A Bears Fan’s Reaction to Week 2 Bears-Buccaneers

Photo Credit: Mike Ehrman, Getty Images

Here we are again, not what we expected. Again a loss to our opponent, but the stinging sensation has worsened.

Questions were rising as a result of the Week 1 loss to the Packers. Now the questions are intensified after a loss yesterday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In yesterday’s matchup, quarterback Justin Fields threw for 211 yards and one touchdown. He also threw for two interceptions. His lone touchdown came to wide receiver Chase Claypool, who had three catches for 36 yards.

WR DJ Moore got more passes thrown to him compared to last week. He had six catches for 104 yards, but sadly no touchdown. Tight end Cole Kmet had four catches for 38 yards and no touchdowns.

The offensive line gave up six sacks to the opposing defense in yesterday’s performance. Two sacks to linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, 1.5 sacks from defensive tackle Vita Vea, one sack from LB Shaquille Barrett, one from LB Cam Gill, and 0.5 from defensive end Logan Hall.

With cornerback Kyler Gordon currently out for the next several weeks, the secondary took another hit as safety Eddie Jackson left yesterday’s game with a non-contact foot injury. His status for the next game and beyond is to be determined. Left guard Tevin Jenkins is out for at least the next two games. Right guard Nate Davis is still yet to be determined if he will be ready and active for Week 3.

Reaction

Tell me who is to blame for this performance. There are several moving pieces as to who is to blame. I can’t blame the defense because they kept QB Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in check for the majority of the game. Except blown coverage to the only touchdown, they scored on the offense to WR Mike Evans.

Who is to blame for the way Justin Fields played and his two touchdowns? Part of the blame for the first interception goes to Claypool. During that play, the ball was thrown to him and Claypool dropped it. Claypool dropping the ball resulted in it being intercepted by the defender. The second one came on a screen play. To be more precise, the third screen in a row on that same drive. The blame can be partially put on Fields for throwing the ball while not looking at LB Shaquille Barrett.

The majority of the blame goes to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. His playcalling has become suspect of termination as of this point. It honestly shocks me that Matt Nagy did a better job of playcalling than Getsy. Getsy seemingly has turned the best QB prospect the team has ever had into a potential bust candidate. Fields takes far too long to throw the ball and now for some reason refuses to run if nobody is open.

There was a play in which Moore was wide open on a fade route. That could have easily been another first down but Fields only looked to the right side of the field. Something needs to be done and it is up to general manager Ryan Poles to solve it. He hopefully does not make the mistake of former GM Ryan Pace and keeps his handpicked head coach around. I honestly hope he gets an offensive-minded HC with actual playcalling experience. If he doesn’t then this is just a repeat of every coach we’ve had since Lovie Smith was fired all those years ago.

I truly want Fields to succeed as a player, and for Poles to succeed as a GM. But it is becoming more tiring to have to tolerate the ineptitude on the offensive side of the ball. It is tiring to see every good college QB we touch, we ruin them.

Next week is a write-off considering our opponent is the Kansas City Chiefs. Unless we pull an upset out of a magic hat like the Lions did, we are going 0-3 to start off the season.