Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 12:01:49 GMT -6
Three ideas on why Monday night is “must-win” for Bears
Posted on September 18, 2016 by jcurts.
When toe meets leather Monday night at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears hope to put last week’s dismal second half behind them.
Here are three thoughts on the importance of Monday night’s contest with the Philadelphia Eagles:
1. 0-2 starts seldom equal success…..The Bears would find themselves in a big early-season hole behind division rivals Green Bay, Minnesota, and Detroit if they come up empty against the Eagles. Playoff chances diminish rapidly to teams who begin 0-2, around a statistical 12%.
Already, the NFC North shapes up as a strong two-team race between Green Bay and Minnesota, with Detroit perhaps improved. The Bears stare at a upcoming schedule that includes winnable games versus the Eagles, Cowboys, and Lions, but if Monday night goes badly, it could also signal a slide that might not culminate until late October.
2. Bears need homefield advantage….Last year’s 1-7 record at Soldier Field follows a string of uneven seasons on the lakefront. To become competitive, and perhaps more, Chicago needs to hold serve at home. 2015 was filled with close losses where a couple plays spelled the difference between victory and defeat.
Case in point, Chicago has struggled against their NFC North brethren the last few years, having been swept by both and Detroit.
3. Seats could get hot for John Fox and Ryan Pace….The natives could grow restless with another slow start by the new regime. Fox is a veteran coach known for engineering fast turnarounds in his previous stops, but he may not possess enough difference-makers in a loaded NFC. Fox’s old-school tendencies and reluctance to share much of anything with the media could be problematic as well.
Pace is a first-time General Manager who has had some swings and misses as the Bears new personnel guru. While his drafts appear intriguing, there is legitimate question if the Bears may have been better served with other available players. The cracks in talent pool and depth at Tight End, offensive line, and in the secondary were the result of Pace maneuvers.
Still being vetted is the question of whether Pace or Fox yields the most weight in the organization, or if it is truly a symbiotic relationship. Gone are productive veterans such as Maretellus Bennett, Matt Slauson, and Matt Forte, none of which have been adequately replaced to date.
