My Takeaways from The Chicago Bears 2018 Season.

THE ZAHERY ZONE — Chicago, IL

What’s up everybody welcome to The Zahery Zone! I’m going to touch on why the Bears season was a huge success, why to be excited about the future, what they could’ve done to win Sunday’s playoff game, and last but certainly not least, Cody “Uprights” Parkey.

First off, however, I do want to tip my cap to the Philadelphia Eagles. I was at the game Sunday and it was without question the most electrifying sporting event I’ve ever been to. If you told me before the game that Mitch Trubisky throws for over 300 yards and the Bears hold the Eagles to only 16 points, I’d tell you the Bears win in convincing fashion. The Eagles battled and fought all game down to the very last play.

1. Why The Bears Season Was a Huge Success: Regardless of the outcome on Sunday night, the Bears had an incredible season that nobody expected them to have. If you told me after the week 1 loss to Green Bay that the Bears would go on to finish 12-4, crowned the NFC North Champion and host a playoff game for the first time since 2010, I 100% would’ve said you’re shaved-bald-head-Britney-Spears-2007- type-of-shit-crazy. There’s a lot to be proud of in this team.
2. Why To Be Excited For The Future: (1) In my opinion, General Manager Ryan Pace will win the Executive of the Year and Matt Nagy will win The Coach of The Year — assuming they do win, that in itself should keep Bears fans excited for the future. The foundation from the very top will lead down to the very bottom. (2) Secondly, the Bears have officially found their QB they’ve been waiting and searching for since “The Punky QB” Jim McMahon was wreaking havoc in the ’80s. Mitchell Fucking Trubisky. Mitchy Primetime. I don’t really understand why people rip on him so often when he had the 3rd best Total QBR in the entire NFL this season and progressively grew and matured game after game. Not to mention in his first playoff game ever, he throws for over 300 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 turnovers, while also going 7/10 for 122 yards and that sole TD pass all coming in the 4th Quarter. Mitchell Trubisky is the real deal and if you’re not onboard the #TrubiskyTrain, just hop off right now. Thirdly, the Bears have 17 core guys signed thru 2020: Trubisky, Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Tarik Cohen, Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Trey Burton, Kyle Long, Charles Leno Jr., James Daniels, Bilal Nichols, Eddie Goldman, Prince Amukamara, Kyle Fuller, Roquan Smith, and Eddie Jackson — stay positive Bears fans.
3. What The Bears Could’ve Done Better On Sunday: Everyone wants to put the blame on Cody Parkey and deservedly so the guy looks like a dumbass. All jokes aside, the ball was tipped and there were several moments throughout Sunday’s game that could’ve gone differently that I believe would have made the Bears victorious. (1) Matt Nagy’s play calling in the first half was God-awful. People are quick to blame Mitch but how could you blame him when Nagy continually called Jordan Howard dives up the middle and 5-10 yard dump-offs. He also only gave Tarik Cohen, the spark plug for this offense, 1 CARRY AND 5 TARGETS ALL GAME — MAKES ZERO SENSE TO ME. I love #NagyNutsack and his ballsy play calling but I believe he outsmarted himself. (2) Chicago Bears injuries. It’s apart of the game so it’s neither here nor there, but Trey Burton being out with a mysterious groin injury and Eddie Jackson leaving the game hurt again was extremely detrimental for the Bears. Two players that were key all season. (3) I’m hesitant to bring this up because he’s a huge reason why the Bears had 12 wins this season, but the Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack was a nonexistent factor on Sunday. I’d like to say the Eagles game-planned well for him but he’s been getting double and triple teamed all season. He’s the man and I love him but as Stacey King says, “big-time players make big-time plays” and that’s what the Bears paid him to do in the playoffs. (4) Pat O’Donnell with just an absolute shank job punt late in the 4th Quarter to give the Eagles great field position to ultimately drive down the field, take the lead and Break the entire City of Chicago’s hearts. O’Donnell did have solid punts throughout the game, but when it mattered, he did not execute.
4. Last and Most Certainly Not Least – Cody “Yips” Parkey: Let’s address the elephant in the room right away, and I want to keep this part short so I never have to talk about Cody Parkey ever again in my entire life. As painful as it was to witness the “double doink” with my own two eyes, what pains me the most is that Parkey got paid $9 million guaranteed in 2018 to miss 8 Field Goals, 2 extra points, and hit 6 uprights. SIX. Most notably, on November 12th vs. the Detroit Lions, he missed 4 total kicks, 2 XP’s and 2 FG’s and hit the uprights Every.Single.Damn.Time. As impressive as that is, why I don’t blame Parkey for Sunday’s loss is because of the reasons I mentioned earlier, but also because Ryan Pace should’ve cut him 2 months ago directly following that game vs. Detroit — in my opinion, Pace’s only mistake all season. Maybe the Bears don’t find themselves in the spot they are right now if they cut Parkey, and instead are game-planning for the Divisional Round against the Rams. Good riddance.

I don’t want to end on a negative note, so like I mentioned before, be happy for the season the Bears had and be excited for the future because it’s VERY bright. The next Bears game is 9 months away, so in the meantime… #FireGarPax, #FireJimBoylen, #GoHawks, and Theo Epstein, for the love of Jesus Christ himself, please sign Bryce Harper so this traumatic Bears loss can be forgotten.

And as the great Kenny Loggins has always said…HIGHWAYYYY TO THE ZAHERY ZONEEEE

Also, at least Kirk Cousins isn’t our Quarterback.

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