January 3, 2023: One More Loss

It’s almost over; one more loss should put a bow on the Bears 2022 season. Man that game against the Lions on Sunday was ugly. Luckily for me, we were headed back from Traverse City, MI, and decided to stop for lunch at this bar/restaurant… full of Lions fans. They were whooping it up as Detroit pounded our heads in. But, but… this is all part of the plan, right? To lose as many games as possible. Now only if the Texans could cooperate and win a game, we would have the #1 pick in the draft…

This football season has pretty much been a bust. Our Bears have won 3 games; my fantasy teams went up in flames, and now the Packers are making a miraculous push for the playoffs??? Bears season has been over since the Roquan Smith trade; I reluctantly accepted our fate, tearing up my “Over 6.5 win” ticket from Vegas. Although the record is shit, and nowhere near that win total, honestly, I still don’t think we were that far off from being a 500 team. I know, I know… that’s just dumb, but… I believe it. This is why I believe that next year, with the draft picks and free agents that we sign, the Bears should be able to make a substantial leap. I’m not saying division champs, but I really don’t think 500 should be out of the question. And if 500 is in play, then so are the playoffs… at least I keep telling myself this…

The one thing about this season that wasn’t a bust, was Justin Fields; isn’t that what this year was all about anyways? If so, then mission accomplished. There are some, maybe more than some, who do not believe in Fields; I am not in that group. I think we’ve found our QB. And yes, he can’t be a RB too… the scrambling down field should be when necessary and NOT a part of every week’s game plan. And yes, I DO think he can be above average throwing the ball down the field. Stats don’t prove that this year; a look at the WR corps should help tell you why. The first year in this new offense could provide another clue/excuse. I’m sure there are detailed analytics which tell us how much better Fields would have been had his WRs been better… It may sound like I’m making excuses for him, but if you take a step back, I think we’re talking facts here. How good CAN Fields be? That question still remains, but… I’m all aboard to find out that answer; I believe his floor is high enough for the Bears to be a pretty good team with him at QB.

So yeah, part 2 of that plan was for Fields to not get hurt; mission accomplished… barely. He has had some minor injuries, but thankfully, looks like he’ll make it to next year relatively healthy. So although the season was a bust via the Win Loss record, which is all that really counts, the future received a shot in the arm due to Fields performance, plus, you know, the whole high draft pick, multiple draft picks, ton of cap space, etc, etc, etc. It all sounds promising… how it will all transpire??? I’ll be anxiously waiting. Bear Down!!!