I’m officially worried about the Chicago Bears defense.

In this week’s hit with 670 The Score, Bears linebacker TJ Edwards explained how the defense is not playing to the standard it has set for itself. Edwards’ words increased my concern:

“Giving up some big plays at crucial times, and that goes for all of us, that goes for everyone. We just have to perform a little bit better,” Edwards said. “I feel like we haven’t been playing at our level in the last few games, and we know that. We have to find a way to make that happen.”

In are interview on 670 The Score, Bears Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson shared similar sentiments about the struggle to get it all together. And at The Athletic, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus says there’s no magic pill that will fix the problems in Chicago’s defense. It all sounds like what you would hear from people looking for answers but have no idea where to find them. Taken in isolation, this is all worrying. But remembering how tight this Bears defense was over the summer and how it fluctuated early in the season sets alarm bells ringing in my head.

I can’t shake the feeling that the Chicago Bears defense has lost its mojo. And while I’m not sure how to recapture the magic, I do know who should be responsible for finding solutions to the problems facing Chicago’s defense heading into its Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions.

Week 13 will test Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus

Certainly, the Week 13 matchup against the Detroit Lions will be a big test for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. But the rookie was up to the task against a Green Bay Packers defense coming off a bye and a Minnesota defense coached by Brian Flores that is often stingy against young quarterbacks. And yes, new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will be tested as well. This could be a resume play for an assistant coach on an NFL insider’s watch list. But this will also be a measuring stick moment for Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus.

BEARS-LIONS WEEK 13 EXAMPLE: Could this be the end for Head Coach Matt Eberflus?

Eberflus arrived in Chicago thanks to the success he had as a defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts. And while his defense performed well in 2023 and through the first part of the 2024 season, things have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. Don’t get me wrong. I understand the defense is missing defensive tackle Andrew Billings and safety Jaquan Brisker. But the loss of these two players cannot be the main culprit behind the defense’s recent demise.

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You can point to the Hail Mary failure against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, where they gave up 29 points against the Arizona Cardinals a week later, got clobbered in big moments by the Green Bay Packers and allowed 30 points to the Minnesota Vikings as examples of The defense of Eberflus loses its edge. Things aren’t going to get any easier with a Thanksgiving game against the Lions, but Matt Eberflus needs to get his act together if he wants to have a chance at avoiding a sixth straight loss. If the defense can’t make it, the calls to replace the head coach during the mini-bye could become deafening.

For what it’s worth, Eberflus’ defense did well enough to contain the high-powered Lions offense last year. Chicago and Detroit split the season series in 2023, but the Bears blew a game they couldn’t lose on the road. Matt Eberflus could make up for the mistake of last year’s road loss with a strong performance as a defensive play-caller in Week 13. But this could be a statement for Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson, who could raise his coaching stock against a team that could do that. think of it as opening it up when things fall apart. The chess match between Eberflus and Johnson starts around 11:30 a.m. CT on Thursday. Are you ready?