CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- Bears coach Matt Nagy can only stay optimistic for so long.
As a relentlessly positive individual even when times are tough, Nagy can usually find any glass to be half-full. But he struggled to find the good in his team's showing Sunday at Soldier Field, where the Bears were sloppy and self-destructive in a 26-23 overtime loss to the Saints.
The Bears' discipline issues ranged from pre-snap communication problems to penalties to receiver Javon Wims being ejected for throwing multiple punches at a Saints player while seemingly unprovoked. A Chicago team that has revealed character at times this season was its own worst enemy.
"That's what bothers me and that's what pisses me off," Nagy said after the game.
In the Bears' 5-1 start, Nagy could put a positive spin on any topic even despite the uneven play and concerns for a first-place team. But the Bears have now lost the last two games in ugly fashion -- first getting out-coached and outplayed by the Rams in a dismal 24-10 loss last Monday night before the setback Sunday.
The Bears jumped out to a 13-3 lead and seemed to be frustrating future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and his Saints. But the Bears' defense faltered late in the first half, allowing Brees to lead a nine-play, 68-yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown with three seconds remaining before halftime.
Then came that egregious moment with 9:11 left in the third quarter, when Wims approached Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and punched him twice across the facemask before both teams became entangled on the field. Wims was ejected from the game and is sure to face a suspension.
"Completely unacceptable," Nagy said. "We've talked to him and told him that's not how things go here. One of Javon's strengths is his character and who he is as a person. He's since apologized.
"I'm just going to continue going back, I am really, really bothered by that third-quarter incident. That bothers me."
What was additionally bothersome is that the Bears also lost their composure in other ways, with quarterback Nick Foles throwing an interception on the very next play after Wims' ejection because of miscommunication with tight end Jimmy Graham. New Orleans capitalized off that miscue with a field goal.
The Bears managed to force overtime after Cairo Santos connected on a 51-yard field goal through a gusty wind and between the north uprights of Soldier Field. They forced a stop in overtime and had the opportunity to drive for a win. But Foles and the offense produced a six-play, eight-yard drive that ended in a punt. That series included a spectacular diving catch by Allen Robinson for a 17-yard gain on third down. The Bears followed it with two drops and Foles taking a sack before they punted away.
Soon after, Saints kicker Wil Lutz converted the game-winning 35-yard field goal. The Bears had squandered another opportunity and lost the game.
Earlier, Foles had produced a pair of scoring drives that offered a look into the kind of offense that he and Nagy believe the Bears can produce. But outside of that, it was mostly a struggle offensively. The Bears averaged 4.8 yards per play, on par with their season mark that ranked 30th in the NFL entering Sunday.
"We're in the fire right now," Foles said. "We're going through it. We're going to keep getting better."
After each of their eight games, the Bears have talked about having a stronger performance. But it's clear to everybody outside of their locker room that significant improvement likely isn't coming.
The Bears feature an offense ranking near the bottom of the league in every major statistic and a defense that must be dominant for the team to win.
One week ago Sunday, the Bears were 5-1 and tied for first in the NFC with a primetime opportunity awaiting to prove their place. In two revealing games since, the Bears have shown they'll be fortunate just to make the playoffs -- even with the bracket now expanded to seven in each conference. After their loss Sunday, the Bears are on the outside looking in for the playoff picture.
To reach the postseason, it will take the Bears becoming the team they continue to talk about being.
"Trust me, we want it for everybody," Nagy said. "We want it for you guys. We want it for us. We want to win. We want to win. We want to win. And we're not going to stop until we do get better at fixing everything."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.