There were many factors that contributed to the regression of the Chicago Bears in 2019 — namely on offense with the struggles of Mitchell Trubisky, the offensive line, the run game and lack of tight ends.
But one overlooked aspect that might’ve played a part in their downfall were how the lofty expectations weighed on the team’s shoulders.
Matt Nagy had warned them before the offseason program had begun. “We’re the hunted. We’re not hunting anymore.”
The Bears seemed to thrive in being the underdog — where it was an “us against them” mentality. But how would they respond to being the top dog? The answer: Not great.
You’d have thought Chicago had already won the Super Bowl the way everyone talked about them before the 2019 season. And it wasn’t just fans, it was the media. And it wasn’t just the media, it was former players — legendary players, Hall of Famers.
You’d have thought the Bears had lost in the Super Bowl the year prior with the way people discussed them. Truth is, they hadn’t even won a playoff game.
With all of the praise being shown the Bears’ way and talk of Super Bowl aspirations, there was one thought that rang clear: You better back it up.
And they didn’t.
So with the Bears back in the underdog role — where everyone and their mother are doubting them, especially their quarterback — how are the Bears going to respond?
Running back Tarik Cohen said that they’re going to do “less talking, more working” in 2020 as they look to rebound from a disappointing season that started with high expectations.
“We put all of the talking behind us,” Cohen said. “We know we let down a lot of people with expectations last year. And we’re just ready to get back to the grind.”
In many ways, the 2019 season was a valuable learning experience. The offense’s failures look to inspire change moving forward. The team’s disappointment serves as a reminder that they haven’t won anything yet.
As the Bears prepare for the 2020 season, don’t expect much praise like they garnered a season ago. And maybe that’s a good thing. Now, the Bears can worry less about talking about winning a championship and more about going out there are proving they have what it takes to accomplish that goal.
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