Matt Eberflus relies on memories to save the season.

After the game, in his discussion with the players, he pointed out that they can still change the season based on their past.

“We have to take a hard look at everything we do and play good, complementary football,” Eberflus said.

The two big early plays by the defense and special teams set up their offense.

“We have to do a good job of capitalizing on them to create momentum early,” Eberflus said. “The great thing we told the players is we said we have tape evidence that we did this.

“It would be different if you didn’t have any evidence. We have evidence of that. It’s the same guys in the room, the same guys in the ring. So it’s important that we find a way to do that.”

They did, but those three weeks against a struggling team seem so long ago now. A team that can’t beat New England when they start the game in Chicago by making a big mistake is likely headed for a disappointing losing season.

The future is what’s important, as well as what was good, bad and ugly about the Bears’ loss on Sunday.

DeAndre Carter

His 38-yard punt return should have set up at least one field goal. They squandered it.

He also gives credit to his blockers in the game as they created a perfect wall on the edge for him to run behind.

It was such a well-executed play that it didn’t seem possible that a team could pull it off and also look as bad as they generally did in the game.

TJ Edwards interception

Edwards made a key interception in the second quarter and also had a third-down stop on Drake Maye with an ankle tackle just as the Patriots QB was starting to approach the line of scrimmage in a scramble, forcing a goal. Edwards’ production was so good that it was surprising compared to what others did.

IDEAL POINT FOR A BEARS COACHING SHAKEUP LOOMS IF NOTHING CHANGES

NEW SAGGI TAKEN TEACHES CALEB WILLIAMS MANY LOSSES

FANS SING ‘FIRE FUS’ IN MISERABLE 19-3 BEARS LOSS TO PATRIOTS

The ultimate weapon

It didn’t come fast enough, but eventually it did.

Caleb Williams

He’s not labeled in the “nasty” category for efforts in a game when he was hounded by the Patriots defense for nine sacks. A lot of it wasn’t his fault. There were probably only two or three sacks that resulted specifically from him holding the ball too long.

Williams gets the “bad” label specifically for being sacked outside the field goal zone in the first quarter after it happened to him a few other times. Each time he said he couldn’t let that happen. And then each time he did it again.

In this case, he had plenty of time to throw the football and still didn’t, tempting fate.

Bears need touchdowns, it’s true. At this point, any old mod would be a significant improvement, and they shouldn’t turn their noses up at recklessly trying to get the first one down. Humbly take the work of Cairo Santos next time.

Bears offensive line

To give them an “ugly” wouldn’t be fair because of the injuries they’ve had. They finished with 40 percent of their offensive line starters on the field and used a combination no one could have imagined with backup center Doug Kramer playing guard.

At least it kept Kramer busy and away from playing quarterback.

Teven Jenkins’ ankle injury, combined with the knee injury he was dealing with earlier in the week, will make it difficult for the Bears to justify a huge contract offer to him. His best skill is availability, but you have to admire him for pulling it off this year with injuries to his ribs, ankle, knee and now his ankle again.

When you are already playing with a line with two subscribers, all possible preparation time is needed. Whatever preparation they had done was then taxed beyond the barrier after they had to change formation again with Kramer at guard.

There’s a reason guys subscribe and don’t start.

Description of Cole Kmet

In the locker room afterward, tight end Cole Kmet used the word “funk” to describe the Bears offense’s inability to move the ball against the Patriots.

Fans in attendance also had four-letter words for it. Some even shouted something that started with the same letters as Kmet’s word and variations of that word. Some said nothing because they were simply stunned into utter silence by what they were watching.

The Bears offense looked like electric cars in the Chicago area the last time a polar vortex passed through the area in the dead of winter.

They haven’t started. Just a dead piece of metal.

Shane Waldron’s WR screens

They’re not working and they’ll be taking DJ Moore to the hospital soon enough. Blockage is terrible for them. They used to have Equanimeous St. Brown blocking such plays under Luke Getsy, but none are around anymore. Maybe try fielding him instead. Just a thought.

Shane Waldron’s Play Calling

Before, he did a play or two where everyone was scratching their heads or yelling insults.

Now he seems to have broken it and can’t figure out how to get it working again. Amazon does not deliver in season for you. That’s your offense and you broke it.

Shane Waldron’s offense

This was against a Patriots defense ranked 24th in the league, not against Bill Belichick’s defense.

The last time the Patriots held someone to 142 yards of offense was, well, it wasn’t that long ago.

In 2022, the Patriots did it in back-to-back weeks, holding the Colts and Jets to 10. The coaches for those two teams are no longer with the organizations.

Matt Eberflus’ HITS Principle

Coaches grade the Bears hard based on hustle, intensity, appreciation or turnovers and smart play. It’s called Eberflus’ HITS principle.

Maybe they should change it to the W principle and worry about winning instead.

Twitter: BearsOnSI