I’m officially worried about the Chicago Bears defense.

In this week’s hit with 670 The Score, Bears linebacker TJ Edwards explained that the defense is not living up to the standards it has set for itself. Edwards’ words only added to my concern:

“Giving up some big plays in crucial moments, and that’s on all of us, that’s on everyone – we just have to do a little better down the stretch,” Edwards said. “I feel like we haven’t played to our level the last few games and we know that. We have to find a way to make it happen.”

In be In an interview on 670 The Score, Bears Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson shared similar sentiments about struggling to put it all together. And at The Athletic, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus says there’s no magic pill that can fix Chicago’s defense’s woes. This all sounds like what you would hear from people who are looking for answers but have no idea where to find them. Taken on its own, this is all worrying. But remembering how chatty this Bears defense was over the summer and how it rocked early in the season sets off alarm bells for me.

I can’t shake the feeling that the Chicago Bears defense has lost its mojo. And while I’m not sure how to recapture the magic, I know who should be responsible for finding solutions to the problems facing Chicago’s defense ahead of their Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions.

Week 13 will test Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus

Certainly, the Week 13 game against the Detroit Lions will be a big test for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. But the rookie was up to the task against a Green Bay Packers defense fresh off a bye and a Brian Flores-coached Minnesota defense that is often stingy against young quarterbacks. And yes, new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will also be put to the test. For an assistant coach who is on an NFL insider’s head coaching watch list, this could be a resume building play. But this will also be a defining moment for Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.

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Eberflus came to Chicago because of the success he had as defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts. And while its defense has performed well in 2023 and the first part of the 2024 season, some things have faltered in recent weeks. Don’t get me wrong. I understand the defense is missing defensive tackle Andrew Billings and safety Jaquan Brisker. But the loss of these two players cannot be the main reason for the defense’s recent decline.

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As examples, you can look at the failure of Hail Mary against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, the 29-point result a week later against the Arizona Cardinals, the defeat in crucial moments at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, and the 30 points that Minnesota Vikings admitted Eberflus’ defense is losing its power. Things won’t get any easier with a Thanksgiving showdown against the Lions, but Matt Eberflus needs to get his act together if he wants to have a chance of avoiding a sixth straight loss. If the defense can’t get it done, calls to replace the head coach during the mini-bye could become deafening.

Last year, Eberflus’ defense did well enough to contain the Lions’ potent offense. Chicago and Detroit shared the season series in 2023, but the Bears blew a game they couldn’t lose on the road. Matt Eberflus could right the wrongs of last year’s road loss with a strong performance as a defensive play-caller in Week 13. But this could be a statement for Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who could hone his coaching skills against a team that can consider him an opening if things fall apart. The chess match between Eberflus and Johnson begins around 11:30 a.m. CT on Thursday. Are you ready for this?