Emma: Embattled Bears head coach Matt Eberflus needs to prove himself at this pivotal point
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — In football, coaches often reference the 24-hour rule following a game. Players are invited to take that time to reflect on the game, allowing for candor, before turning the page to the next one.
Inside Halas Hall this week, the 24-hour rule was extended out of necessity. Losses like the one the Bears suffered to the Commanders on Sunday simply can't be pushed aside in a day, not when the game was decided by a combination of perplexing coaching decisions, an egregious mental lapse from second-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and a Hail Mary.
In the aftermath of it, key Bears players like safety Kevin Byard, receiver DJ Moore, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and tight end Cole Kmet publicly shared candor that reflected poorly on the team's entire operation.
For his part, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus didn't take accountability for green-lighting an ill-fated handoff to offensive lineman Doug Kramer that resulted in a fumble in a key situation in the fourth quarter. Similarly, Eberflus didn't back down from his decision to gift 13 free yards to the Commanders with really loose coverage on the penultimate play of the game, which put rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in Hail Mary range for the final play.
There seems to be more stubbornness than accountability inside of Halas Hall, and it became clear that this loss lingered well past 24 hours. So where has that left the Bears? Eberflus is now once again leading a team amid adversity, working in a building burning in that metaphorical fire that's all too familiar in Lake Forest.
While several Bears players on Wednesday walked back their critical comments and shared support for Eberflus, those inside the locker room must decide for themselves whether they're being put in the best position to succeed.
This is the most critical moment of Eberflus' three-year tenure in Chicago. He kept the Bears invested in their 3-14 campaign in 2022 and kept them together amid a tumultuous start in 2023, which featured defensive coordinator Alan Williams' abrupt resignation, receiver Chase Claypool calling out his coaches, the conduct-related firing of running backs coach David Walker and dispiriting losses — all in the first half of the regular season.
Expectations were different entering 2024. Eberflus is the leader of a Bears team that has aspirations to make the playoffs this season. He's at the helm of a much-improved roster and has been tasked with guiding the franchise forward after two difficult rebuilding seasons.
With those heightened expectations come greater demands on Eberflus, who can no longer simply be viewed as the leader of a developmental plan. Eberflus' challenge this season is to prove his value in the Bears' success.
A loss like Chicago suffered in Washington creates doubt in Eberflus' ability as a head coach, and his refusal to take accountability could compromise the collective investment of the team.
Beyond that, Eberflus will eventually lose the faith in his players if he refuses to hold himself and others accountable. When Stevenson bizarrely wandered off to the corner of the end zone as Daniels took the final snap of the game Sunday, it was a breach of everything the Bears claim they stand for. Players have been left to wonder this week how Stevenson will be disciplined by Eberflus, if at all.
Eberflus declined to reveal whether Stevenson will face internal discipline or if he'll be in his usual starting role Sunday, when the Bears visit the Cardinals.
Eberflus brushed aside the Bears' heartbreaking loss as "one game," a common refrain from him following discouraging defeats.
By employing that defense mechanism, Eberflus didn't display a keen understanding of how the Bears as a team have processed the aftermath of their loss. In other words, Eberflus didn't read the pulse of his players well.
If the Bears earn a much-needed victory over the Cardinals, it will diminish the pain of their devastating loss and allow them to move forward. But the damage done in Washington may still leave an irreversible dent in the credibility of Eberflus and his coaching staff.
It was the type of loss that looms well beyond 24 hours, and it could jeopardize the Bears' aspirations to ascend this season.
With his credibility in question, Eberflus can only overcome it by leading the Bears to wins.
Emma's prediction (5-2): Bears 20, Cardinals 19
Cairo Santos will deliver the game-winning field goal to beat the Cardinals as the Bears earn a much-needed bounce-back victory.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
