THE Chicago Bear returned to action after his bye week and hit the ground running with a thud, losing 18-15 to the Washington Commanders. The Bears looked unprepared and out of sorts for much of the game on offense, although they had plenty of time to prepare for the opponent. They were shut out in the first half and didn’t generate any momentum until late in the third quarter. The offensive eventually got underway, but it proved insufficient and too late.
Defensively, Chicago couldn’t stop Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels outside of the red zone. Fortunately, they were able to limit him and the offense to just four field goals until the final drive. Unfortunately, they gave up the biggest play of the day at the most inopportune time, namely the Hail Mary to Noah Brown to win the game.
It was one of the most shocking defeats in recent memory, and there were a few players at the very center of the poor performance. Others, however, took positive steps despite the disappointing outcome. Here’s the latest stock report from the Chicago Bears heading into Week 9.
Refueling: DE Jacob Martin
Defensive end Jacob Martin made his long-awaited season debut Sunday after landing on injured reserve with a foot injury late in training camp. After just one game, it seems like he hasn’t missed anything. Martin was the team’s highest-rated defender Sunday, according to PFF, with a grade of 86.4. He finished the day with three tackles, one for a loss and a QB hit while only playing 15 defensive snaps. Not too bad for the seven-year veteran.
The Bears suddenly have some pretty good depth at the defensive position. Martin still works in a rotation that includes Darrell Taylor, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy. He should see a good amount of snaps, though, especially after this performance.
Stock falling: CB Tyrique Stevenson
Tyrique Stevenson’s stock hasn’t been this low since the second week of his rookie year, when Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans torched him under the hot Florida sun. Obviously, Stevenson’s main goal was the inexcusable celebration towards the opposition sideline and then the misinterpretation of the Hail Mary pass that cost them the game. It’s a pretty egregious mistake, but it’s just icing on the cake of a poor performance.
Stevenson was picked off all day by Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin, who had five receptions for 125 yards, including a 61-yard reception that left the Bears corner in the dust. He was also flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier in the game, giving the Commanders free yards. He had nine total tackles, but part of that was because he was targeted so often. It was a bad game that only got worse at the very end, and Stevenson will need to bounce back in a big way.
Stock up: RB D’Andre Swift
The Bears offense struggled to get anything going for nearly three quarters last Sunday. It took a big effort from D’Andre Swift to change that and get them back in the game. Swift didn’t let the bye week slow his resurgence as he carried the ball 18 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. 56 of those yards came on a left outside run that he ran all the way to the end zone.
Swift proves to be the team’s “X Factor” on offense. When he gets going, so does the rest of the offense. This was evident last Sunday when the Bears could barely maintain their lead beyond midfield for much of the game. Once Swift got going, things changed quickly. His difficulties at the start of the season seem to be a thing of the past.
Falling Stock: TE Cole Kmet
It should be a crime that Cole Kmet only had one target on National Tight End Day. On a day when tight ends across the league set a record for most receptions by the position group in a single day (177)Kmet accounted for one that lasted 14 yards. Even without the Hallmark holiday, its use was confusing this past Sunday.
This is the same player who got things started in London with two impressive touchdowns. Kmet has failed to connect with Williams just three times this season, catching 27 of 30 targets. He’s as reliable as they come and needs to be more of a priority in the passing game.
Stock falling: HC Matt Eberflus
The pitchforks are out, the torches have been lit, and an angry mob of Bears fans are heading, figuratively, to Halas Hall to demand that the team fire Matt Eberflus following its mishandling of Sunday’s game. The good vibes from a week ago are gone after the Hail Mary loss, and players are openly questioning the coach’s decisions that led to the loss. This is generally not a recipe for success.
There were many errors. Eberflus allowed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to call a point on Doug Kramer, chose not to contest a tight catch, kept the sidelines open for easy yardage on the penultimate play, and didn’t did not call a timeout or prepare his players for the infamous Hail Mary. His stock is at an all-time low this season, and he will have to fight his way back soon. Otherwise, the team could fall apart in the coming weeks.
Stock up: DE Montez Sweatshirt
It’s been a negative few days for the Bears, so why not end with a positive? Defensive end Montez Sweat has made a lot of noise about his return to Washington since being traded at last year’s trade deadline. Sweat totaled four tackles, two for a loss, one sack and three QB hits in Sunday’s loss. He was relentless and his pressure caused Daniels to lose several times.
Although this day was productive, it came at a cost. The sweat accumulated during last Sunday’s competition and was kept in check until the end. His injury isn’t serious though and perhaps Sweat’s return will help catapult him over the next few weeks. He’ll need it to go after Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who hasn’t been sacked in three straight games.
This article was originally published on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears Stock Market: Who’s Up, Who’s Down Heading into Week 9?
