Bears vs. Packers: 3 keys for Chicago's offense in Week 11

The Chicago Bears are in the thick of a full blown meltdown after suffering their worst loss of the season against the Patriots last week, and they’re attempting to spur to life their rudderless team before they host the rival Green Bay Packers this Sunday.

The NFL’s most historic rivalry has become increasingly one-sided as the years and decades went on, with Green Bay throttling Chicago in their most recent matchups. The Bears seemed primed to defy that trend this year, as their talented, young team was helmed by impressive rookie passer Caleb Williams. Hope that the Bears could finally score a win against their most loathed rival have abated, however, as the club is in complete disarray. Head coach Matt Eberflus relieved Shane Waldron of playcalling duties, and former passing game coordinator Thomas Brown will attempt to steer the offense right.

It’s hard to inject enthusiasm into the lifeless corpse that is the 2024 Bears, but there’s no denying the offense could see a boost in productivity if Brown is able to tap into his unit’s immense talent. Let’s discuss what Chicago’s new offensive coordinator and his unit have to do to stay competitive this Sunday with three keys to victory for Chicago’s offense in Week 11.

1. Establish an identity

The Bears boasted an offense that was clicking at every level at one point during the season, and the Bears’ offense of today could not have suffered a worse disfigurement. The unit is broken in every sense of the word: the receivers are are visibly frustrated with their lack of involvement, the running backs run into wall nearly every time they touch the ball, injuries across the offensive line have turned the group into a revolving door for defenders to rush through whenever they please, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is left trying to save an already dead offense. It’s difficult to see a silver lining in what’s been a train wreck of a year, but Chicago has had a coaching shakeup in an effort to move things in the right direction. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is out, and former Bears passing game coordinator Thomas Brown has taken on play calling duties. Brown has an immense reclamation project to attend to, and the first order of business should be discovering what sort of scheme works for his offense.

Waldron had the bones of an identity in his short stint with Chicago, deploying a balanced attack that was steady in run and pass usage. It came into its own during the Bears’ three-game win streak that led into the bye week, but their gradual improvement somehow came to an abrupt stop following the bye week. It’s been doom and gloom since then, so Brown has to create a call sheet his offense is comfortable running against the Packers this week. A patient, short passing scheme may produce results on Sunday, as Williams is an accurate short-field passer and it’ll minimize Green Bay’s pass rush. The Bears’ prospects going into Week 11 aren’t great, but fans may be able to find solace in a likely loss if the offense looks to have gotten its bearings.

2. Lean on their strengths

Waldron frustrated both players and fans for several reasons, but one major hangup the fanbase had was his misuse of the offense’s best weapons. Playmakers such as tight end Cole Kmet and DJ Moore would often be forgotten in the offense, which is likely a major factor in the unit’s current struggles. The Bears have too much firepower to be stumbling over themselves on a play-to-play basis, so Brown will need to reorient his operation to make the playmakers a focal point of his scheme.

Furthermore, Brown has to utilize players with the appropriate skills for the plays he chooses to run. I have seen so many wide receiver screens that involve an undersized wideout blocking a more physical defender and one-on-one matchups that rely on an aging Keenan Allen to win at the top of his route that it gives me second-hand embarrassment just discussing it. Brown just needs to coach with some sense; put players in position to succeed in their roles, and his offense will already be a step-up from Waldron’s.

3. Stay ahead of the chains

As the Bears underwent their epic collapse in the last few weeks, one thing that always stood out is how disadvantaged the offense was in down and distance. The unit’s offense, whether it was due to inadequate play or penalties, always found themselves trying to convert from second or third-and-long. Their persistent inability to move the chains in those unfavorable situations is due to several reasons: it played into their weak pass protection, it made the offense one-dimensional, and Waldron’s play calling wasn’t good enough to will them out of those situations. The effectiveness of Brown’s call sheet remains to be seen, but two of those three reasons still apply to the group after the coaching change, so staying ahead of the chains has to be a priority against the Packers in Week 11.

A short passing game paired with patience running the ball works well in moving the chains, so I’d expect to see a more reserved offensive approach on Sunday. The Packers’ defense is raring to prey upon their susceptible rival, and the Bears have to counter with a careful scheme that minimizes turnover risks. Controlling the ball and time of possession is paramount to Chicago’s victory, and consistent conversions on late downs will be crucial in that goal.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Packers: 3 keys for Chicago's offense in Week 11