With the Chicago Bears (4-5) losing to the New England Patriots (3-7), the Chicago fanbase is in an uproar to clear the house. With the worst loss of the season, it is clear the Bears must make changes, starting with the head coach, Matt Eberflus.

The Bears have already decided to let go of the offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron. Eberflus mentioned they plan to make some changes in the play calling. Now that the Bears are entering their toughest slate in their schedule, there isn’t much hope of seeing them in the playoffs.

High expectations, high disappointment

Going into this season, many people had high hopes for this team. The Bears signed several high-profile guys and got the players they wanted in the draft. As a result, many fans expected them to make the playoffs. Fast forward to today, and the Bears are back at the bottom of the NFC North. The team has crumbled after the bye week, and their playoff chances look very slim.

Eberflus is now on the edge of the hot seat. With a very poor performance these past two weeks, it still feels like the ending to the Commanders’ game haunts the locker room. It is very unlikely the Bears will be over .500 to close the season. They have the toughest schedule in the league, entering Week 11 and the start of all their divisional games.

The Bears couldn’t score a touchdown against the Patriots and will face much better defenses down the stretch. The main worry is how rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be affected in the final weeks.  

The Bears need a complete change in the coaching staff. The only two offensive coordinators fired this season, Waldron and the Raiders’ Luke Getsy, called plays for the Bears under Eberflus in the last two seasons. With the amount of talent and potential this roster has, the season results have been disappointing. 

The league has shifted to being an offensive game, and the Bears need to think offensively if they want to compete. There are several offensive-minded options the Bears can look at if they are ready to move on from Eberflus.

Perfect candidate: Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions

Unsurprisingly, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to be the top name on the market. Johnson was rumored to be interested in the job last year, but it was not open at that time. 

He helped lead the Lions to a 12-5 record last season, and they are currently the No. 1 team in the NFC. Johnson would bring a fresh sense of run-first offense and allow the passing game to open up. This style would benefit Williams and his development. The only problem is the Bears aren’t the only team in line for the Ben Johnson bidding war. 

Longshot candidate: Bill Belichick, former New England head coach

When I say longshot, I mean a longshot. The Bears nearly have a better chance at the Super Bowl than landing former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Still, it’s a fun scenario to think about — Belichick saving the Bears.

Belichick’s obsession with the fundamentals and tangibles sets him apart from the other coaches, and it is passed on to the players he has coached. Imagine a system where Williams is under Belichick’s wing and the entire team is under his command. It would bring much-needed discipline and a culture change to Chicago. The Bears have the players, but that Belichick culture would be nice for the city and organization.

Don’t put your mortgage on the line for this to happen, but it is nice to think about the possibility.

Most likely candidate: Liam Coen, offensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen was interviewed by the Bears for the offensive coordinator position before they hired Waldron earlier this year. Coen has a chance to make a better case for himself, especially with how he has reestablished quarterback Baker Mayfield in the league.

Even after losing their best wide receivers to injury, the Buccaneers and Mayfield have found ways to win games, thanks to Coen. Coen has been in the coaching game for some years and might be the cheapest option. It depends on where the Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles, feels the money should be spent. 

Either way, Eberflus has to go for any improvements to be seen. Play calls are getting messed up. The offense is unable to move down the field. All sense of hope is starting to dwindle. Accountability needs to be taken as to why this team is underperforming. For this team to see success and develop young talent, there needs to be a change in command.

@Jon_Mathew23

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