Control: Bears and Bullies…

I, Dalton Lewis, write about the Chicago Bears sometimes, and as you know they were 3–14 last year, worst team in the league. This year — so far — they are 3–7 after ten games. Carolina and Arizona are both 1–8. The Bears defeated Carolina soundly yesterday 16–13 behind a strong running game and a stout defense, a formula that has worked for the Chicago Bears for fifty years or more. They aren’t the worst team in the league anymore: they are getting better. They have improved to being a tier above the worst teams in the league.

I watched yesterday’s game while drinking a Coke Zero and in a room lit only by the fake fireplace to my left. I sat back in a comfortable chair that my dad used to love to use — until he switched to watching television in his room instead of in the living room. I watched the Bears play, and they immediately gave up a touchdown on a punt return. I then worried that the Bears would fail and lose to the worst team in the league. I should have believed in the Bears more.

Then the Bears defense seized the game. They stopped Bryce Young over and over — he had one completion down the field and only checked the ball down other than that. He got two field goals and nothing else on offense. The Panthers running game ran for 43 yards and under three yards per carry.

Montez Sweat improved the defensive line. They got three sacks. Three sacks is a lot better than a lot of previous games, and the d-line got pressure on the opposing quarterback a lot more than just three plays. They regularly hurried and hit Bryce Young. The trenches are super-important to football. Last year the Bears didn’t have good lines, and this year the o-line has been much better. The d-line has played better yesterday. The o-line quietly didn’t give up a sack — Tyson Bagent gets the ball out fast.

I watched a nice game in which the Bears outplayed the worst team in the league. I was happy. They did well. Then I put on one of my favorite podcasts, and they started to make fun of the Bears for playing in what they called a terrible game.

They made fun of Matt Eberflus, the coach, for being happy to win a game. I’m glad that Matt Eberflus likes to win games. I’m glad that the team can win a close game. I don’t like it when the people who are paid to commentate on the team say mean things about the players and the coaches — especially after a victory. I don’t like that.

Don’t make fun of people in an embarrassing or humiliating way. Ever. There’s no place for making fun of a coach for being happy to win a game. These players work so hard at this game - we don’t need to talk about their performance as terrible or garbage.

They played well.

Everyone played well.

Good game, well played, by everyone, Bears and Panthers alike.

Be proud of your performance, and ignore the bullies.

Thanks, and take care, friends.