Bears legend suggests one immediate change for team

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Bears legend suggests one immediate change the team needs to make

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Sep 16, 2024 5:47 PM ET

Following Sunday’s 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, it’s clear the Chicago Bears have lots of issues that need to be addressed.

In watching Sunday’s defeat, former seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro Bears linebacker Lance Briggs believes he knows what arguably the team’s biggest issue is, and he pointed out how he’d go about fixing it on CHGO’s latest “Briggs and Brown” podcast.

“No. 1, we probably need to fire the offensive line coach (Chris Morgan),” Briggs said . “…The fact that they’re bringing five and we’re not picking up five is a damn shame. When it comes to protection, when the defense brings five, you have five to protect against. … I think one of the things that will certainly help is the run game. No matter who’s in there…run game, push, double-team those guys to work up to the second level. You have a hell of a back in Swift; two [if you count] Khalil Herbert.”

In the past 2 games, the Bears have the largest pressure percentage in the league, by 10% to the 2nd most pressured team.

The Bears, quite literally, have the worst offensive line in the entire NFL. pic.twitter.com/J9NgZdKAbU
— jack (@jackscroggs_) September 16, 2024

Against the Texans, the offensive line did rookie quarterback Caleb Williams no favors. The 22-year-old was sacked seven times and pressured 19 times, hurried 13 times and hit once, per Pro Football Focus.

Williams was under pressure 42.6% of the time. He completed just 33.3% of his passes for 33 yards with two interceptions in such situations.

Because the offensive line was struggling with Houston’s front seven, Williams wasn’t the only one affected. Chicago’s running game was nearly nonexistent.

Aside from Williams’ 44 yards on the ground, D’Andre Swift, Travis Homer and Khalil Herbert combined for just 27 yards on 17 carries. The trio’s longest run of the game was only seven yards.

Finding a way to shore up the offensive line is presumably at the top of head coach Matt Eberflus’ to-do list heading into the team’s Week 3 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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