Monday was not a fun night. I am still gutted with what took place. It’s not the fact that we lost but how we ended up losing. All we had to do was hand the ball off for one yard. It is the first time through two seasons where Jayden lost us a football game. Those are words I never thought I’d be putting in writing. Aside from the interception and fumble, he did play a great game. But in the NFL all it can take is a few bad plays to change an outcome. And, thats all people are going to remember.
I simply don’t understand why we are running the ball out of shotgun when all we needed was a single yard. Kliff has an obsession with running it out of shotgun in short yardage situations. I wouldn’t necessarily say read options have been our best friend this season either. All we had to do was get in I formation and run it up the middle. For the worst rush defense in the league, I can say they didn’t look like it Monday. We struggled to establish any kind of run. It may have been too quick to proclaim Bill as the next great Washington running back. It felt like the only rushing yards came on Jayden scrambles. Bill failed to cut any big ones loose. Not to mention fumbles from him and Jayden. All there is to say is that the Bears took care of the ball and we didn’t. That was the difference in this one.
I still cannot understand what the deal is with us not getting off the bus until the second quarter. Back to back weeks going down double digits in the first. We were lucky enough to dodge a bullet against the Chargers. This time around we weren’t so lucky. They say it takes three weeks to make a habit out of something. I wouldn’t say I am panicking yet but getting goose egged in the first quarter can’t become something regular. We turned it over twice and barely had the ball once again for nearly the entire quarter. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to show up to the game you’re being paid millions to play.
We managed to lose this one even with the refs in our back pocket. Which by the way, is something that never happens around here. Almost every time the Bears converted on third or stopped us, a flag came flying that was in our favor. The Odunze touchdown was the biggest one called back. There was one third down where from the stands it was extremely obvious Tunsil went early. Yet, there was no call and we got the first down. I am a very biased fan but even I can say the fix was in for us yet we still blew it.
Our defense reverted back to its oldself. It surprises me to say that Lattimore actually had a good game. Mikey on the other hand continues to worry me. Our young king, Trey Amos, once again performed and continues to solidify himself as our best corner. The defensive line is a dumpster fire. Caleb had all day every single play to find someone down field. Did Adam Peters really think Preston Smith was going to change anything? I think everyone in the fanbase saw this one coming.
Our tandem at linebacker has become a big issue. Within one year, they went from the strongest part of our defense to a disaster. Luvu seems to have forgotten how to play football. We got lucky on a Zaccheus drop because that would’ve been taken 70 yards for 6. Quan Martin was missing tackles letting Swift dance down the sideline. The only legitimate positive I can think of was that we stopped them on the two point conversion. It didn’t end up mattering but it at least maintained morale during the game. Is this whole issue a coaching issue or talent issue? I am not sure so I am just going to say both. Joe Whitt and everyone on the defense other than Amos is on the hot seat.
Here’s another thing I want to complain about. What was Kliff thinking not wearing sunglasses? We are 3-0 when he has shades on and 0-3 when he doesn’t. If anyone reading this has a connection to him, please let him know we are losing because he doesn’t want to put on a pair of frames. The weather and time of day doesn’t matter. Just put the shades on Kliff. Sunglasses and stop running the ball out of shotgun. That’s all you need to do. As for DQ, I liked the challenge call. Anyone saying he threw the flag to get one yard back was an idiot. In the moment, it was for the time back. Then, the one yard did end up mattering.
Our wide receiver room is a something right now. We signed Treylon Burks on Thursday. It makes me fear that Terry and likely Deebo’s injuries are both more serious than we realize. Our wide receiver 1 at the moment is Chris Moore with Luke McCaffrey not far behind at 2. It wasn’t on my bingo card that a practice squad signee would have the second most snaps at receiver for us any week this year. I also didn’t expect Luke McCaffrey to score in three of the last four games. I think he might’ve killed the bit I’ve had going by actually being good at football. I’m not complaining. The bit will stay alive until he has his first touchdown. Deebo clearly shouldn’t have been out there Monday. It became more obvious throughout the game, but it was clear he wasn’t 100% when he wasn’t out there returning the first kick off. I don’t know what to say about the Terry situation at this point. He needs to get his ass back on the field.
Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, our kicker needs to go. I have zero confidence in him putting anything through the uprights at this point. It’s so obvious that if he ever has a game winning kick he is going to miss it. Penalties; too many of them. Jayden stop throwing the ball away so egregiously. I mean all there is too say is on Monday night the Bears were the better team. I don’t believe that is the case for the season. But, that’s why they say any given Sunday. They minimized mistakes, took care of the ball, and ate enough punches to stay in it until the end. We were waiting on the mistake that never came. That’s how you beat teams that are more talented than you. Hats off to the Bears. I wouldn’t say they won the game but more that we lost it. Not that it makes any difference at the end of the day.
Today, we’re making our way down to Jerry World. The over is an interesting bet. 54 points is so many. But both of our defenses are absolutely terrible. This game should end up being a race to 50 points. Dak has a history of lighting us up in Dallas. In 6 games, we have never beaten the Cowboys in Dallas with him under center. We do have one big thing going for us. It’s impossible for it to rain in a dome. Well, not impossible there could be a leak. But still, highly unlikely there will be any rain. I worry Ceedee and Pickens are going to both go for over 100. Chris Moore is actually going to be our wide receiver 1 for this one. We are going to heavily lean on the run. That’s why I’m now hesitant on the over. I see them airing it out and us running it taking up clock. My pick of the week is Bill to get in the endzone. Lastly, Luke McCaffrey first touchdown because why not.
To be completely honest, I do not have a ton of confidence in us this game. I have shared this opinion with my friends who root for the same team. With my lone Cowboy friend, I have been lying saying we are still going to kick their asses. I know he isn’t going to read this so it’s all good with me to share what I think. This is a game where we’re gonna need JD to be perfect. It’s similar to last season where he was throwing to Terry and a bunch of washed up guys. This time around it’s two kick returners, a WR1 off the practice squad, and 2 washed up receivers whose names I never thought I’d hear again. It will be an interesting game for the offense to say the least. Regardless, I know we’re still going to put up points. And, unfortunately going to let up a lot too.
We will see how it goes. This win would be a huge blow to the Jayden haters. I find it funny seeing Eagles fan saying “If Jayden is who they say he is, this shouldn’t be a big deal.” First of all, rent free, worry about your own team. Secondly, look in the mirror. We are good to drop one game to the Cowboys every year. This wouldn’t be a surprising one to drop. What scares me is the coming weeks after today. We have a gauntlet where there is a world we go 0-3 in. We might as well say goodbye to the playoffs if that happens. We’re gonna need a big one from Jayden and Bill today. Our best defense is our offense. Jayden’s first game in Jerry world. This would get us to 2-0 in the division. Looking forward to writing back next week after the win. Until then, good luck out there everyone.
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