Ryan Poles just suffered a death blow in the loss to Detroit

Ryan Poles was able to hide behind Matt Eberflus all season during the Chicago Bears’ slump. No doubt the GM is hoping that a new voice at head coach following the firing of Eberflus could finally put the team in the win column. That didn’t happen. In fact, it made the Bears worse, especially on defense. For the Poles there is no escape from responsibility. This mess is his work from top to bottom. There was no interference from owner or team president Kevin Warren. He had free rein to build this thing his way, and it was a disaster.

Sunday’s 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions may have seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but not from the Poles’ perspective. It was a disaster for several reasons. Let’s start with the most obvious. This loss was the Bears’ ninth straight, the second-longest streak in franchise history. The longest game lasts 14 and took place between 2022 and 2023. Poles was the GM in both games.

Things only get worse from there. Kiran Amegadjie, the Poles’ most valued third-round pick this year, was declared a healthy scratch for the game. Larry Borom and Jake Curhan were considered better options than him. Curhan made some crippling mistakes coming into the game. Then Braxton Jones broke his leg for good measure.

“This is the deepest room I’ve ever been in.” So we have more versatility and more depth. Shoot, we have 10 people, so I’m comfortable. Of course you want your starting five to be healthy and ready to play, but I’m more confident than ever about the depth of our offensive line.”

Ryan Poles also can’t escape another bad free agency swing.

Everyone is talking about Nate Davis and the disaster he was. It’s perhaps time to point out that while D’Andre Swift wasn’t nearly as big of a fiasco, it was also a disappointment. He signed a $24 million contract with the Bears this spring. As of Sunday’s final whistle, it was the 10th game this season in which he averaged less than four yards per carry. It was the fifth game in which he averaged less than three yards per carry. Williams has almost half of his rushing total despite a third of the carries.

Ryan Poles didn’t have a bad plan. He wanted to develop through the draft, be measured in free agency, protect the team’s finances and always maintain a good supply of resources. The problem is that for any plan to work, you still need to find good players and coaches. In the first case the GM failed spectacularly and in the second case too much. His excuses have dried up. If he survives to the end of this season, it won’t be because he earned it. Only the grace of George McCaskey will save him.