4 Takeaways From Bears’ Loss to Seahawks: Thomas Brown Gives 2-Word Answer

Thomas Brown, Chicago Bears

The sheen has come off of Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown following a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It is not his fault. Brown has been thrust into two positions that not only was he not hired for, but ones that his predecessors failed in with far more time to prepare.

As Brown stood at the podium following the penultimate game of the regular season, he took the arrows for an operation that has not met even the most modest expectations they may have had coming into the season.

Brown refused to concede that his changing of roles has adversely impacted the offense.

Bears-Seahawks Takeaways: Thomas Brown Gives 1-Word Answer to Offensive Woes

Thomas Brown: ‘Execution’ to Blame for Bears Offensive Falloff

“Not executing,” Brown told Clocker Sports during his final postgame press conference from Solider Field, at least in the 2024 season.

The Bears scored 12 points in the two games before they fired former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and moved Brown into his role. They scored 19, 27, and 20 points in the three games after the change.

Then the Bears fired former head coach Matt Eberflus.

That not only took Brown out of his newfound role in which he had seemingly found a spark, it also inserted an inexperienced Chris Beatty, the Bears’ wide receivers coach, into the OC job.

Execution is an accurate answer. The question the Bears must ask themselves is why there has been such a disconnect between what is being taught in the classroom and enriched on the practice field has produced what it has during games most weeks this season.

Bears brass must also face their role in the on-field dysfunction, perhaps that should come first.

Seattle entered the week ranked N0. 13 in scoring and No. 17 in yards allowed entering the week.

Caleb Williams Shoulder Blame for ‘Stupid’ Sacks

The Bears’ offensive ineptitude this season has been a confluence of issues. Inconsistent protection and run blocking, playcalling, and not being on the same page are all valid when trying to hone in on the Bears’ problems.

Williams can help himself by not taking some of the hits he has absorbed this season. That means knowing when to get rid of the ball and live to see another down.

He said as much after the latest loss.

“I think we played, on two sides of the ball today, pretty well; special teams and defense,” Williams told reporters during his press conference after the game. “Offense, we didn’t play well. There was miscues, there was stupid sacks that I was taking, losing 10, 14 yards – which is frustrating. But I will say that … I’ll definitely take the heat for this one just because some of the situations that I put us in.

“That sack that I took that I didn’t need to take, which put us – we were in empty and brought a guy from the boundary. Just throw it over the guy’s head and you’re still playing. Obviously, you don’t want to – you want to get a positive play there. But in that sense, it’s a positive play, so [I’ve] got to be better.”

Williams leads the NFL with 67 sacks taken. That is just five away from the second-most in a single season in NFL history. He could even see him challenge David Carr’s record of 76 sacks taken in a single season against the Green Bay Packers.

The most sacks Williams has taken in a game so far this season is 9. That was set by the New England Patriots in Week 10.

Bears Lose 2 TDs in Loss to Seahawks

The Bears thought they scored touchdowns on two separate occasions in this game. Those would have given them a 14-6 victory if all else would have remained the same. Instead, a holding call on Jake Curhan – filling in for the injured Teven Jenkins – erased this play to Rome Odunze.

Bears nickelback Kyler Gordon also picked up a fumble and appeared to run it back for the touchdown only to have officials rule he was down by contact.

That play took a score and a raucous reaction from the Bears away.

1 Bit of Good News After Bears Lose 10th Straight Game

If there is one positive takeaway, Brown led with it during his presser. The Bears emerged from this game no worse for the wear. That is notable considering the list of players they entered the night without. Most surprising among the absentees was defensive tackle Zacch Pickens.

Pickens recorded the first full sack of his career in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions. He was not listed on the injury report during the week leading up to the game.

Not listed are safety Jaquan Brisker who has not played since Week 5 due to a concussion and left tackle Braxton Jones who went on IR this week after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery.