2020 Week 13: Chicago Bears 30, Detroit Lions 34

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: December 13, 2020

I had some computer trouble this week and since it’s 6 A.M. Sunday as I’m writing this after not being able to get my computer to connect to the internet and then having to update and restart and update and restart and update and restart and I still haven’t slept and need to do that more than I need to finish the offensive film, I do not have a full post for you. Mea culpa. I will try to grade the offensive film and post those as well as a Four Stars selection in the next day or two, but I make no promises. What I have for you now is the link to the box score and other game info: PFR.

A defense chart:

And a few thoughts:

During the TV broadcast, the commentators talked about turning zone into man: actively defending a receiver in your zone rather than simply guarding an area and not letting the play get by that area. The Bears’ defense in 2018 under Vic Fangio was so great because they had a great grasp of the concept. They routinely put themselves in position to make a play on the ball should it come their way. When Chuck Pagano does finally drop into zone, it’s 100 percent the latter: guarding dirt so as to not give up big yards and/or a first down and often not even accomplishing that, much less actually forcing a turnover. He has to go. I am infinitely madder at him than I am at Nagy because while Nagy has underwhelmed (to say the least) the last two years, he wasn’t exactly set up for success by those above him. Pagano was handed the keys to a fully-loaded Lamborghini, got the engine souped up this off-season, and never gets it out of second gear. If you’re wondering where the pass rush went, there’s your answer. Guys can’t get home if the QB is getting the ball out almost immediately after the snap because somebody’s wide open. And it’s not just affecting the pass defense, either. If you’re wondering why the Packers were able to run the ball so well last week, there’s your answer. The top two run stoppers on the defensive line were out and since the defense was in man, the Packers could spread out the defense and get the linebackers, usually Roquan Smith, stuck in no man’s land. If you’re wondering why the Bears had trouble defending outside runs earlier in the year, there’s your answer. Man defense reduces the ability of your linebackers and secondary to play the run sideline to sideline because they’re concerned about the guy they’re matched up on. And if you’re wondering why the defensive grades look pretty good while the unit gave up 34 points (well, 27 that were their fault), there’s your answer. The players generally played well but were failed by their coach.

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312