(670 The Score) Super Bowl-winning coach and NBC analyst Tony Dungy called out the Bears' defensive effort in a loss to the Packers on Nov. 29, saying on the national broadcast that the group appeared to have "given up." The next morning, Bears coach Matt Nagy also pointed to what he felt was a lack of collective pride, though defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano pushed back at both of those notions.
"Our guys never give up," Pagano said last week. "I'll fight anybody tooth and nail on that."
The Bears didn't respond like Dungy's comments upset them. Instead, the defense turned in perhaps its worst performance of the past three seasons during a 34-30 loss to the Lions at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Detroit posted 460 yards of offense, the most allowed by Chicago in a regulation game since Christmas Eve in 2016, when Washington amassed 478 yards at Soldier Field. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was 27-of-42 for 402 passing yards, three touchdowns and an interception, which came from Bears defensive lineman Bilal Nichols in the fourth quarter as he jumped through blockers to pick off a screen pass. It seemed at the time to be the stamp the Bears defense so often has put on games -- a late takeaways to seal a victory. The Bears led 30-20 at the time.
Then came a drive by Stafford and the Lions that once upon a time would've seemed unfathomable to direct against the Bears. Late in the fourth quarter, he led Detroit on a seven-play, 96-yard touchdown drive. After an incompletion to open the drive, Stafford hit his next six throws, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to receiver Marvin Jones, who found himself wide open against the Bears' secondary.
The Bears hardly pressured Stafford. They couldn't cover in the secondary. And they were picked apart.
"Our strength has been to get after the quarterback when they're one-dimensional, and we know we can go get them," Nagy said. "And then our guys on the back end can go make plays, get interceptions, get big hits and then keep them from going down the field.
"I'd tell you 10 out of 10 times, we're going to end up with it at the end, we're going to get a big stop, we're going to end the game with the ball in our hands and win."
Leading 30-27, the Bears were still on the brink of victory. Then came quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's disastrous strip-sack fumble on third-and-4 with the Bears backed up near their own end zone.
The Bears didn't have a goal-line stand in them as the Lions took over at the 7-yard line. It took just two plays, with 35-year-old running back Adrian Peterson pushing right through Bears defenders and into the end zone.
A defense that once carried this Bears team is no longer dominant. Chicago ranks 12th in scoring defense and 15th in yards surrendered. The Bears have just four takeaways during the course of their six-game losing streak. Over the last three games, the Bears have allowed 1,238 yards to the division rival Vikings, Packers and Lions.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns for the Packers against the Bears, who were down 27-3 in the second quarter during that game. The Packers ran for 182 yards on what used to be the NFL's top run defense. Chicago lost 41-25 in Green Bay that night. The absences of defensive stalwarts Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks were certainly felt, but it didn't excuse the arm-tackling from some Bears.
Then came the poor performance Sunday, which showcased that the Bears' pass defense is just as troubled as its run defense.
The Bears have fundamental issues on defense, starting with a lack of pressure from their highest-paid players. Star outside linebacker Khalil Mack has been stuck on 6.5 sacks since Nov. 1. Fellow edge rusher Robert Quinn has just one sack, with that coming on his first snap with Chicago back on Sept. 20. Star safety Eddie Jackson still doesn't have an interception this season. Pagano is struggling to put the defense in the right position, something he has even conceded.
And what about that pride? Nagy has had the support of the defense while his offense has worked through its own issues over the last two seasons, but then he shared those critical comments.
The Bears said they didn't take Nagy's pointed words personally, but it seemed Sunday like they weren't even listening.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.