The Chicago Bears don’t play their Week 14 matchup, a home date against the Detroit Lions, until Sunday. But they got a big boost to their prospects of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft next offseason. With this win, a 21-18 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football, the New England Patriots are now up two wins on the Carolina Panthers.
“The #Patriots secure their third win… and by doing so give the #Bears a strangle hold on the top pick (thanks to the #Panthers),” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport posted on X on December 7. “High drama coming…”
Chicago, of course, owns the Panther’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Bears Have ‘Strangle Hold’ on No. 1 Pick After Thursday Night Football
Bears Sit Atop 2024 NFL Draft
There has been plenty of speculation about what the Bears will do with the No. 1 overall pick should they have it for the second year in a row. Some believe they are destined to use it on a quarterback either because they no longer believe in Justin Fields or because they simply cannot pass on taking a quarterback in that spot in back-to-back seasons.
Others still suggest they use that pick to secure more draft capital, continuing to build out the roster around Fields instead of starting over under center. None of that matters if they don’t get that pick, although good things can happen at No. 2 as well.
Insider Floats Timeline for Justin Fields as Bears’ Starting QB
Per Tankathon, the Panthers’ remaining strength of schedule is just .001% lighter than the Patriots’. A lot can still change with five games left for Carolina.
The Arizona Cardinals are also sitting on three wins. But, with quarterback Kyler Gordon back under center, they have a better chance at logging another win or two than the Panthers with rookie Bryce Young. Through 13 weeks, Young has looked ill-prepared for the NFL. His coaching staff took the fall with head coach Frank Reich getting fired.
Carolina had gone through multiple changes in the handling of play-calling duties.
Bears Have Made Best of Bad Situation
We may never get clarity on just what happened with former Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams. But what is evident is that Matt Eberflus is coaching up the defense. His task was made that much easier with the addition of a Montez Sweat at the trade deadline.
But Eberflus has done well to keep the players locked in despite a tumultuous season. He cited the importance of the people involved in making that happen.
He also referred to setting the “standard” in the building.
“I believe the No. 1 issue in any football team is morale, and how do you sustain morale is by having standards,” Eberflus said after Wednesday’s practice. “Have standards of how you operate every single day, how you practice. And you hold guys to the standard and, eventually, what they do is they hold themselves to the standard.”
Multiple Bears players continue to refer to the coaching staff for keeping the ship afloat. And the messages Ebeflus espouses at the podium are as frequently echoed in the locker room.
#Bears S Jaquan Brisker on how the team has stuck together in a trying season. #DaBears
Full vid: https://t.co/xHi7g2i7yv pic.twitter.com/vCjVhH0EPY
— Clocker Sports (@ClockerSports) December 6, 2023
“It doesn’t matter if it’s your starting quarterback or your No. 1 pass rusher. If they’re late to something, you fine them. And if they’re not hustling on the practice field, you point it out. … It creates a culture that’s visible to see on the practice field. Visible to see in the game day.”
It might be safe to assume that includes supposed starting wide receivers too.
The Bears entered the season expecting Chase Claypool to at least be the No. 3 option at wide receiver. Instead, after multiple injuries, questionable effort on the practice field, and poor effort on gameday, the Bears traded Claypool to the Miami Dolphins. Throughout all of it, the locker room has remained undivided.
“It’s out of a place of winning and it’s out of a place of doing it the right way,” Eberflus said. “That’s what we’re about here.”