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What Matt Nagy Said Following Lowest Scoring Totals Since Joining the Bears

If one thing is certain about the Bears, offense is hard to come by. At times, it’s essentially non-existent.

That was the case in the Bears’ 38-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. For Chicago, this embarrassing beat down set a new low for the team: the 35-point loss was the largest point deficit in the Matt Nagy era. Remember, this offense felt like it hit rock bottom a month ago when the team accumulated just 47 total yards against the Cleveland Browns.

With how bad the offense has been this season, each week feels like another opportunity to add to the ever-growing list of failures.

Since these types of inexcusable offensive performances have become far too frequent since Nagy has become head coach, let’s take a look at some of Nagy’s notable quotes over the years in his postgame press conferences following these games.

If you’re looking for actual substance, it’s time to look away. And, you know what, I wouldn’t blame you.

2021 Season: Week 7 — Buccaneers 38, Bears 3

Total Yards: 311
Justin Fields: 22 of 32 for 184 yards, 3 INTs, sacked 4 times
Rushing Totals: 29 Att, 143 yards
Third Down Efficiency: 2-11
Turnovers: 5

I know you may be trying to forget this game ever happened but it did, and here is what Nagy had to say about it.

Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times asked Nagy if Fields is to blame for the offense’s performance or does the responsibility fall on the entire unit.

“No, no. There’s a lot of different things that go into it and it’s all encompassing. Just like when we do well and you score a lot of points and you get a lot of yards, it’s not because of one person …”

Hold up.

Nagy said “when we do well and you score a lot of points.”

When has that happened? It definitely hasn’t been this season. Nagy’s offense is currently averaging 14.4 points per game (30th in the league) and scored a season-high 24 points against the winless Detroit Lions.

Later on in the press conference, Jason Lieser of the Sun-Times asked what the solution is to fix the offense and if Nagy is confident he can fix it.

“Yeah, I am. I’m confident that our coaches and our players can make this better. We know that anytime you’re not scoring like we’re not, we’re not running from that. We understand it. We know that we want to be better. It’s all of us included …”

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if all Bears fans simultaneously rolled their eyes after hearing this gem. Nagy has been trying to fix his offense for the past three years. It isn’t happening.

2020 Season: Week 7 — Rams 24, Bears 10

Total Yards: 279
Nick Foles: 28 of 40 for 261 yards, 2 INTs, sacked 4 times
Rushing Totals: 17 Att, 49 yards
Third Down Efficiency: 4-14
Turnovers: 2

In 2020, the Bears went into Monday night’s contest against the Rams at SoFi Stadium on a two-game winning streak. Chicago defeated Tampa Bay and Carolina and the Bears were 5-1 on the season.

But as we all would later see, the Bears were clearly a fake five-win team. Against Los Angeles, Eddie Jackson scored the only touchdown on the night for Chicago, with his fumble return.

Here is a snippet of Nagy’s opening remarks:

“This is a game today where there’s not a whole lot to say in that locker room, other than in these situations, we’ve got to be able to show what type of resolve we have to bounce back from something like this. … obviously stating the obvious, the offense, we’ve got to get stuff figured out. It’s not good enough and to be outscored by your defense obviously is unacceptable, too. So, that part’s frustrating. …”

The Bears’ version of bouncing back was going on a six-game losing streak — their worst drought since 2002 when the team lost eight games in a row. That’s quite the bounce back.

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Nagy was later asked in the press conference if there was a “core issue on offense that he would have liked to address” to “gain the consistency he’s looking for.”

“Yeah, this is hard. I’ve never really, I’ve never been a part of this before, so it’s a situation where it’s for all of us, very frustrating trying to figure out answers. The hard part is, is when you care so much and you’re trying so hard to figure out that identity and where we’re at and the why part. That’s the part that stings.”

What stings Nagy is hearing you say “the why part” every time something goes wrong. Bears fans also never get the answer to “the why.”

One of the reporters followed up on Nagy’s comments about never being a part of a game like this one.

“Well, I have no idea, but I don’t ever remember having our own defense score more than our offense. That’s hard to do. So, that part I don’t like, and that bothers me. …”

I can think of a few things that are bothersome about this Bears offense.

2019 Season: Week 16 — Chiefs 26, Bears 3

Total Yards: 234
Mitch Trubisky: 18 of 34 for 157 yards, sacked 3 times
Rushing Totals: 22 Att, 101 yards
Third Down Efficiency: 5-12
Turnovers: 0

Two times during the 2019 season the Bears scored just three points and both games were at Soldier Field: Week 1 vs. Green Bay and Week 16 vs. Kansas City. Either postgame press conference could’ve been used in this article, but I went with the latter.

Before Nagy took questions from the reporters, he ended his opening remarks with his go-to “we got to figure out the why part.”

Nagy was asked about how his team’s lack of focus could impact what he could do as a play caller. For the first couple of seconds, Nagy rambled and eventually said “It’s just a detail thing. We got to lock in. Every single play you got to be locked in on every play.”

A huge reason why the Bears can’t score points and look confused on offense half the time is because the details are not articulated well to the entire team. It’s tough being “locked in” when the information doesn’t make sense.

One reporter mentioned how in the first and last home games of the season the Bears only managed to score field goals. Then Nagy was asked how much reflection he has done.

“Well, I’ve done a lot throughout the year but not like what you’re able to do when the season ends. That’s obviously an area that I know, that we know, that we got to be a lot better. So, I can just say that I will be doing everything in my area to do whatever we can to get this offense better.”

Disregard the Tweet being about my Iowa Hawkeyes. Just focus on the GIFs. I bet a lot of Bears fans had similar faces after reading the quote.

2018 Season: Week 16 — Bears 14, 49ers 9

Total Yards: 325
Mitch Trubisky: 25 of 29 for 246 yards, sacked 3 times
Rushing Totals: 28 Att, 90 yards
Third Down Efficiency: 5-11
Turnovers: 2

Even when the Bears weren’t scoring points in certain games throughout the 2018 season, Chicago could rely on the defense to shut opposing teams down. That’s exactly what happened in the Week 16 victory over the 49ers.

Nagy was asked about the second to last offensive possession of the game that ended with an Allen Robinson fumble and what his impressions were of the drive.

“As an offense in the first half, it was a little choppy. We’ve had those halves before. The beauty of our guys, our players on offense is that they’re resilient in the way that they just stay positive. They get into halftime, they figure out the why part, we go out and then go right down the field, whether it’s running or throwing and we make plays and score a touchdown. …”

Rewatching this press conference, there was so much optimism from Nagy. He looked like a different person, smiling and even laughing at times. Guess it helps that his team was 11-4 at the time.

But those choppy halves would later turn into choppy games and even choppy seasons.

And to remind Bears fans, there are still 10 games left in the 2021 season. So be prepared for more offensive letdowns and Nagy’s trivial press conferences to follow.

Nicholas Moreano

Nicholas Moreano is a sports multimedia journalist and the Bears beat reporter for The Chicago Audible. He has a master's degree in Communication from DePaul University and obtained his bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Iowa.

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