The Bears start this offseason coming off a devastating home playoff loss to the Rams. Yes, it was great to beat the Cheeseheads again with another miraculous finish. But the Bears basically gave the Rams a trip to the NFC Championship Game, and I am still bitter about it, especially the way it ended.

There were mistakes galore, from an early dropped TD pass by WR Rome Odunze to reckless game management by HC Ben Johnson. In tough conditions like there were that night at Soldier Field, you don’t throw points away, and Johnson did it too many times. QB Caleb Williams threw three INTs in another performance that followed the "sleepwalk through three quarters and put on the Superman cape in the fourth" formula.

Yes, the tying TD pass Caleb threw at the end of regulation was a surreal moment that bordered on the absurd and made me think I was in the Twilight Zone for a second. But it will ultimately go down with Devin Hester’s kickoff return TD to open Super Bowl XLI as a great moment in a Bears loss. With the game seemingly set up for the Bears to win in overtime after a defensive stop, Williams threw an INT that cost the team a trip to Seattle.

Most fans and media types blamed WR D.J. Moore because of his reputation for not giving full effort on routes, but I put most of the blame on Caleb for this one. WIth the ball still in his hand before he set to throw, he should’ve been able to see that Rams safety Kam Curl was completely ignoring Odunze’s deep route and clearly shading toward Moore. Once Caleb saw that, he should’ve looked for his checkdown, RB Kyle Monangai, who was open for at least a short gain. But he not only threw toward Moore, he also led him way too much, so for me it was a bad decision and a bad throw.

You cannot put the ball in harm’s way when you’re so close to field goal range, but Williams did, and the Bears paid for it. Yes, I do put some blame on Moore, who didn’t seem to be expecting a pass on the play. As a wideout, you have to always be ready for a pass, even if you’re the last read. Once Moore realized the ball was coming, he was too late to get to it. What frustrates me most about the ending was that if the Bears had won, they would’ve had the most talented quarterback in the final four. As dominant as the Seahawks looked in the Super Bowl, I think the Bears could’ve given them a game and even won, given the magic carpet ride this team was on late in the season. Had they gotten to the Super Bowl, I think they could’ve and would’ve beaten the Patriots. But coulda woulda shoulda doesn’t count for anything.

Now that I finally got all that off my chest, let’s look to the offseason. For the first time in a while, the Bears have some cap issues and some tough decisions to make. LB Tremaine Edmunds has been allowed to seek a trade. If that doesn’t happen, releasing him would create $15 million in cap space. The bigger name creating trade buzz is Moore, who is due $24.5 million for the 2026 season. Trading him would create $16.5 million in cap space, and Bears fans and media types alike have tried to concoct all kinds of ways they can trade him to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby. The Bears need pass rush in the worst way, and Crosby would be fantastic. He’s a big admirer of Williams, as evidenced by Caleb’s recent appearance on his podcast. Can GM Ryan Poles make it happen? I think he’s going to go big in some way this offseason with the Bears’ window of contention now officially open.

With the Combine just starting and free agency coming soon, let’s talk needs. Linebacker is an obvious one with Edmunds likely gone. D-line (edge and tackle) is the biggest one. The Bears need a bigger threat opposite DE Montez Sweat and more pressure (and better run stuffing) from the middle. Both starting safeties are free agents. I hope S Kevin Byard returns, but S Jaquan Brisker is likely gone. TE Cole Kmet and RB D’Andre Swift are potential cap casualties. Wideout becomes a need on some level if Moore is traded. You can never have enough good corners. So basically, most of the focus will be on the defensive side of the ball.

End.