The Chicago Bears don’t have much to play for in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. They aren’t competing for a playoff spot. Instead, they own one of the worst records in the NFL at 3-12 and have lost their way into contention for the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Still, coach Matt Eberflus has a well-defined set of goals and expectations for the final two games.
“It’s like we said all along, [in] these last four games, we’re looking [for] sharp execution,” Eberflus said Friday. “We have two [games] left against two divisional opponents. The Lions are this week, and we’re excited about getting the execution going, especially in the critical moments. You talk about third down, goal [to go], red zone, a sudden change, two minute, all those situational areas that we do have to do a good job with, but we’ve been working hard at that.”
The Bears can accomplish Eberflus’ goals even in a losing effort. Perhaps a Justin Fields-led offense produces in the red zone against the Lions, but the defense falls short of stopping Jared Goff late in the game. Sure, that’s a failure overall, but it’s also growth in one area as the offseason inches closer.
The Chicago Bears are big underdogs in Week 17, with nearly 100% of experts picking the Lions to win the game. A loss wouldn’t be surprising, but at least there are other ways the team can ‘win’ as the program continues to take shape inside Halas Hall. And let’s face it, losing isn’t the worst thing in the world if it helps them secure a 2023 draft prospect like Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Georgia’s Jalen Carter.
