Chicago Bears: How John Fox Can Still Save His Job

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 26: Head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears looks on from the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 26, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Truth be told most Chicago Bears fans are already thinking beyond John Fox after that disastrous game in Philadelphia, but it’s not over yet.

At 3-8 the team may be all but out of the playoff picture, but is Fox truly done? A wise person would believe that’s not the case at all. Fox, if nothing else, has proven across 15 years of coaching that he’s a survivor. Just when it looks like he might be done for he can pull a rabbit out of his hat. At 62-years old the magic may not be as fresh as it once was. Nonetheless there may yet be one last bit of juice left in that body. It hinges on these final five weeks.

Despite enduring one of the most brutal schedules in the modern era up to this point, the stormy seas have suddenly begun to calm. Three of the Bears’ final five opponents feature losing teams including the 49ers and Browns who have the two worst records in the NFL. If Fox were able to somehow use wins over them to propel his team to winning out with five-straight? Suddenly the team is 8-8 and it becomes much harder to justify cutting him loose.

Fox’s career likely comes down to final stretch against Lions and Vikings

There are two games in particular that will likely make or break Fox. The first is the rematch with the Lions in Detroit on December 16th. The other will be the season finale in Minnesota. Of course the Cincinnati Bengals can’t be discounted either but those are the two Bears ownership will be watching most. Fox has been dismal against the NFC North since he arrived in 2015. Losing to Detroit and Minnesota to end the year would not be the best look even if he somehow won the other three games.

There is one hope still remaining. The Bears narrowly missed beating the Lions a couple weeks ago. No doubt they feel they can close the deal with a second chance. Meanwhile the odds are high that the Vikings will have the division and their playoff position wrapped up by the finale, so will they be fully invested? If not, that provided the Bears a window of opportunity.

Again, this is all presuming the other three games are won. With this team nothing is certain.

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