The Chicago Bears suffered a demoralizing 29-9 defeat against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, extending their struggles and casting serious doubt on their season’s direction. The loss drops the Bears to a 4-4 record, with failures on both offense and defense highlighting a team in a deep rut. Coach Matt Eberflus and his squad were unable to rebound from a previous loss, instead delivering a performance filled with errors that leaves their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Offense Fails to Find a Spark
The Bears’ offense was completely ineffective against the Cardinals, failing to score a single touchdown throughout the entire game. Their performance was particularly glaring on crucial downs. Chicago converted only three of their 14 third-down attempts, a staggering failure against a Cardinals defense that ranked last in the league in third-down stops.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was under constant pressure, as the offensive line provided little protection. This lack of a solid front exposed the team’s inability to execute even basic plays. The frustration was visible on the field, made worse by a lack of in-game adjustments from the coaching staff. The offense simply looked out of sync, and its poor showing is a major concern moving forward.
A Defensive Collapse Against the Run
On the other side of the ball, the Bears’ defense was completely run over by the Cardinals. They gave up a season-worst 213 rushing yards, with Arizona’s running backs finding massive holes to exploit all afternoon. Missed tackles and poor assignments were common, leading to big gains for the Cardinals.
The defensive breakdown was perfectly captured by a single play just before halftime. Cardinals running back Emari Demercado broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run, slicing through the Bears’ defense without being touched. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus admitted his third-down pressure call left the team vulnerable, but the play showed deeper issues. Key linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds were unable to get off their blocks, highlighting a fundamental failure to stop the run.
Key Injuries Worsen a Bad Situation
Adding to the team’s on-field problems, the Bears were hit hard by the injury bug. Several key starters were forced to leave the game and did not return, further depleting an already struggling roster. The loss of these players limited the team’s options and compounded the issues they faced against the Cardinals.
The list of injured players includes starters from both the offensive and defensive units.
| Player | Injury | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Darnell Wright | Leg injury | Offensive Tackle |
| Andrew Billings | Knee injury | Defensive Line |
| Terell Smith | Shoulder injury | Cornerback |
| Jaylon Jones | Ankle injury | Cornerback |
Questions Surround Eberflus as Losses Mount
This latest defeat puts more pressure on Head Coach Matt Eberflus, whose tenure has been defined by a lack of consistent success, especially on the road. The loss to Arizona was Eberflus’s 18th in 21 road games as head coach of the Bears. With the team at a crossroads, doubts about his leadership are growing louder.
The players feel the urgency to turn things around quickly. Safety Kevin Byard stated, “We have to be 5-4 by the end of next week,” looking ahead to their next game against the New England Patriots. His comment reflects a sense of desperation within a locker room searching for answers.
A Daunting Road Lies Ahead
The schedule does not get any easier for the Bears. They face a critical stretch of games in November against NFC North rivals, including the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions. These divisional matchups will likely determine the fate of their season.
Despite the grim outlook, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is trying to stay positive. “We’ve got so much ahead of us,” Williams said. “We’ve got nine games left.” However, his earlier admission that the team didn’t bounce back well during the week after their last loss points to a deeper issue with the team’s resilience. With frustrations boiling over in the locker room, the Bears need more than words to fix their season; they need immediate and impactful action on the field.
