Eberflus on blowout loss to Patriots: "We have all the answers that we need in the room" |
CHICAGO - If the sky was not falling in Chicago before after the Bears’ 20-point loss to the Arizona Cardinals, it certainly is now with their 16-point loss to the New England Patriots, who came into the game with a -76 point differential.
Head coach Matt Eberflus did not seem to have answers after the game for why the offense was so inefficient. “As a head football coach, all disappointed, accepting accountability for everything and then really just looking inward at myself first and that’s what I asked the players to do too and the coaches. We got to take a good hard look at everything that we’re doing and play good complementary football,” Eberflus said. “I thought we started the game out solid in terms of having some momentum there with the big return, with the interception and those types of things and we have to do a good job of capitalizing on those to create momentum early and the great thing I told the players is that I said that we have evidence on tape of doing that. It’d be different if you didn’t have any evidence. We have evidence of that and it’s the same guys in the room, same guys in the circle. So, it’s important that we find a way to get that done and the only way to get that done is pulling together. It’s not about pulling apart … We have all of the answers that we need in the room.” The offensive play calling has been beyond atrocious from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Every game provides countless examples of decisions that do not make sense. Chicago’s offense has no rhythm. They have not scored a touchdown since Oct. 13 when they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in London back in week six. Eberflus did not rule out changing the offensive play caller for their next game against the Green Bay Packers this coming Sunday (Noon / FOX). If the Bears make the same mistakes they did against New England versus Green Bay, such as allowing nine sacks, they will not win. “We’re looking at everything. Everything’s going to be looked at,” Eberflus said. “There were several things, protection was broken down a little bit. In terms of the route disciplines, all those things. It’s always everybody. When you give up nine sacks, obviously that’s something that you don’t want to have happen. But again, that’s an everybody thing. That’s rhythm and timing of the quarterback. That’s protection of the offensive line. That’s route disciplines of the guys running the routes. It’s all (of) that. It’s all that at the same time. So, it’s an everybody thing.” Having such a poor offense where rookie quarterback Caleb Williams seems to be regressing, the offensive line is battered with injuries and Williams does not have any chemistry with the receivers. There are growing concerns how this season is progressing will negatively influence Williams’ development, especially after getting sacked nine times today. However, Eberflus is not concerned about Williams, his development or his regression. “Caleb’s strong. He’s strong inside. He’s strong outside. He’s a strong individual and he’s been through adversity and he knows how to do this. He knows how to get through adversity by pulling together and (we) got to pull together with everybody else too. So, it’s important that we get that done moving forward,” Eberflus said. “He’s a young quarterback. He’s only played so many games in the NFL and again, every experience is different and he’s got to learn from that experience and exposure. So, it’s a developing thing. It’s never going to be like this all the way through and again, we’re going through some adversity right now. But, the only way to pull through that is to pull together.” The Chicago Bears have not defeated the Green Bay Packers since December of 2018, the season the Bears won the division and went to the playoffs. In fact, Chicago only has two division games since Eberflus took over as head coach. After the Bears’ performance against New England, things do not look promising for Eberflus to get his third NFC North win of his head coaching career.
