The Chicago Bears had a nightmare start to their 2023 season. A 38-20 loss at home to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers isn't how Bears fans expected to begin this new era in the NFC North. Losses like Sundays have historically been because of the right arm of Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. Those days were supposed to be over.
Love is beatable, and he was at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Bears suffered from several self-inflicted wounds, ranging from costly penalties to mind-boggling play calls. The offense was underprepared, and the defense was overwhelmed.
It was ugly. Really ugly. But it was also the first game of the season. There's plenty of time to recover, even from a loss as painful as Sunday's.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the Chicago Bears' Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Justin Fields needs to play his game.
Fields wasn't great on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. He didn't look comfortable or confident on several throws, and a big reason for his unsteadiness was the poor play of the offensive line. More on that below.
Fields was a victim of a poor game plan, too. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy called one too many wide receivers screens and lateral pass plays. It was hard to watch, and it did the Packers defense's job for them: the play calls took the ball out of Fields' hands, and the results were subpar.
The Bears can't be afraid to let Fields be Fields; let him use his best asset, his legs, and threaten perimeter defenders on every dropback.
It was apparent early in the game that Fields was forcing himself to stay in the pocket and throw. Eventually, he must be that kind of player to sustain success. But when the offensive line was playing as badly as it did Sunday, Fields has to put the track shoes on and run.
Fields threw for 216 yards, ran for 59 more, and passed one touchdown. He had a costly pick-6 that was the cherry on top of a disappointing Week 1.
Bears' offensive line is a work in progress
The Chicago Bears offensive line was a problem in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.
Left tackle Braxton Jones was a magnet for penalties with several costly false starts and holding calls. Rookie right tackle Darnell Wright struggled in pass protection, often looking overwhelmed when matched against Rashan Gary.
Justin Fields had no time to throw, and the running lanes were hard to find. The Bears need Teven Jenkins to get healthy quickly so they can get back to the starting-five configuration that was set during the offseason.
Bears' pass rush was worse in Week 1 than it was in 2022
The Chicago Bears totaled the fewest number of sacks in the NFL in 2022, yet somehow, the pass rush looked worse in Week 1.
Yannick Ngakoue had the only sack of Jordan Love, and it was a slow-developing rush that can be attributed more to coverage than a penetrating edge rush.
Seeing how ineffective the Bears' front seven was at pressuring Love, who barely broke a sweat in the pocket, was shocking.
The biggest takeaway from the lack of pass rush is this: perhaps we need to start looking at the coaches, their scheme, and the plays they're calling. This isn't the same personnel as 2022; GM Ryan Poles upgraded the defensive line and linebackers. The players are better, but the results were the same.
It's too early to point fingers at defensive coordinator Alan Williams. But if he doesn't get the pass rush fixed soon, he'll be the first casualty of change.
Bears' running back-by-committee needs to go
The modern NFL narrative is that running backs shouldn't be drafted in the first round, and they shouldn't be paid lucrative second contracts. While that may be true, good offenses have one clear starter they can rely on to be 'the guy' for a majority of snaps.
In Sunday's loss to the Packers, rookie running back Roschon Johnson proved he should be that guy.
Johnson had five carries for 20 yards and a touchdown and added six catches for 35 yards. He showed off his powerful and violent running style and looked like the only running back on the roster who can threaten opposing defenses in any situation and in any role.
Most importantly, Johnson provided a spark and energy to the offense when he was on the field. It's time for the Bears to move him up the depth chart.
The Packers nightmare continues
Let's face it, Bears fans: We all wanted to celebrate a Victory Monday with Justin Fields as the hero, and Jordan Love as the butt of the joke.
Yet, here we are. Another loss to the Packers, but this time, it's worse. It's a new quarterback; a new problem; a new nightmare.
The Bears will get one more chance at the Packers in the regular season, but it won't be until Week 18. By then, we should see a cleaner offense, a more effective pass rush, and a more confident Justin Fields.
Otherwise, major changes will be on the way. Again.