The casual observer of the NFL probably doesn’t care about the Chicago Bears. Sure, they know the history of 1985 and the long tradition of defense.
However, consider what impression a casual fan would have of the Bears today when in the past 10 years, all the Chicago Bears have given the national media to consume are annual spankings at the hands of the Green Bay Packers and an offensive product mired in mediocrity, particularly at the quarterback position.
As a result, does it comes as any shock when the national media takes the optimistic stance when it comes to other historically well-run organizations and proven coaches/management groups?
What about when they are openly pessimistic about the Chicago Bears, desperately waiting for them to stop living in the past, catch up with the rest of the league, and begin doing things the right way (or whatever they define as the ‘right way’)?
After all, what does an organization which has never had a franchise quarterback know about developing a franchise quarterback?
So what happens when this organization, one which has been seemingly eternally ridiculed for being inept at developing talent on the offensive side of the ball (besides at running back, a now undervalued position across the league), finds itself with a quarterback prospect hailed by the media as a potential franchise-level QB?
Scrutiny happens.
All of a sudden, in a way that Bears fans have never seen before, the national media is concerned with what happens with a player who they predicted could become a decade-long starter on a contending team.
Why? Because the media hates to be wrong. Missing on a prospect like Justin Fields would cause mass confusion. That’s how surefire a talent he was projected to be in the NFL.
Therefore, every decision (or lack thereof) the Bears make in free agency or in the trade market, every pick in the draft, and every snap of camp become media fodder as a narrative is constructed surrounding this young quarterback and his future.
The Chicago Bears are a fine example of a team with pessimism and scrutiny.
How about what former Chicago Bears QB, Jordan Palmer, had to say about Justin Fields’ upcoming season?
I’m not optimistic about how this year is going to go for Fields, largely because of the personnel the Bears put around him.” – Jordan Palmer via Matt Lombardo.
Not satisfied? Perhaps someone on the Rich Eisen show can provide some clarity
Chicago is in a real situation for a team that has so much history and legacy in the NFL to really be a doormat in their division…they lose their best WR in Robinson…Justin Fields is supposed to be the answer but they don’t got anybody around him. – Ryan Leaf via Rich Eisen Podcast
This is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what you’ll find if you look up the Chicago Bears 2022 season outlook. The situation has to be painted as dire as possible so that there can’t be any doubt if Justin Fields proves not to be the guy.
There’s no point in even waiting till the week 1 power rankings come out because I can save you the suspense, the Bears are gonna be 29th at best if their media coverage is any indication of how people feel about this team.
I said previously, that these power rankings aren’t an actual indication of anything, citing the 2021 Eagles and 2020 Bills as examples of teams who had no national love going into their seasons only to wind up in the playoffs.
There isn’t really anything anyone can do to change the perception about the Bears unless the Bears decide to go change it themselves. Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet have to show that they are reliable contributors.
Montgomery needs to run angry for that second contract. The offensive line, which everyone has ridiculed, has to grow each and every week as they have 3 key starters in either their first or second year. Eberflus needs to show that his HITS principle works and everyone needs to see the defense play with that intensity.
Until then, as unfortunate as it is, the question marks surrounding the Bears’ outlook will always be viewed as negatives rather than positives and it’s a stain only the Chicago Bears can wash out through their play.
