Not everything has gone according to plan for Matt Eberflus in his three years as head coach of the Chicago Bears. The offense remains one of the NFL’s worst despite a massive overhaul this off-season with a new coordinator, new quarterback, and retooled receiving corps. The team is 2-2 but should probably be 3-1 after a discouraging loss in Indianapolis. Plenty of people remain unconvinced that Eberflus is a good enough coach to push this team to the heights necessary for a championship.
That said, it is important to give credit where credit is due. The Bears defense is once again among the NFL’s best, thanks in large part to his motivational and play-calling skills. They are 8th in points allowed and 8th in pass defense. They’ve also forced eight turnovers. It was one of the reasons Eberflus was hired. GM Ryan Poles felt he would keep the defense strong. However, the head coach has also done something many felt wasn’t possible anymore.
He made Soldier Field a tough place to play.
Since October 22nd of last year, the Bears have won seven consecutive home games. It is the first time they have accomplished this feat since 1990, when they also won seven in a row.
Historically, Chicago’s best teams always defended their home turf well. The 2018 Bears were 7-2 at home. They were 8-2 at home in 2006. In 1985? They went a perfect 10-0. Making Soldier Field a place nobody wants to play always goes a long way to helping this team make the playoffs. The Bears have eight home games this year. That means if they can sweep them all, they would only have to win three or four road games to have a realistic chance of making the postseason. Two are already in the bag. The next two will be against the 1-3 Panthers and 1-3 Patriots.
Credit must go to Matt Eberflus, who has emphasized the need to defend home field since he arrived in 2022. It seems that message is getting across to his players. They always seem to bring a little extra juice when playing at Soldier Field, and the fans are responding by making it inhospitable with their noise and enthusiasm. Say what you will about Eberflus. The man understands basic football common sense.
