The Chicago Bears are two days into a premature offseason following a season that began with Super Bowl expectations and ended with a 8-8 record and no playoff berth.
On the final day of the decade, it’s hard not to think back about how miserable these last 10 years have been as a whole for this franchise. And yet, the 2019 doesn’t rank near the bottom.
Bleacher Report gave the Bears a “C” grade for their 2019 season.
Trubisky’s subpar play isn’t the only issue. The Bears didn’t find much success running the football with their rookie third-rounder David Montgomery. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry behind an offensive line that ranked 31st in run-blocking adjusted line yards (3.71), per Football Outsiders.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano took over the top-scoring defense. Although the Bears listed fifth in the category, the unit lost a bit of its edge. In comparison to the 2018 campaign, Chicago’s sack and takeaway totals dropped under its new play-caller.
The Bears took a step back, but they have enough playmakers for a better showing in 2020 if the coaching staff can optimize its roster talent.
The 2019 season was one of wasted opportunities and shattered expectations, which is why it feels even more brutal than it actually was. This was supposed to be the Bears’ year — the year where they finally made it back to the Super Bowl. Everything was in place, and they were coming off their best season in years.
But a lack of execution and the pressure of those high expectations ultimately spelled the downfall of this team. As we prepare for a new decade, let’s hope this next decade is far kinder to the Bears than this one was.
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