Promising start ends with usual loss for Bears in Packers rivalry

The first quarter against the Green Bay Packers went very well for the Chicago Bears. The defense forced a field goal on the opening drive, and the offense drove down the field and responded with a touchdown. As the quarter came to an end, it looked like the game would be a close one.

And then the wheels came off.

Too much went wrong to summarize it all. The offense had three straight 3-and-outs after their opening drive. The offensive line did not hold up nearly as well as it did in the second half of last week’s win over the 49ers. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s play calls were mostly headscratchers. Rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon had a few solid plays but was mostly bad. The front seven could not stop the run. And by the end of the game, quarterback Justin Fields had thrown only 11 passes.

This is the part where I tell Bears fans to back away from the ledge. It’s only Week 2 for a new regime. There’s a new head coach and two new play-callers on offense and defense. These first two games were a brutal opener against teams that have played in the NFC Championship games multiple times in the last four years. The Bears play opponents in similar rebuilding scenarios for the next two weeks.

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Chicago Bears are still better than most thought at the start of 2022 season

The embarrassing loss last night doesn’t erase the triumphant victory the week before. Yes, losing to your team’s most-hated rival again is incredibly frustrating, and it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. But all is not lost. This Bears team has already proven it can battle back from ugly deficits and win games. Getsy called some beautiful plays to get people open, and Fields made some excellent progressions, reads, and throws.

Unfortunately, this season is headed for a roller coaster type of progression, A lot of ups and downs. It’s to be expected for a new regime with a lot of young, new players. Chicago doesn’t have the kind of stability that allows for long winning streaks like the Kansas City Chiefs or the Buffalo Bills can experience. There’s hope the Bears will get there. For now, patience is required.

Sunday night’s loss won’t be the last for the Bears this season. Hopefully, even in the losses, Chicago can find reasons to be hopeful for the future.