The Bears are knock, knock, knocking on panic’s door as they prepare for the Patriots
The frontiers of panic are indistinct, but we can agree that the Bears are at the border. One more loss and the rescue of backsliding Caleb Williams, as well as the miracle healing of — let me check my list — linebackers, wide receivers, offensive linemen, will not keep the Bears from playing for scraps. One more loss and the Bears become that most miserable of creatures, an afterthought.
This is familiar territory for the Bears, of course. But they were a forethought just a few weeks ago, smugly defiant and the darlings of dreamers.
Now, the Bears are struggling. We know this because everyone says so. The coach is a doofus. Everyone says so. The players are rebellious. The owners are stupid. The fans are revolting. Everyone says so.
The Bears can be encouraged that in this age of truth being whatever you say it is, if any of the previous statements prove false, a general election can fix that.
Score will be kept, of course, and eventually a total will become indelible. The NFL still clings to the notion that it is what it is, a favorite reply to any inquiry.
The Bears have held two players-only meetings. One is never a good sign. This is panic’s alarm bell, sounded right before everyone starts running into one another, the apparent game plan recently.
These gatherings were to make sure everyone is on the same page, so there would be no finger pointing, or if there is, the point-ee gets a chance to smack the point-er.
A foolish consistency being the hobgoblin of little minds, one imagines Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron sharing the same space as a pine nut.
There is an eerie sense of déjà phew all over again with the Bears. The difference between this time last year is that the road ahead is harder than chert. I was considering altering my prediction of a 5-12 season but am again as comfortable as a cornerback forgetting the hail in Hail Mary.
The Bears must win or fall into that pit of ciphers who from here until January will be shouting at empty air. Ambition will be reduced to hoping the playoffs save them a seat, and not at home, while the Chiefs and Lions aim at each other for the big one.
Possibly the Bears are already so much lost luggage. The Commanders are now regarded as a happy surprise with a rookie quarterback who matters while the Bears are considered stumblebums with a quarterback who needs excuses.
The penalty for promising early instead of arriving late is doubt. It is always more impressive to come back than to fade away.
Similar regard also is heaped on Arizona, getting notice for not being as shabby as supposed. The Bears faithful had already put this one in the basket with all the other eggs. Now the prudent thing to be is nervous.
Even the body language, and other language as well, is familiar. No panic. Plenty of time. Win one, feel good for two weeks. Control your destiny. Love each other. Play together.
The Bears will hang together or get shot in the back trying to escape.
The same defiance made no difference when last the Bears were so defiantly defiant. What matters is the final score.
This is where they are today, the smallest of blessings being that the next opponent is New England, a faded relic with another rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, chosen behind Williams and Jayden Daniels. Williams is going to have to start beating his peers or give back some of his bonus.
The Bears again face the prospect of losing three games in a row, not only losing them but losing them to teams they should have beaten, losing them to teams more eager and more specifically motivated.
Encouragingly, the Bears are still hanging around the last playoff spot. If the Bears lose, they could be three spots out of the playoffs and holding hands with the Cowboys and the Rams.
Win and the rest of the schedule can look like an opportunity. Lose and Seattle is the only game that can be circled with any conviction.
Panic can wait. Or, to face what is now the new normal, it is what it isn’t.