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The Chicago Bears basically had to win on Sunday night to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They didn't.
For what seems like the umpteenth time this season, the Bears disappointed their fanbase yet again in Week 11, losing to the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 17-7 and falling to just 4-6 in what has been an incredibly disappointing 2019 campaign.
Going into the year, Chicago was expected by many (myself included) to contend for a Super Bowl. As a matter of fact, I had the Bears winning the NFC, and why not?
Last season, Chicago rode a dominant defense and what appeared to be an improving young offense to a 12-4 record and an NFC North division title. Yes, it fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, but it looked to be the start of something rather special brewing in the Windy City.
Yeah. That's not at all what it was.
Now, it's looking more and more like the Bears' run in 2018 was a fluke, as Chicago has hardly even resembled the club that had everybody talking around this team a year ago.
Mitchell Trubisky has regressed, the running game has been non-existent, the offensive line has been porous and even the defense has taken a rather significant step back from last season.
Sure, the Bears have had some injuries, but even when they have been healthy this season, they have looked shaky.
Chicago has lost five of its last six games, and it's almost like it is looking worse and worse with every loss.
I also hate playing Monday morning quarterback, but man; the Bears have to be kicking themselves for taking Trubisky over both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in the 2017 NFL Draft.
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And it's not just Trubisky, either. Chicago lacks offensive talent in general.
Tarik Cohen has been a virtual non-factor this season, Trey Burton was a complete bust and the receiving corps is nothing more than mediocre. Allen Robinson is nice, but he is not a true No. 1, and Taylor Gabriel is just a decent complementary piece.
I had high hopes for Anthony Miller in 2019, but he has been a massive disappointment.
Let's face facts here: the Bears are not going to the playoffs this season, and unless they make significant changes this offseason, they are probably not making the playoffs next year, either.
This team is just a mess right now, and while culpability starts with general manager Ryan Pace, because he is the primary decision-maker, head coach Matt Nagy also needs to do a better job, and it seems like the players just don't care at this point.
For once, the Bears need to understand that while defense is vital to winning championships, offense does matter, and while that may require a slight shift in philosophy, it seems necessary right now.
Chicago was not supposed to be this bad this season. It was supposed to win at least 10 games and legitimately contend in the NFC.
Instead, what we have gotten is an absolute dumpster fire, and I'm not sure how much better it's going to get in the near future.
