A lengthy losing streak featuring consistent confusion and a high-profile case of clock mismanagement ultimately deep-sixed Matt Eberflus as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
As the team prepares to close the season under interim coach Thomas Brown, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams knows he must maintain confidence and a short memory. The quest will begin with Sunday’s game against the similarly struggling San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.
“The first part is understanding that I can’t control (everything),” Williams said. “Even if I understand or don’t understand, that doesn’t matter. I’ve got to roll with the punches.”
Chicago (4-8) enters on a six-game losing streak, a skid twice as long as that of defending NFC champion San Francisco (5-7).
The Bears will aim to win for the first time since Week 6 behind Brown, who last month was named interim offensive coordinator after Eberflus fired Shane Waldron.
Asked about the opportunity to boost his stock as a possible permanent solution as Chicago’s head coach, Brown said: “I don’t think about it at all. I think about the moment.”
Chicago parted ways with Eberflus on Dec. 6 after he went 14-32 in two-plus seasons. One day earlier, he endured the latest in a string of bamboozling last-second losses. Trailing the host Detroit Lions by three points with the ball on the Lions’ 41-yard line and 36 seconds left, Chicago didn’t call its last timeout. A Williams pass for Rome Odunze near the end zone was incomplete as time expired.
While San Francisco remains mathematically in the hunt for the NFC West crown, the 49ers need considerable help. They trail division-leading Seattle by two games but are just 1-3 within the West with a home game against the Los Angeles Rams and a visit to the Arizona Cardinals remaining on their slate.
Injuries continue to deplete the 49ers, adding degrees of slope to their uphill climb for a possible postseason berth. Although quarterback Brock Purdy returned from a one-game absence due to a sore right (throwing) shoulder, San Francisco lost more than a lopsided game in its 35-10 defeat against Buffalo last Sunday.
Running backs Jordan Mason (high ankle sprain) and Christian McCaffrey (posterior cruciate ligament) were placed on injured reserve after getting hurt against the Bills. The McCaffrey news especially was stinging after he missed the first eight games due to Achilles tendinitis.
“I just feel for him,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It was a real frustrating year for him. He worked his (backside) off to get back to this point, and I think he was really feeling good and about to take off. He just had that real unfortunate injury. … I know he’s as crushed as anyone, but he’ll get through this. He’s a (heck) of a player, a (heck) of a person, and an unbelievable 49er. And he’ll be back stronger than ever next year to help us.”
The organization also has endured off-field tragedy as Sondra Williams, wife of left tackle Trent Williams, lost a stillborn son last month.
Williams (ankle), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), safety George Odum (knee) and running back Jordan Mason (ankle) will be sidelined for San Francisco on Sunday. Defensive end Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) was listed as doubtful, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee), guard Aaron Banks (concussion) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) were considered questionable.
The Bears will compete without running back Roschon Johnson (concussion), offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion) and defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle). Running back D’Andre Swift (quad) and wide receiver D.J. Moore (quad) were listed as questionable.
