The Chicago Bears began the 2023 season with plenty of dysfunction. In addition to their 0-4 start, the Bears’ Defensive coordinator, Alan Williams, resigned amidst allegations of “inappropriate conduct” in September. Around the same time, Justin Fields called out his coaches in a press conference regarding his poor play causing more ruckus. Adding insult to injury was the Chase Claypool experiment that seemed to be a dud since the Bears traded Pittsburgh a 2nd round pick for him in 2022.
Currently at the forefront of discussion in Chicago are Quarterback Justin Fields and Head Coach Matt Eberflus. The Head Coach and Quarterback tandem will look to play spoilers to the Green Bay Packers playoff hopes with a huge rivalry matchup approaching on Sunday. With a win, the Bears can finally bask in the glory of beating their bitter rivals for the first time since 2018. Furthermore, the Bears will seek answers from this week 18 matchup to two critical offseason questions regarding Fields and Eberflus following the regular season finale at Lambeau Field.
Will the Bear Retain Head Coach Matt Eberflus?
Matt Eberflus’ tenure in Chicago has been shaky at best. The second-year Head Coach won just three games in his first season, and the 2023 season looked to be a repeat of the previous. However, in 2023 the Bears rebounded from their poor start and are winners of four out of their last five games.
Notably, the Bear’s defense has seen a vast improvement thanks to the acquisition of Montez Sweat and the emergence of cornerback Jaylon Johnson. In their first eight games, the Bear’s defense gave up a staggering 27.25 points per game. Since the trade deadline that margin has improved to 18 points per game.
Additionally, the Bears have the best run defense in the NFL. According to The Football Database, the Bears only surrender 84 rushing yards per game and have held opposing offenses to a total of 1,344 yards rushing all season. Both of these figures are number one in the league. Furthermore, the Bears defense leads the league in interceptions at 22.
With Eberflus’ calling card being the defensive side of the ball, he has proven he can coordinate a winning defense. The final test for Eberflus will be his handling of the Green Bay offense with emerging star Jordan Love at Quarterback. Should Eberflus and his team defeat the Packers on Sunday, the Bears should look to retain him after many called for his job earlier this season. Recent history is not on the side of Eberflus as the Bears have not defeated the Packers in over six years.
Is Justin Fields the Bears’ Quarterback of the Future?
Justin Fields is one of the biggest question marks the Bears face heading into the offseason. The third-year quarterback has endured plenty of dysfunction in his three-year career where consistency can make or break young quarterbacks. Fields owns a lowly 10-27 record as a starter but has shown flashes of elite playmaking ability during his time with the Bears.
Fields has played similarly to last season–average. According to ESPN, Fields has 20 total touchdowns to only ten turnovers. Additionally, he has passed for 2,414 yards and is completing 61 percent of his passes. These numbers certainly do not jump off the page, and place the future of the young signal caller in question.
Another detriment to Fields’ tenure is his turnovers and availability. Through his 37 career starts, Justin Fields has amassed an abysmal 41 giveaways. Additionally, he has missed 11 games due to injury. These two reasons alone are cause for concern for Field’s future in the Windy City.
With the Bears securing the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, they could move off of Fields and draft their new quarterback of the future. Fields has yet to defeat the Packers during his career and must be looking forward to playing spoiler to the Packers who face a win-and-in scenario against their rivals. Winning at Lambeau Field on Sunday would be Fields’ signature win and would surely help his case to maintain his starting position in Chicago. On the other hand, another loss could be the nail in the coffin for the former first-round pick.
Given the climate in Halas Hall and how eager the Bears are for a winning team, Eberflus and Fields are coaching and playing for their jobs. Should the Bears upset the Packers, these questions could be answered early next week, and the Bears will remain one of the most fascinating stories this offseason.
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