{"id":96966,"date":"2020-10-28T19:32:29","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T23:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=96966"},"modified":"2021-03-20T15:13:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T19:13:16","slug":"can-the-chicago-bears-exorcise-demons-against-saints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/10\/28\/can-the-chicago-bears-exorcise-demons-against-saints\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Chicago Bears Exorcise Demons Against Saints?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Old habits not yet dead have Chicago Bears<\/a> fans wondering if their team can exorcise its demons against the New Orleans Saints. The knee-jerk response, after watching the Los Angeles Rams embarrass them 24-10 on Monday Night Football, would be a simple \u201cno\u201d. But, as we have seen this season, the only thing simple about the Bears is their offensive gameplan week-to-week. If they don\u2019t course-correct soon, they could use up the cushion they\u2019ve built up.<\/p>\n

Bears Need to Exorcise Demons<\/h2>\n

Same Old Story<\/h3>\n

Defense has been the calling card of Bears teams since their inception in 1920. Save for a few years under Marc Trestman<\/a><\/strong> (the last \u201coffensive guru\u201d to lead the team), it\u2019s been death, taxes, and the Bears fielding a strong defense. It should be no surprise then that this year\u2019s squad is sixth in defensive DVOA, per Football Outsiders<\/a>, while the offense ranks 26th. What a drag.<\/p>\n

Matt Nagy<\/a><\/strong> (and his general manager Ryan Pace<\/a><\/strong>, for that matter) was brought in to modernize this team, specifically the offense. The offense ranked ninth in points in 2018 but plummeted to 29th in 2019 and 27th this season. Their best mark in terms of yardage was also 2018 when they ranked an unconvincing 21st. Be it scheme or personnel (it\u2019s both), the Bears have been stuck as a one-sided team stuck in sports purgatory.<\/p>\n

The lack of time Nick Foles<\/a><\/strong> had against the Rams was only overshadowed by his lack of mobility. It ended with talking heads joining fans in calling for Mitchell Trubisky<\/a><\/strong>. His mobility would have helped, for sure. But the results would likely have been the same. Foles has often forced passes much like his young teammate was wont to do and defenses have been able to guess right far too often. Foles is an issue but not the only one.<\/p>\n

\n

obvious fixes that the Bears can reasonably make by Sunday<\/p>\n

1. Make Dwayne Harris punt returner
2. Replace all of Demetrius Harris' snaps with Cole Kmet
3. Throw 2x as much on first down
4. 2x as much play action
5. Load Rashaad Coward into a cannon and launch him out of Illinois<\/p>\n

— Jeremy (@JeromeyR0me) October 28, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n