Vikes @ Bears GT, 15 Oct 2023, 12 PM CT

Bears catch a break. However, that only means that Flus will determine that it will be best to play...let me see....a soft zone with our man-corners 6-7 yards off keeping everything in front.

This is probably "The" game where we will see if Eberflus can coach or not.  We (and Eberflus) have seen what works with this team in 2023 and what doesn't work.  Both on O and D we have seen this.  Will he revert to the stuff that failed, or will he ride with what is working?  Let Fields loose to be Fields.  Let the D bring some extra blitz heat on Cousins (if they don't I'm gonna have a coronary).  The book on Cousins isn't complicated.  If you give him the time, he will kill you.  If, on the other hand, you make him uncomfortable, he is not the same guy... he will fold like a lawn chair.  This isn't rocket science here.  Do what works.  Stop the crap that doesn't work.

+1
It is a huge opportunity for Justin Fields to stack a 3rd good game and at least BEGIN the redemption process regarding him being a possible franchise QB in the NFL (if not here then somewhere).  Fields was pretty much given a "pass" in the Nagy offense rookie year.  Last year he was given a "pass" for lack of talent around him.  Then the first 3 games of this season the Bears OL was pretty bad due to injuries and Nate Davis not playing (or even practicing early on).  And Getsy at OC was abysmal.

But in games 4 and 5 we saw the OL perform better and we have 1 good WR now.  Kmet is doing a bit better too.  So there is "enough" there for Fields to show the NFL what he can do.  Doesn't mean he has to suddenly be elite, but at least show he belongs as a starting NFL quarterback.  I don't even think Fields needs the team to win to do this.  I agree, the team SHOULD win.  But this defense and the coaching staff may not have what it takes to get a win here.  But regardless FIELDS needs to showcase some good stuff all game long.  And if it is a close game at the end, Fields needs to show that he can close out a game by performing well in a critical situation.  

On a side note, I'm really disappointed in Mooney and Tonyan.  Tonyan has just 4 catches for the season going into the 6th game.  He is pathetic blocking and a liability to the team in that respect... but I get it, that he is considered just a receiving TE.  But he has only 4 catches averaging 7ypc.  And Mooney has only 8 catches for the season (1.6 catches per game average).  The dude has totally disappeared as a WR.  The reason why I bring this up is that teams from here on out can simply take D.J. Moore out - or at least focus on minimizing him a bit (yes they can do that) and the leftovers as far as receivers is not good.  I honestly thought Mooney and Tonyan were better than this.

Bears 31 Vikes 24. Least bad defense wins.