(670 The Score) The Bears have lost seven straight games and seem checked out on a season that once carried great hope.
That was evident in their 38-13 loss to the 49ers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where the Bears were outplayed for most of the game. Here are the observations after Chicago fell to 4-9.
Where’s the fight?
If a heartbreaking 18-15 loss to the Commanders on Oct. 27 was the beginning of the end for the Bears and since-fired head coach Matt Eberflus, their gut-wrenching 23-20 loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving may have marked the end of spirited efforts.
Because Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the Bears produced an uninspiring performance. Their ongoing seven-game losing streak seems as if it could extend to 11 games by season's end.
Chicago’s offense went into the locker room at halftime with just four net yards compared to five punts, yet the defense was even worse. The 49ers had nine plays of 20 yards or more, including five in the first quarter. The Bears didn’t have a single 20-yard play all day.
The Bears’ offense failed to get moving for most of the game, and the defense just didn’t even show up.
“We got our butts kicked,” Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown told reporters at Levi’s Stadium.
“We got our asses kicked today,” rookie quarterback Caleb Williams added.
Hey, at least the Bears’ players and coaches are unified in something.
Brown’s debut as interim head coach was supposed to reveal a cleaner operation and greater urgency from his team, but it didn't. You have to feel for Brown, who understands the importance of his five-game audition to state his case to become the Bears’ next head coach.
Sunday was a reminder that the Bears’ problems run deep. Firing Eberflus hasn't solved anything yet. The issues are rooted in a rotten culture.
The Bears have eight team captains, and yet there’s no leadership to be found. Players have spoken of their desire to be held accountable, but nobody seems upset with how it has all unfolded.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles – who received a vote of confidence from president/CEO Kevin Warren last week – deserves great blame. Three years into his rebuilding efforts, the Bears are regressing considerably. The roster has more flaws than lasting solutions, and Poles has fault in how the locker room has crumbled.
The Bears billed the 2024 season as one that would showcase progress and the promise of what's to come. It's instead just another lost year for the franchise, and the 2024 Bears will be remembered as one of the organization's most disappointing teams in recent memory.
Extra points
--- The 49ers set the tone on their opening five-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that took just 2:40. It didn’t get much better from there for the Bears.
--- Perhaps the lone positive for the Bears is the continued growth between Williams and rookie receiver Rome Odunze, who hauled in two touchdown passes. Odunze posted four receptions for 42 yards. He has 45 catches for 585 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games this season.
--- Former Bears edge rusher Leonard Floyd, a first-round pick in 2016, has 8.5 sacks for the 49ers this season, including two Sunday. Floyd managed just 18.5 sacks over four seasons with the Bears. In the five seasons since, he has 48 sacks. It took being released from Chicago for Floyd to take off.
--- Linebacker T.J. Edwards is among the few players on the Bears whose effort should never be called into question. He was flying to the football for four quarters, but that couldn't be said for everybody.
--- Williams was fortunate to avoid an injury after a hip-drop tackle by 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins. It wasn’t flagged on the field, but Collins should expect a fine to come later this week.
-- I picked the Bears to win this game, believing they'd benefit from a coaching change. I broke my vow from early November that I wouldn’t pick the Bears to win again. I got nothing here.
--- With their ninth loss, the Bears secured their 11th non-winning season in the past 12 years. Maybe I’ll write a book about the 2018 Bears.
--- Looming for the Bears are the Vikings (11-2), Lions (12-1), Seahawks (8-5) and Packers (9-4). Yikes.
--- There are four more games to go in this lost season.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.