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Last Lessons from 2022 Playoffs for Bears
Just like in the other playoff rounds, there are lessons to learn from the Super Bowl.
It goes beyond learning for the umpteenth time that you can't take anything for granted in the NFL, especially that the Chiefs and Andy Reid will take the touchdown at game's end when it's given to them so that you can win the squares pool.
Believe me, it would really be fun to draw on Reid's face right now.
The Bears, though, have plenty to learn from this game and here's some of it.
1. Don't Forget the Offense
The primary Bears problem going into free agency and the draft is lack of a defensive front—line or linebackers, ends, tackles, weak side, middle and strong side.
However, before they get started spending all of those millions of dollars they've accumulated under the salary cap, they can't forget the offense.
Sure, the NFL had a dip in scoring in 2022 by 1.1 points per team per game and it was the second time in five seasons it dropped by at least that much.
When it's 38-35 it only reminds the overall that to win big games on big stages, the offense needs to be fully equipped to attack big-time defenses.
The Bears can't assume Chase Claypool is sufficient addition for their receiver corps to expect more scoring in 2023. They can't assume growth by Velus Jones Jr. and Darnell Mooney, once he heals.
They need to get top receivers. They need running backs who can score on any given play. They need a line like Philadelphia and Kansas City have, one capable of both run blocking and pass blocking.
2. Justin Fields Has Got Next
Mobile passers were huge storylines coming into this game. They didn't disappoint.
Patrick Mahomes isn't as good of a runner as Jalen Hurts and had an ankle injury but he produced the key run on a scramble of 26 yards with a bad ankle. Hurt sproduced 70 yards rushing in the biggest game of the year to go with his 304 yards passin, which was 122 yards more than Mahomes.
Fields is a better runner than both. He needs to become a better passer, obviously.
Once he does, he'll have that run-pass threat to pose as a threat for even the best defenses.
3. Rushing Matters
The league's No. 1 rushing team should love how Kansas City outrushed the Eagles 158 yards to 115. The Chiefs are not a necessarily a rushing team yet they had their moments with the running game to complement Mahomes' 21-of-27 passing and Travis Kelce's 81 yards receiving on six catches.
Reid catches people by surprise at times with his ability to coach up a running game to complement Mahomes, or even win the game when it appears they lack one.
4. Defensive Linemen in Multiples
The Bears can't make the same mistake the Eagles did in the future. They need more than five or six defensive linemen who can rush the passer. The defensive line needs to be fresh at game's end. The Eagles weren't getting enough heat on Mahomes all game, and especially when it counted most.
You need as many fresh pass rushers as possible.
Considering the Bears had 10 1/2 from all of their linemen combined, they've got a lot of work to do just to find a few let alone depth.
5. Add Andrew Wylie to the List
With right tackle a definite position of necessary improvement, perhaps Kansas City's Andrew Wylie is a player to add to their list.
He was a lineman signed when Ryan Poles was with the Chiefs and that is supposed to be a particular area of expertise for the Bears GM. Wylie and all the Chiefs offensive line had excellent games.
Haason Reddick didn't get in the backfield repeatedly. He had two quarterback hits. The Eagles had no sacks. Orlando Brown Jr. isn't the only tackle the Chiefs have.
Wylie is only 28 now and is projected for a contract averaging just $4.6 million.
6. Uh, Cancel the Coronation
The Eagles came into the game with 70 sacks on the year, only two behind the 72 total the 1984 Bears had. People were comparing their pass rush to the 1985 Bears.
Uh, not so much.
No sacks in the Super Bowl when it counted, and the 1985 Bears made seven in the Super Bowl while also forcing four fumbles and taking two interceptions.
7. Fields' Lesson
The last lesson learned was for Justin Fields. It's one even NFL personnel people forget at times. The quarterback makes the receivers and it's not the other way around.
All of the talk among Bears fans about the need to surround Fields with more talent means something, and it's obvious it helped elevate a young passer another level when you see how Hurts performed after getting A.J. Brown on the roster.
However, the bottom line is the quarterback is the one who needs to elevate his game the most and find ways to win when it counts.
Fields could not do that in critical situations last year as the Bears lost one game after another with failed final drives or poor fourth quarters. Both Super Bowl quarterbacks were able to elevate their games.
Mahomes lost his best receiver this season and had Brandon Mebane leave in Week 10 this year with an injury. He made it work with JuJu Smith-Schuster and some other pieces. It's what a top quarterback is supposed to do.
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
