The Bears time is now

The Bears have to lose the attitude that good is good enough because we have a rookie coach, young quarterback and one of the youngest squads in the league. 

It has been an exciting and perhaps surprising season for the Chicago Bears in 2018. To those of you who expected the Bears to dominate their division and qualify for the playoffs— congratulations, good call.

But despite this season’s unexpected success, there has been something a little disappointing with this team, and the media and fan’s reaction to it.

We all have been treating this team as a championship contender—in the 2019 season. But the reality in the NFL these days is that championship windows are narrow and opportunities must be exploited.

We can start with the opening night domination of the vaunted Green Bay Packers. A late first half defensive touchdown should have put the game away. Instead a hobbled Aaron Rodgers was allowed to stage a comeback, despite an offensive line that could not protect a healthy Rodgers in the first half. The Bears were one early third quarter first down from the Packers packing Rodgers in for the night, but the Bears called off the dogs and allowed them to comeback. To quote Dennis Green, “We let them off of the hook.”

The bottom line is the Bears dominated a mediocre team, not a championship contender, and allowed them to come back and win. And for those who choose to shrug their shoulders and say, “well, what are you going to do, Rodgers is the best in the business,” recall that he threw a ball directly in the chest of Bear cornerback Kyle Fuller that would have ended the game before completing the final comeback drive.

I recall thinking after that game, all the Bears proved is that they are very capable of losing a game. Four weeks later, following a dominating performance against a very poor Tampa Bay Buccaneer team, the Bears lost to the Miami Dolphins in over time, in another game they controlled and should have put away. The following week the Bears were game but lost to the New England Patriots in a game they could have won. They were 3-3, could have been 6-0 and should have been 5-1.

As the season progressed, the Bears continued to look more impressive, but also continued to show a disturbing tendency of failing to put teams away. In week 10 they dominated Detroit in every phase, but the game could have come down to an onside kick despite their total domination. This teams needs to learn how to step on the neck of an opponent.

The Bears have to lose the attitude that good is good enough because we have a rookie coach, young quarterback and one of the youngest squads in the league.

There is a new reality about the National Football League in the current era. Absent the outlier New England Patriots, the days of dynasties and three-year plans are over. The Bears only needs to ask their all pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack about windows of opportunity. He was the 2016 defensive player of the year for the 12-4 Oakland Raiders. The Raiders were favored to go to the Super Bowl last year by numerous experts. They didn’t, and the following year Mack demanded a trade. Now the Raiders are 2-10 and in full rebuild mode.

The fact is, 2018 may be the best chance for this Chicago Bear team to contend for a championship. If the Bears make the playoffs and exit in the first or second round, they will likely be a strong pick to win their division and make a deep playoff run next year. But one of their promising receivers will likely be plucked, a free agent move, add a couple of key injuries and they could be a 500 team in 2019 that will lose additional free agents following a disappointing year.

I am not suggesting that is likely, but it is imperative for the Bears to realize the opportunity in front of them. The best teams in the NFC have questions on defense. The Bears can compete with them. They are arguably a more complete team, even if they seem a year away. They have to play as if their championship window is now, because it is, and tomorrow is promised to no one.