Edwards frustrated with losing streak: "We're players that want to win" |
CHICAGO - Linebacker T.J. Edwards had one of the highlights for the Bears in their loss to the New England Patriots with the sole turnover of the game. Despite the fact Edwards set Chicago up at the 48-yard line, the Bears went three and out as they were only able to muster five yards on the drive.
Edwards is doing his job as he made a play to potentially shift the momentum in Chicago’s favor, but the lack of complementary football has been frustrating for players and fans alike. He is doing what he needs to do and is leading the team in tackles with 73. “I’m going to focus on what I can do better and what we can do better as a defense and I know the offense is doing the same thing. We understand as a whole that honestly, (it) wasn’t good enough from start to finish and that’s something we’re all accountable for,” Edwards said. “But, complementary football is a big time thing and we have to do our job as a defense to try to create turnovers and do those things (because) we pride ourselves on that and getting three and outs and giving it to the offense and we know the offense will get into their rhythm. So, we’re confident in that and we’re not going to double back on anything that we’re done. We’ve put in a lot of hard work and we know it’s going to crack for sure.” Chicago’s weak spot has been its run defense. Nonetheless, they have held every team, with the exception of the Arizona Cardinals game, to 21 points or less. With an efficient offense, this should be enough to win more than four games with the opponents Chicago has faced. “It’s such a thing in this league if you’re off by a little bit, you get beat or if you’re off by a little bit, the drive’s extended or it’s a three and out,” Edwards said. “It’s such a small margin for error that we have to be on top of every single detail and it’s one thing to say it and it’s one thing to give it the speech in that sense. But, we got to go and show that we’re understanding it and that we’re correlating those meetings and walkthroughs to the field on Sunday because that’s really what we are.” The margin of error is even less as the Bears start division play this Sunday when they face the Green Bay Packers (Noon / FOX). Green Bay needs this win against Chicago to keep pace with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings in a highly competitive division, and the Bears need this win to keep their chances at the playoffs alive. Head coach Matt Eberflus has come under fire due to the team's three-game losing streak, and although Edwards said the team is frustrated, the team is backing its coach. “We’re frustrated because we want to win just like everyone else … Being here in this city, a prideful city. It’s a city that wants to win. We’re players that want to win. This is how we feed our families. This is what we want to do to leave a legacy, be successful. We want to win. So, that’s all it is. It’s also understanding that division starts now. So, these games are very important and we got to go (out and) put our best foot forward for sure,” Edwards said. “We got to go out there and execute. It’s rare that a coach is going to go out there and call a perfect game. He (is) going to go out there and that’s just how it goes. We got to go out and execute and make the plays that are out there. It’s so easy to point fingers and make excuses and do all that. But, no one’s playing perfect right now. So, it’s how can each individual turn that around, each coach looking to themselves, the players looking to themselves and figure out how we can make this thing right.”
