’ tactic for many generations, to carry on as things are seems improbable and reckless. Real progress always looks like progress, and when that happens, the coach’s office needs new curtains.
According to the typical untrustworthy sources, Eberflus is history, and his main responsibility these days isn’t winning but rather holding his spot in the draft lottery so that Ryan or someone else can restock the roster.
Meanwhile, Matt’s shortcomings and lackluster performance are being criticized. One of his biggest weaknesses is that he gets confused during times of crisis, or the fourth quarter. Even though the Bears could have won five of those games—perhaps even with a mask on their pig nose—they still lost.
The Bears were tied with the Saints heading into the fourth quarter, ahead by 12 against the Lions with four minutes remaining, and within a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Tampa. They were also ahead by 21 against the Broncos and within a touchdown against the Vikings.
All the fault of Eberflus? Now think about the Lions. Newly acquired edge rusher Montez Sweat and reliable linebacker Tremaine Edmunds were on the sidelines during the Lions’ comeback, crucial stoppers at a critical juncture.
Justification? “You put lead dogs back in when they’re fresh,” Eberflus explained. Those guys are always throwing their fastball, so you have to do that.”
What? Dog leaders using fastballs? Matt should be fired for nothing more than combining metaphors.
While Matt isn’t any worse than the last Matt, the Fox before him, or any of the various Jaurons and Trestmen, Lovie Smith may be the only true Bears coach since Mike Ditka. On paper, Eberflus is the worst Bears coach ever, which is a relief for Abe Gibron’s legacy.
Everywhere we look is the ineffectual Dave Wannstedt, sharing doubts and advice with the rest of us, encouraging us to give Eberflus another chance—a mistake akin to rooting for the eraser.
So who takes Matt’s place, poor guy? Offensive coordinators Brian of the Eagles and Ben of the Lions are two Johnsons that are rumored to be in the running, but Jim Harbaugh is the most obvious and, if I had to choose, my pick. Does it really matter?
The fact is, the Bears appear to be no better at finding coaches than they are at finding quarterbacks, and the two are almost always connected like zip ties. Paradoxically, if Fields causes poor Matt to lose his job, it will be largely due to Eberflus’s lack of influence over him.
Eberflus, like Bill Belichick, is a defensive coach, and defensive coaches are typically harder to forgive when the offense struggles. Poor Matt, you are a victim of your own resume because there is no Tom Brady to support you.
Does that imply that Getsy, the man with the plan, the offensive coordinator, should take over as the Bears’ next coach? Yes, exactly. Not important. Never has.
