Moore reacts to losing streak: "We got to figure out a way to win" |
CHICAGO—The Chicago Bears have lost a lot in the time wide receiver DJ Moore has been with Chicago. They are on another losing streak, as the Bears have not won a football game since Sunday, Oct. 13, against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While the losses take a toll, Moore said the team is focused on putting their best foot forward against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving (11:30 a.m. / CBS). “It takes a toll. You never want to get on a losing slump, and once you get out of it, you never want to get off that high of winning. So, we got to figure out a way to win,” Moore said. “Can’t dwell on this loss because we got Detroit, and you know they’re going to bring their A-game. So, we got to get ready to bring ours on this short week.” Chicago’s most recent loss, an overtime defeat against the Minnesota Vikings after a successful onside kick and field goal to send the game into overtime, gave the Bears their fifth loss in a row and seventh loss on the season. With two more losses, head coach Matt Eberflus would be guaranteed to have his third straight losing season as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Eight coaches have also been fired since Moore joined the Bears. The most recent one was offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who was replaced by Thomas Brown. Brown brings a different energy to the offense, which is palpable. It is also leading to a better offensive flow. “He’s definitely different. He definitely speaks and motivates you and everything. So, when he’s up in front of the offense, we want to go out there and play our best football for him. He’s going to call the game and we just got to go out there and execute,” Moore said. “The plays that we got stacked on top of each other have been better. The flow of the game has been better. Notice (that) collaboration that’s going on between him and all our offensive coaches. So, that’s been good.” Part of what Brown does that Waldron did not was make a purposeful effort to get Moore involved in the game. Against the Vikings, Moore had seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. Since Brown became the offensive play caller, Moore had caught all of his targets, whereas he only caught 60.6 percent of his targets under Waldron. One of his most crucial catches was a 27-yard strike from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to Moore to set up the game-tying 48-yard field goal that brought about overtime. “We called it. We practiced it a few times. I never (saw) the ball come my way during that play in practice,” Moore said. “But, when it did in the game, I was like, ‘I just got to make a play on it.’ (There) was nobody around in the middle of the field. Caleb did a good job getting it over the two defenders that (were) jumping and just had to catch it, get down and for us to be able to have that field goal.” Moore has played incredibly well historically against the Detroit Lions. In the five times he has faced them, Moore averages 106.2 yards per game and has four receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. His catch percentage against them is 71.1 percent. Chicago will need him to perform strong again to end their losing streak and get their first division win of the season.
