Bears: Chicago produces another late game blunder

The Chicago Bears are in purgatory. They have not lived up to the offseason hype. They cannot find their way on offense and now Eddie Pineiro is hitting the uprights.

The Chicago Bears are doing everything to remind its fanbase just how hard it is to get things right. The Bears blew another game falling to (3-4). This time at the hands of a hobbling Chargers squad that is known for giving games away. Questions continue to swirl around Mitchell Trubisky, the play-calling, and the running game.

The reigning coach of the year, Matt Nagy cannot seem to find his magic from last year. His offensive play-calling has been in question as well as his in-game management skills. That is not a far cry from early Andy Reid’s criticism. Yet, Nagy hasn’t evolved from Reid’s shortcomings which have now become his own. But Doug Pederson and now Frank Reich have taken from Reid and found their own identity, a successful identity.

What gives?

Nagy finally decided to invigorate a flaccid run game. Rookie David Montgomery delivered to the tune of 135 yards for a 5-yard/carry average. However, this is the only time in Nagy’s two-year stint the Bears lost when they committed to a balanced run attack. Although, it went limp inside the red zone as did the rest of his play-calling but that is not the half of it.

In the waning moments, Nagy chose to not run any more plays in order to run the clock down for a game-winning FG attempt. Normally, this is not a big deal but… Eddy Pineiro had already missed from 33-yards in the first quarter. The wind looked like it got the best of that ball on the tail end. If that wasn’t enough, everyone remembers the less than memorable Cody Parkey season from a year ago. The double doink.

Soldier Field is considered one of the hardest stadiums to kick within due to the elements. The field sits on Lake Michigan in a town referred to as the Windy City. Chicago’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs do to the infamous missed FG heard around the continental US. Yet, Nagy still chose to take a knee rather than attempting to get Pineiro closer for a game-winning kick. At this point, we know how the game ended, with another wind-induced missed kick.

When can we start to question the “Offensive Guru?” He cannot call a balanced game on offense until everyone on tv calls him into question. It took two embarrassing losses for him to figure it out. When he does call a balanced attack, he lacks the mindfulness to put his kicker in the best position to succeed when given the time to put the time in the best position to win.

Ultimately, the Bears are a sinking ship and before blaming Trubisky or the offensive line maybe the fingers should be pointed at Nagy. He continually shows he isn’t capable of coaching to his personnel’s strengths. Meanwhile, the defense continues to impress. The proverbial window is slamming shut and Nagy has his fingers inside the window sill.

Nagy needs to stop acting like the smartest person in the room and prove it. His encore performance continually suggests otherwise.