17 Thoughts On The Bears’ Thanksgiving Meltdown Against The Lions
DETROIT — A nationally televised Thanksgiving Day spotlight was just what these broken and embattled Chicago Bears — and their fans — needed. After roaring into their bye week at 4-2, it’s been a cataclysmic stretch for this football team.
We all know what happened. A season full of promise got completely upended when Tyrique Stevenson tipped a Hail Mary back towards the end zone in Washington. That subsequent Monday, Matt Eberflus lost the locker room by failing to take accountability in the most bizarre and stupid fashion.
But in some ways, maybe those low moments are what this team needed to get things right.
Shane Waldron was fired after a disastrous showing at Soldier Field against the New England Patriots. Thomas Brown took over and straight up rescued Caleb Williams and a spiraling offense. They went toe to toe with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings offensively. The defense (Eberflus’ defense) has continued to look lost and somewhat toothless, but the offense has fought for their new OC — someone who appears to be a real leader. Someone with head coach qualities, perhaps.
Coming into today’s perceived destruction in Detroit, the question on everyone’s mind was: Will the Bears take advantage of this mini-bye and give Brown a five-game audition as head coach by putting Eberflus out of his misery? A bad loss would certainly make the calls for such a move even louder.
In the end, the Bears lost one of the craziest football games in recent memory — which is insane because they’ve seemingly played those three games in a row. A disgusting coaching performance to close out the game. Now we wait to see what happens on the coaching front heading into the mini-bye.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X/Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. Dan Campbell won the toss and opted to take the ball — a rarity but also a statement that he knows his offense will score on this defense and he wants to put a rookie QB behind in a loud road stadium. The Bears’ defense struggled on third down (very easy conversions for the Lions) up until the red zone, where the Bears forced a field goal. Kyler Gordon had a chance at an interception, but it resulted in a field goal attempt. 3-0, Lions.
2. Ford Field was insanely loud on the Bears’ first possession. After a six-yard gain on first down, Caleb changed the play on second down and D’Andre swift was stopped for a loss on a stretch play. The OL did a good job on third down picking up the blitz, and Caleb’s throw to Moore on the sideline was broken up. Kerby Joseph came in and challenged the play with perfect timing. Almost picked. I liked the decision but it was either late or with too much air.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862193297273626868
3. Matt Eberflus lost another challenge. Drink. Another clear losing challenge that he threw the flag on for no real reason. He’s now 0-5 on the year. This isn’t just bad luck. It’s malpractice. And stupidity.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862194096271679746
4. Frankly, I’m not sure there is a lot of analysis left for this game. The Lions are straight up better than the Bears and they’re absolutely destroying them. See tweet on broader vision:
From an offensive perspective, unfortunately the more the deficit widens, the worse this evaluation of the offense will be. Dropping back every play in a game like this does no one any good.
Just a wasted football game.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862199182238597573
5. 2nd and 25 and Detroit converts on the next play and gets a 15-yard penalty for ‘roughing.’ It’s unbelievable.
6. Good for Tyrique Stevenson to get a forced fumble on Jahmyr Gibbs at the 6-yard line as the Lions were threatening to score yet again. He came in flying on a perfect screen call from Detroit — I think he just wanted to beat the shit out of somebody and let off some frustration, honestly. Still, a timely fumble and good recovery from Gervon Dexter downfield. Maybe this gets Stevenson’s confidence back a little after it’s clearly been hampered post-Washington game. He needs to prove he’s a salvageable talent.
The Bears are down 16-0 at the half but the Lions have dominated so thoroughly that it’s not even a game right.
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7. Great drive by Chicago to open the second half. After three straight runs by Swift to pick up a first down, Caleb converted a 3rd and 15 with an acrobatic throw to Keenan Allen. After a BAD hit to his left leg near the sideline that prompted some anger from the Bears’ OL (thankfully, Caleb was OK), Williams fired a laser down the middle to Allen for a touchdown. Seemingly manifested that out of nowhere and completely against the grain of play.
Thankfully the Bears stayed within two possessions where they could run some semblance of real offense despite being thoroughly dominated in the first half, and it’s now 16-7. Let’s see if it wakes up the defense a little.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862218880783196363
8. Look, the Bears are not playing well on any level. But the referees have completely destroyed this game. A BAD roughing call on the Bears. A NON-roughing call for the Lions. A non-called DPI on 4th and 4. And now a phantom horsecollar on Gordon on a 3rd down stop. It’s quite ridiculous.
Consistent refereeing (and correct refereeing!) is all we’re asking for here.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862220536774000929
23-7 Lions after they storm in for the touchdown a few minutes later.
9. Bears have a quick strike offense all of a sudden? Williams put the Bears near the red zone in two plays – a nice throw to Rome Oduzne and then a big screen to Swift. A few plays later, Allen scored again on an absolutely insane route to cut back to the middle of the field. Beautifully done, as Caleb worked back to Allen on his progressions. Bears didn’t get the two-point, so it’s 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Once again, offense is fighting. Thomas Brown has made some good adjustments and Williams is playing better.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862225559490818194
Darnell Wright left for the locker room on a cart shortly before that touchdown and was ruled to be doubtful to return. In a season where the OL has been in shambles, that’s the last thing this team could afford on offense. Hopefully he’s back before the bye week. He hasn’t been quite as dominant as last year, but he’s still been a very good RT this year.
10. Man, oh man. DJ Moore with one of the more disappointing drops on the season. After the Bears actually forced a punt, Caleb threw a deep dig to Moore on 3rd and 18 that — while not PERFECT — was absolutely catchable for a first down. He’s gotta come down with that to keep the drive going. Brutal drop in a key situation. Killed momentum and probably any chance of coming back.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862229656398930334
11. What a turn of events, wow. Jake Bates missed a 45-yard field goal attempt and the Bears marched right down the field again – with Caleb lofting a beautiful 31 yard touchdown to DJ Moore in stride to make it 23-20. A beautiful play.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862233260887351698
And then the Bears forced a punt! But a beautiful ST play put the ball on the 1-yard line. 99 yards to try to win the game. Whatcha got, rook?
12. This game is fully drunk. A 3rd down conversion to Moore to the 30 after a bad penalty called on Allen. A few big plays and then an OPI and a DPI put the Bears at the Lions 25 yard line. Caleb with some really nice plays on this drive to set them up in decent position.
13. I’ve seen the Bears lose in a lot of funny ways. That is one of the dumbest ways to lose I’ve ever seen. After a sack pushed the Bears out of FG range, the Bears WITH A TIMEOUT REMAINING let the clock RUN OUT to lose 23-20. One of the most inept ways to lose I’ve ever seen.
Flus shouldn’t even be allowed to do the post-game presser. That is unbelievable. Unbelievable.
14. A spirited and incredible comeback attempt by the offense falls short on absolute incompetence. There should be a riot if Flus returns after the mini-bye. Inexcusable. Inexcusable. A blowout loss almost would’ve been better than this.
15. A horrific loss means it’s 3 straight games the Bears have lost in just devastating fashion. Caleb was doing it yet again before coaching completely failed him. The Bears absolutely have their quarterback.
https://x.com/DhruvKoul/status/1862235737305088251
16. We’ll see what happens on the mini-bye, but the Bears head to San Francisco next Sunday to take on a surprisingly mid 49ers team. Neither team is playing as well as they should be, but the Niners have a significant trench and coaching advantage. We know what that means.
Early prediction: 49ers 34, Bears 20
17. On this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for all of you readers and fans who engage and make being part of the Bears’ community a fun adventure. The Bears are headed in the right direction. This is a roster with a lot of talent – and with the right coach, this will be a good team. Hopefully, next year we’re able to see it come to fruition. Have a happy and safe weekend!