Bulls News: Edmunds on four-game losing streak: "Adversity builds character" |
CHICAGO—Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was only a member of one losing team prior to coming to Chicago; that was his rookie year with the Buffalo Bills in 2018.
Now, as he prepares to play his 100th game this Sunday when the Bears take on the Minnesota Vikings (Noon / FOX), his focus is on breaking Chicago’s four-game losing streak and potentially getting the Bears their first winning record since 2018. “At the end of the day, winning is what we focus on … We get honed into numbers and everything, but we want to win,” Edmunds said. “So, that’s what our mindset is. So, everything that we do (on) the practice field is going to be geared toward winning this game on Sunday.” If the Bears are going to get their first win in over a month, their run defense will need to step up. It is quite perplexing what is happening with Chicago’s run defense this season. Last year, they allowed the least rushing yards of anyone in the league; this year, they are No. 23 in rushing yards allowed. Now, the passing defense is statistically better, as they have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns of any team in the league. When asked about the challenges with the run defense, Edmunds attributed them to fundamentals and technique, although this does not make much sense as they had a lack of turnover in regard to coaches and players on the defensive side of the ball. “I think it’s just technique, fundamentals, understanding what we got to do and do it at a high level and just understanding how we’re playing off one another (whether) it’s up front, whether it’s on the back end,” Edmunds said. “But, I think it’s really just honing down on the fundamentals and making sure that we’re taking care of our job.” Part of the problem is Chicago’s losses are compounding themselves. After losing on a hail mary against the Washington Commanders, they were blown out by the Arizona Cardinals and embarrassed by the New England Patriots before making a change at offensive coordinator. While that change helped the offense, the team still came up short after the game-winning field goal was blocked against the Green Bay Packers. Despite the ending to that game and the potential missed penalty, Edmunds maintains the team is moving on from that game and is looking forward to playing Minnesota. “We don’t have a choice. The next game is going to be here before we know it. So, it’s really no choice. The message is just to come in, put your working hat on and get to work. Simple as that,” Edmunds said. “It’s not a lot of talking about it. It’s about coming to work, doing what we have to do, understanding where we are. Obviously, being transparent as far as that. But, at the same time understanding where we’re trying to get to. So, we’re not looking (at) the past. Everything is geared toward this week and coming out winning this football game.” So far in Edmunds's 27 games as a Chicago Bear, the team has lost 16 of those games; 10 of those games have been one-possession games, including four such losses this year. That is a lot of adversity for one team, but Edmunds claims that it is helping build the character of this team. “I think adversity builds character for sure. You learn a lot through challenges and difficulties that you face. This is definitely a challenge, (the) time the team is going through. But at the same time, that’s what builds us closer together,” Edmunds said. “Nobody’s throwing in the towel. We have seven more opportunities. That’s all we need is (an) opportunity to go out there the next week and prove that we are who we say we are.”
