This matchup will determine who wins Week 5’s Bears vs. Commanders game

I don’t know how to process what happened to the Chicago Bears in Week 4.

Cole Kmet emerged as a go-to guy (besides a questionably botched route on the game’s final play), DJ Moore was finally “DJ Moore,” Khalil Herbert ran angry, and Justin Fields played arguably the best game of his career thus far. The Bears also led by 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Yet, somehow, Chicago lost 31-28 to the awful Denver Broncos.

The reason for such a bizarre and disappointing meltdown comes down to one thing: coaching. It is now undeniably apparent that the weakest part of this organization is the coaching staff, primarily head coach Matt Eberflus.

I could continue to torch offensive coordinator Luke Getsy for playing scared in the second half. I could go on and on about how conservative football has rarely (if ever) worked to maintain a Bears’ lead. But the defense is really to blame for last Sunday’s disaster. They allowed one of the (other) worst teams in football to come back from a 21-point deficit.

That falls on the head coach/defensive coordinator/timid politician at press conferences/owner of a .143 win percentage, Matt Eberflus.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you cannot be a defensive-minded head coach in the modern-day NFL and have a basement-dwelling, low-ranked defense for two consecutive seasons. It’s a fireable offense and a terrible reflection of the current state of the franchise.

On Thursday, the Bears will kick off Week 5 against the Washington Commanders, led by a familiar face, one that they probably wish they could have back on their sideline.

This week’s matchup to watch comes down to the guys wearing the headsets.

Matt Eberflus vs. Ron Rivera

Yes. Week 5’s “matchup to watch” is a battle of the coaches. The Commanders are one of the many surprises in the league. With an elite defense and a 2-2 record (that could easily be 3-1), the Commanders fought hard against the Eagles, almost beating them in overtime in Philadelphia. This is largely because of their defense and their coaching.

Don’t get me wrong, Sam Howell has played well enough to keep the Commanders in games and keep Washington relevant. However, their defense turned a corner on Sunday in their close game against the Eagles.

Forget about the Bills dominating them (Commanders) a couple of weeks ago. Things are clicking in Washington, and their aggression can be attributed to the leadership in the coaching department.

Former Bears player and defensive coach Ron Rivera is guiding the Commanders in a surprising start to the season. Granted, Washington has defensive stars on the roster, like Chase Young. And despite a fairly respectable start, Commanders’ defensive tackle, Jonathan Allen, still thinks the defense can step it up and “play better.” That mentality for an already rising defensive force traces back to the culture being promoted by the coaching staff.

I do not doubt that Ron Rivera is instilling confidence in his players — and that’s what the Bears lack from Eberflus: a person who can lead.

I think most of us believe Eberflus’s days are numbered with the Bears, but Thursday night’s matchup will (likely) provide a glimpse of what Chicago needs from their next coach should they continue to force the process of hiring someone with a defensive background.

The Commanders’ defense played tough football on Sunday. The Bears did not. This all starts at the top. Even with his tenure (likely) on the line, I cannot see Eberflus pulling out all the stops and being even remotely effective on the road at Washington.

It’s a shame that the Bears are in the same cycle of trying to find consistent leadership. We just saw Fields play well. We saw the offense (sort of) hit a stride (albeit against the Broncos). What we still have not yet seen is any sort of rhythm from Matt Eberflus.

Ron Rivera is trying to bring the Commanders to the top of their division. Meanwhile, Eberflus is one of the primary reasons why the Chicago Bears are struggling. I fully expect to see a sharp juxtaposition in coaching ability on Thursday, not in favor of the Bears, which could very well signal the end of the Eberflus era and the start of another coaching search.

Subscribe to The Bears Talk Podcast: APPLE | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE