The Bears are searching for answers after losing interim coach Thomas Brown’s debut

The Bears are searching for answers after losing interim coach Thomas Brown’s debut

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Ten days after firing Matt Eberflus, the Chicago Bears didn’t look like a team on the rise after being blown out 38-13 by the San Francisco 49ers.

Eberflus became the first head coach the Bears fired in a season in the franchise’s 105-year history when he was fired on Nov. 29, a day after Chicago’s controversial loss at Detroit. He was replaced by Thomas Brown, who was promoted twice in 17 days, first to offensive coordinator and then to interim head coach.

The Bears didn’t get the boost of motivation that sometimes comes as a result of a midseason coaching change, like when the New Orleans Saints won in Darren Rizzi’s debut last month after firing Dennis Allen. Sunday’s 25-point loss marked Chicago’s seventh straight loss, dropping the Bears to 4-9 after a 4-2 start to the season.

“We got our butts kicked,” Brown said. “There’s no other way to say it.”

The Bears had a 315-yard gain, managed a first down and were shut out in the first half for the second straight game. That +315-yard difference – San Francisco’s largest in any half in the last 40 seasons – allowed the 49ers to build a 24-0 lead by halftime in a game that was decidedly over with two quarters to go.

But unlike Chicago’s Week 13 loss at Detroit, where the Bears rallied in the second half to trail by three points in their final stretch, that same fight was missing at Levi’s Stadium.

“We got a kick in the ass today, there’s no way around it,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “I think at one point going into halftime they had 240 yards and we had four total yards. Regardless of how we feel, regardless of all that, we got it today. On offense, defense and special teams, myself, we have to come out and get better.

Chicago’s start against San Francisco was similar to most other games this season. The Bears have allowed their opponent to score first in every game except an overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12, holding a -43 point lead in the first quarter (29th in the NFL). The Bears’ -64 margin in the first half ranks them 28th.

It remains difficult to explain the reason for this problematic trend.

“That’s a great question,” Brown said. “I mean, if I had the answer, I would have fixed it already.”

The Bears’ efforts at a second-half comeback proved unsuccessful. Although Caleb Williams scored two touchdowns with fellow rookie Rome Odunze, the 49ers’ defense stifled Chicago’s attempts to generate momentum. Williams was sacked seven times Sunday, bringing his total to 56 sacks this season. Chicago converted on just four of 10 attempts in the third, and a third-quarter fumble by Williams inside 49ers territory allowed San Francisco to extend its lead to 31-6 five plays later.

Chicago’s defense offered little resistance against the 49ers’ offense, which was limited to its fourth running back. After Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason were both placed on injured reserve last week, rookie Isaac Guerendo rushed for a team-high 78 yards with two touchdowns and totaled 50 yards on two receptions.

The Bears also struggled to cover George Kittle, who joined TJ Hockenson and Evan Engram as the third tight end to record 100 yards receiving against Chicago’s defense. Kittle led all receivers with six catches for 151 yards. Niners quarterback Brock Purdy posted the third-highest completion percentage of his career as he went 20 of 25 (80%) for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns, ending San Francisco’s three-game losing streak.

“I don’t know, it’s pretty dry in the NFL,” linebacker TJ Edwards said. “It’s a results-oriented league and they make more plays than we do. And we’re not doing anything to prevent that, especially against a team that plays well with a lead. They’re able to open their playbook and sometimes do whatever they want. We just have to do a better job of starting quickly as a whole.

With Brown at the helm entering Week 14, Bears players expressed a different feeling at Halas Hall and throughout the week of practice leading up to the 49ers game. The way the team performed on Sunday made it difficult for the players to figure out why they performed so poorly.

“Definitely surprised,” wide receiver DJ Moore said. “Training looked good. Our Friday was good. We all felt like everything was good and we came out here and didn’t really do anything. Just not the best.”

Brown’s message after the game left no room for interpretation.

“We have no choice but to keep going, stay together, don’t feel sorry for ourselves, no one is going to feel sorry for us,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “He just made it clear to us that we as a whole team hadn’t played a good game and that we had to be ready to play again.”

For Williams, one of eight captains, keeping the Bears together during their early two-month losing streak is a commitment.

“My job is to lead,” Williams said. “The captains’ job is to lead from the front, even when it’s difficult. My job is not to get you to come into the facility to do your work or get treatment after hours, all of these different things. Our job is to go out there and guide the guys on the right path. It’s an internal thing to get up and do the work again and again.

“As leaders, we need to encourage and continue to encourage. We must stand tall and have courage. That’s the most important thing for you: have courage. From there you can encourage other guys. We have to keep standing up, fighting and leading these guys.

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