The last time Ryan Poles’ tenure was under scrutiny after a loss like this was in Week 14 of last season, fresh off the Chicago Bears’ 38-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Ownership is a fitting but unchanging target for ire in most instances, such as the Bears. But on Sunday, the Bears roster that Poles built dropped a meaningful game against the Detroit Lions 52-21.
Two games do not make up an entire season, but they do speak to an early and troubling trend.
Along the way, there were miscues in virtually every aspect. When as many things go wrong in one game and, more alarmingly, over the first two weeks, blame can only go to the top, and that is at Poles as far as Bears football goes.
Bears GM Ryan Poles Gets Harsh Reality Check Against Lions
Something in Bears GM’s Process Proving Flawed
Head coach Ben Johnson took blame for his role in the Bears’ “Monday Night Football” loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, and he shares culpability in their showing on Sunday.
But Johnson did not commit seven penalties.
Johnson did not allow Lions quarterback Jared Goff to complete 82.1% of his passes for a 156.0 passer rating. Nor did he complete 66.3% of his passes or have a 91.9 rating, as Caleb Williams did in comparison to Goff, or allow consistent pressure like the offensive line did.
There appears to be a fundamental issue with the Bears, who boast the second-highest-paid roster in terms of active cap spending and the least dead money in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
On Sunday, two of the Bears’ rookie second-round draft picks (Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner) were healthy scratches.
Another (Luther Burden III) was hardly utilized, while their first-round pick (Colston Loveland) did not receive a target until there were roughly three minutes to go in the contest. That is in addition to their fourth-round linebacker, who is behind two starters and a third-year player, and a fifth-rounder, who is out for the season.
The only Bears rookie draft pick to see significant run in the game was seventh-round selection Kyle Monangai.
For a team that won five games in 2024, at the very least, they are getting little from premium picks. Their free agent additions and trade acquisitions have not had the desired impact. Save for Johnson, tight end Cole Kmet, and kicker Cairo Santos (three key players, but hardly ones who can turn a franchise around), Poles has been the constant since 2022.
Chemistry, Synergy Hard to Come By for Bears
The Bears spent heavily on their offensive and defensive lines, and they have invested in their secondary and skill players. Every phase suffered a letdown at some point throughout the game. Even running back D’Andre Swift, who was their most consistent offensive player, lost a fumble.
Williams’ progress, whatever he has been able to make, is hindered by so many shortcomings around him, including his right tackle (Darnell Wright, the No. 10 pick in 2023) and right guard (2025 trade pickup Jonah Jackson, whom Poles extended before the season) becoming liabilities in terms of penalties.
That impacts their ability to protect, and the group has still not developed the desired chemistry.
Johnson lamented their giving up the edge to the Lions in the run game and their inability to affect Goff in the passing game. Notably, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s group held their own in the first half. That was even after getting punched in the mouth early.
But continued offensive failings left the defense on the field with short rest. A deluge of points from the Lions ensued.
The Bears allowed the Lions to score 24 unanswered points from the second quarter into the fourth. The Vikings scored 21 straight in the fourth. Clearly, the Bears have an issue with momentum snowballing against them.
It is difficult to see anyone other than Poles as the figurehead in that, especially after the changes to the roster and, this past offseason, the coaching staff under his watch. Again, two games do not constitute an entire campaign, and there have been teams that have rallied to have playoff seasons after similar beginnings.
These Bears have yet to show they have that sort of run in them, though, which threatens to sink even further next week.
Bears Cap Crunch Looms Large Amid 0-2 Start
The Bears have been dealing with injuries, and both cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker T.J. Edwards returned only to exit early with aggravations, Johnson said. Kyler Gordon missed his second straight game. Tyrique Stevenson and Johnson’s replacement, Nahshon Wright, had rough days on the perimeter, and Nick McCloud gave up key plays in the slot in Gordon’s place.
That is $23 million worth of 2025 cap hits sidelined for much, if not all, of this contest. The loss also dropped the Bears to 0-2 in the NFC North.
Their revamped O-line has been inconsistent in pass protection and fairly poor as run blockers.
That is simply too many variables to account for going the right way on a weekly basis. Moreover, the Bears still have the specter of their salary cap crunch in 2026 looming large. The Bears are already heading down a treacherous path, and it is one they have traversed before.
They have the coach everyone wanted for their team, the quarterback who was projected to go 1.1 long before he was eligible, and a high-priced roster.
Those things cannot overcome seemingly questionable asset and personnel management.