{"id":127323,"date":"2021-12-31T15:30:59","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T20:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=127323"},"modified":"2021-12-31T16:19:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T21:19:10","slug":"the-chicago-bears-still-have-a-lot-to-play-for-on-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/12\/31\/the-chicago-bears-still-have-a-lot-to-play-for-on-sunday\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chicago Bears Still Have a lot to Play for on Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears<\/a> (5-10) were officially eliminated from postseason contention a couple of weeks ago but they still have plenty to play for come Sunday. It is important to note when they were \u201cofficially\u201d knocked out because anyone watching this team would have told you they were cooked long before that.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a large pocket that will say they are a year beyond their expiration date. That date was extended thanks to backing into an expanded playoff field last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year there will be no such luck.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, as we have heard repeatedly down the stretch, and again in recent remarks regarding embattled head coach Matt Nagy<\/a>, this team knows they still have reasons to be heavily motivated against the lowly New York Giants.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chicago Bears Can Still Have a Strong Close to Their Wayward Season<\/h2>\n

Nagy\u2019s Future<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bears head coach Matt Nagy\u2019s future was a common topic in NFL circles outside of Chicago coming into the year. Not only has it crept into the local mediasphere, but it has made it into the Bears locker room as this season hit the skids. We even had reports that there have been fractures among players fighting the urge to mail it in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is even a reported split over who to support within the organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

The situation has all of the hallmarks of an imminent dissolution of the current regime. And, even though nothing has been confirmed, players have been pretty consistent in their messaging.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of what you (or they, to be honest) may think about Nagy as a coach \u2013 the Bears metrics speak for themselves \u2013 he will finish his tenure in Chicago with a winning record (currently 33-30). He would be just one of seven Bears coaches to do so and the first since Love Smith with Marc Trestman and John Fox failing spectacularly.<\/span><\/p>\n

His players also seem to hold him in high regard. That is one of the reasons many cite for his holding on as long as he as.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just this week, Eddie Jackson<\/a> spoke his mind on Nagy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The safety has dealt with his fair share of criticism. But he called Nagy one of the best<\/a> \u2018player coaches\u2019 he\u2019d ever been around and that \u201che cares\u201d about them. No, those aren\u2019t football traits necessarily. But, in a sport that can be mercilessly cruel, it isn\u2019t hard to see their value.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Coach Nagy is meeting with the media.@Hyundai<\/a> | #DaBears<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/7I7VpLLLJW<\/a><\/p>\n

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 31, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n