The Bears have been through some stuff over the past four weeks. That span dates us back to the loss in Washington, when Caleb Williams gave his team a late lead it couldn’t hold. The Commanders won that one on a Hail Mary.

Then Chicago cratered in brutal losses to Arizona and New England that got Shane Waldron fired. They showed great fight emerging from the trauma of that event, with Williams (again) giving the Bears a late lead against the rival Packers they couldn’t hold.

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The Bears gave up a go-ahead touchdown and then Williams responded (again) with a drive that set up a decisive field-goal try that got blocked.

You read that right. Hail Mary and a field goal blocked from a kicker in Cairo Santos who swore he hit it straight and true. It probably goes through uprights if the interior line doesn’t get overwhelmed.

That has led to some interesting reactions to this game, especially with the emotion involved in those losses. Are the Bears snakebit? Is the season done?

Let’s bring perspective to some overreactions coming out of Sunday’s game:

The Bears can’t lose in worse ways

Overreaction?: Totally fair

Bair: Just imagine, as I’m sure you have a few times recently, if the Tyrique Stevenson pays attention on the last play in Washington and the interior line holds and/or Cairo Santos’ kick sails just high enough to avoid contact.

The Bears are 6-4, and maybe they don’t slip so far in the other two games lost in this skid. It’s two situations that are borderline unimaginable when experienced in tandem, and left the Bears reeling on a losing tear that may be referred to as the pivot point in a disappointing season.

Some Bears referred to these plays as cards they were dealt, but it’s not bad luck that felled them. It was a defensive failure in Washington and a protection issue (and maybe getting outcoached) against the Packers.

These results are emotional and tough to take, which can weigh on a team coming out of them. The Bears seemed far better after Sunday than in Washington, but there’s a super-difficult stretch ahead with Minnesota coming to town next week.

All is right with Thomas Brown running the Bears offense

Overreaction?: Easy there, fella

Bair: Was the Bears offense far better working under Thomas Brown’s direction? Heck yeah. The new offensive coordinator did an excellent job game planning for this contest – maybe creating some buyer’s remorse for Matt Eberflus that he didn’t hire Brown in the first place – and got a talented unit going after two terrible weeks.

Caleb Williams credited Brown with getting plays in faster to run the cadence as intended. His commitment to the run game was applauded by a few. He was creative getting players open and intentional getting DJ Moore the football.

Williams looked so comfortable within the operation and a healthier offensive front – how much did the Bears miss Braxton Jones? – but we need to reserve judgement on Brown’s lasting power. A new play-caller surely created a bunch of unscouted looks for the Packers.

As the Bears stack game film of their work under Brown, how will defensive coordinators counter? How will Brown adjust? That’s an unknown and why we need to see a series of games before declaring anything about Brown as an offensive coordinator in Chicago. Also, as a wrinkle in this narrative, the Bears better start winning or the whole coaching staff gets blown out and Brown won’t be the coordinator here anymore.  

The Bears playoff hopes are done

Overreaction?: Ask again later

Bair: The Bears are 4-6 and struggling mightily. They’re in last place in the NFC North and pretty far down in the NFC. That’s what happens when you lose four straight.

It was tempting to say to say this is it, but there’s so much football remaining. The schedule isn’t easy, but the Bears have talent on both sides of the ball. Stranger things have happened, and the Bears could go on a run. Can’t eliminate that as a prospect, even with the Lions up two more times this season. We’re at the point where it’s gonna take 10 wins to get to the playoffs. That leaves a minuscule margin for error, but it’s not gone.

And…that’s it for Matt Eberflus

Overreaction?: Sorta, but outlook not good

The Bears head coach took some heat for having roughly 30 seconds left and a timeout and refusing to run the ball and to gain yards and shorten the field goal try, though Cairo Santos said a few extra yards wouldn’t have changed his kick (and, therefore, his trajectory). It’s fair to listen to Santos and not question that coaching decision.

Too often, though, coaching decisions are being fairly questioned. While Eberflus has been accountable at times for how this season has digressed, he’s 14-30 as Bears head coach. There’s context to that, considering the 2022 talent level, but the overall record is terrible. Eberflus has struggled on the road and in close games. He could’ve helped this year’s Bears when he has hurt them. It’s hard to imagine him lasting util 2025, but the season ain’t done. He’ll need an instant rally to recover, though, and that simply has to start on Sunday against Minnesota.