The Chicago Bears defense got blown up last Sunday. Green Bay scored 31 points while the Bears managed just seven. That kind of blowout makes people panic. It makes fans scream at their TVs. But defensive coordinator Dennis Allen says the team needs to calm down and just work. He knows the NFL is a league of ups and downs. He knows they had a bad game against Carolina early on too. The defense bounced back then, and he expects them to bounce back again.
The Life of the NFL
Allen was blunt about the situation in his press remarks. He told reporters that the team cannot dwell on the past. He said, “First game of the year, we didn’t play exceptionally well. We came back and played pretty well in three games, and then we had another poor game. It’s kind of the life of the NFL.” That is the honest truth right there. The unit allowed 478 total yards in the first week, and they gave up over 400 yards last Sunday. The numbers are ugly. The performance was bad. But the coach is asking for patience.
He wants the players to focus on the next play and the next game. The Bears cannot fix the Packers loss now. They can only fix what happens on Sunday. The team travels to Atlanta to face a Falcons squad with a top-tier running game. That is a nightmare matchup for a defense that just got shredded in the air. Allen knows they have to be ready to stop the run this time. The stress test is real. The team must stay the course or the season falls apart fast.
Can Gordon Help?
The secondary needs help right now. Cornerback Kyler Gordon has been working his way back from an injury that limited him last year. He showed some promise before getting hurt. Head coach Ben Johnson thinks Gordon is ready to think fast. “I think mentally he’s pretty sharp right now,” Johnson said, according to Yahoo Sports. The coaching staff is running him through drills to see if his legs are ready for real game speed. They are in the middle of a stress test to make sure he can handle the hits.
Gordon played well in a small sample size last year. He allowed a low completion rate when he was on the field. His return could stop some of those big plays that have hurt the Bears. But one player cannot fix a whole unit. The rest of the secondary has to step up too. The Bears use man coverage more than almost any other team. If the other guys miss their tackles, Gordon’s return will not matter much. The defense needs everyone to execute better.
Time to Prove It
The Bears have a week to get this right. They lost 31-7 to a rival they should have beaten. That loss stings deep. The team cannot afford another mistake. They need to show they can stop a good offense. The Falcons will try to run the ball all day long. The defense must be ready for that. Allen has said they must look forward. The past is gone. The only thing that matters is Sunday at 1 p.m.
