A Bears Fan’s Review & Reaction to the 2023-2024 Season
Photo Credit: John Fisher/Getty Images
Well, that’s it, the 2023-2024 NFL season is over, at least for the Chicago Bears. With their recent, agonizing 17-9 loss to the rival Green Bay Packers, any hope of playing spoiler is gone. With that in mind, it’s time to have a reaction to the entire season. Considering this is probably the last news for the Bears unless any coaching changes are made or any trades made in the offseason or the draft.
Photo Credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images
The first Third: Games 1-6
The first part of the season involved questionable offensive playcalling from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, bad defensive performances, two blown leads, and questions about head coach Matt Eberflus’s job security.
By Week 3, the Bears were 0-3 after getting smacked by the Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Week 2, the Bears had a chance to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, in one of the worst playcalling moves I’ve ever seen, Getsy called three screens in a row, which resulted in quarterback Justin Fields throwing an interception to linebacker Shaquille Barrett.
Week 4 comes around, and the Bears have a commanding lead over QB Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos, but then a defensive collapse lead to a 31-28 loss, going 0-4 on the year. The next week, the Bears destroy the Washington Commanders 40-20 and get their first win.
To end the first third of the season, the Bears lose in an ugly matchup against the Minnesota Vikings and Fields is down with an injury. This game also saw the debut of backup QB Tyson Bagent.
Photo Credit: Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports
The Second Third: Games 7-12
In this span of time, there would be a mixed bag of results and a big trade to strengthen the struggling defense.
In Bagent’s first start, the Bears humiliated the Las Vegas Raiders 30-12. Then next week, the Bears get humiliated by the Los Angeles Chargers 30-13. After that, the fun begins.
The day after the loss to the Chargers, general manager Ryan Poles acquires star defensive end Montez Sweat. The week after that, the Bears get humiliated again, this time by the New Orleans Saints 24-17. Four days later, the Bears get another win against the Carolina Panthers and prevent QB Bryce Young from scoring anything on offense.
The final two weeks of the second third were against divisional rivals. Both games had Fields return to action. Against the Detroit Lions, the Bears had a commanding lead and then had another defensive collapse, ultimately losing 31-26. The week after, the Bears had another ugly matchup with the Vikings. The defense was the main contributor, forcing several interceptions off of backup QB Joshua Dobbs. The final score of that contest was 12-10.
Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
The Final Third: Games 13-17
The final five games were make or break for the team. To kick off the final third, the Chicago Bears defeated the Detroit Lions, the final score being 28-13. The defense also forced two interceptions on QB Jared Goff. The next week, the Cleveland Browns barely beat the Bears. The final score was 20-17. The Browns defense suffocated Fields and the offense.
After that, the Bears collected two wins in a row. One against the Arizona Cardinals 27-16. The other against the Atlanta Falcons 37-17. To end the season, the Bears drop a turd against the Packers and QB Jordan Love.
Reaction!
My reaction, what was that? That final game, you’re playing to sabotage the Packers’ playoff hopes, and instead you lay an egg. Is Getsy sabotaging us? Is Fields the future? I don’t know what the future holds. Are we trading Fields or keeping him? Which receiver will we take in the draft, if at all. Are we keeping Getsy? This is one of the most interesting and yet confusing off-seasons to come for the Bears.
