The Chicago Bears are on the road this week to take on the Kansas City Chiefs, and things are looking pretty tough.
Chicago is dealing with many problems, both on and off the field, and the Bears seemingly need a miracle to end their 12-game losing streak on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champs.
Buy Bears TicketsHere are some causes for concern in Week 3:
1. Justin Fields is struggling
The once-promising quarterback continues to face adversity. His performances have not met expectations – he’s been sacked 10 times, has one of the lowest passer ratings in the NFL, and has been inaccurate throwing the football. Fields, previously recognized for his rushing prowess and playmaking ability, has only 62 rushing yards in the first two games. Additionally, his mistakes and turnovers are proving costly.
Unless Fields rediscovers his form, beating the Chiefs is a distant dream.
2. Suffering defense
It’s not just the offense. The defense is struggling, too, and is currently ranked as one of the NFL’s worst. The Bears’ defense allows six yards per play, second only to the Los Angeles Chargers (6.9), and has failed to generate any turnovers. The existing challenges on defense are magnified when the offense struggles to maintain possession. Given Chicago’s injury-riddled secondary and lack of an effective pass rush, continuously forcing the defense to face stars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce is a recipe for disaster.
3. Too many distractions
The team is also dealing with a bunch of off-field issues. The defensive coordinator, Alan Williams, resigned abruptly due to health and other personal problems; rumors about an FBI raid at Halas Hall were confirmed as false. Such rumors don’t help a team trying to break a 12-game losing streak. Neither does Fields calling his performance ‘robotic’ and hint that he’s not on the same page with the coaches.
This led to much talk in the media, with folks like Mike Greenberg and Stephen A. Smith from ESPN questioning whether the Bears are hindering Fields’ development. Amid such turmoil, remaining focused on beating Kansas City seems impossible.
Summary
There are significant concerns as the Bears head to play Kansas City. Fields needs to elevate his game, the defense must generate pressure and force turnovers, and the team needs to stay focused amid all the distractions. The Chiefs are already a challenging opponent; compounding the issue with these troubles hanging over the Bears makes winning more challenging.
