{"id":126762,"date":"2021-12-27T07:00:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T12:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=126762"},"modified":"2021-12-27T00:53:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T05:53:00","slug":"what-a-day-after-christmas-miracle-means-for-the-chicago-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/12\/27\/what-a-day-after-christmas-miracle-means-for-the-chicago-bears\/","title":{"rendered":"What a (Day After) Christmas Miracle Means for the Chicago Bears"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the land, many Chicago Bears<\/a> fans wouldn\u2019t be happy. Unless Matt Nagy<\/a> was banned. But, facing mounting rumors over his imminent termination, the embattled head coach pulled out all the stops (relatively speaking) on the road with his third-string quarterback under center.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bears went for it on fourth down on their first trip into the red zone instead of taking the points. That was after trading punts with the Seahawks and then D.K. Metcalf caught a 41-yard score on a falling Thomas Graham.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was Nick Foles<\/a>, making his first start since Week 10 of last season, that found Jimmy Graham<\/a> for a 15-yard score and then Damiere Byrd<\/a> for the two-point conversion to seal it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chicago Bears Had a Merry Christmas at the Seahawks Expense<\/span><\/h2>\n

Addressing the Obvious<\/span><\/h3>\n

What does this win mean for Matt Nagy? For most, not much as the body of work speaks louder than a Week 16 victory over a similarly struggling Seahawks team starting several unknowns in their secondary too. A passing game that has cracked 200 yards in each of the last six games after not doing it once in the first eight is equal parts damning and impressive.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Ian Rapoport made it sound as if the door was still open for a Nagy return in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stranger things have happened; the New York Giants announced Joe Judge and Daniel Jones will both return for whatever reason. But the offense for the Bears has been a hindrance far more often than it has been an asset over the last four years.<\/span><\/p>\n

To his credit, Nagy has not deflected blame in that regard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBig picture, not enough points isn’t going to win games. That starts with me.\u201d – Matt Nagy following Week 15 loss to Minnesota Vikings<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It does raise questions about Ryan Pace<\/a>\u2019s future over the need for Andy Dalton to be brought in as the offense looked as good with Foles as it did in any of Dalton\u2019s six appearances (four starts) considering the snowy conditions they were playing in. Foles completed 24-of-35 passes for 250 yards and that touchdown to Graham.<\/span><\/p>\n

This may frustrate folks, but the win also showed that Nagy hasn\u2019t lost the locker room despite the frustrating penalties they\u2019ve committed, including the head coach himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

We just don\u2019t know what this ownership group will do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

"I was hoping we were going to go for two points. You might as well roll the dice right now and go for it."<\/p>\n

– @NickFoles<\/a> on the @ChicagoBears<\/a> decision to go for two at the end of the game@MeganOlivi<\/a> | #DaBears<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vZbhxHtJgr<\/a><\/p>\n

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 27, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n