It was fun while it lasted, but the Chicago Bears officially have a kicker problem…again.
Not that Bears coach Matt Nagy is willing to acknowledge that. Nagy reiterated his belief in kicker Eddy Pineiro on Wednesday when discussing the missed opportunities — rather, two missed field goals — against the Los Angeles Rams.
“He’s competitive as hell,” Nagy said of Pineiro, via the Chicago Tribune. “He wants to make that. He’s mad at himself. We know that. We want him to know that we’ve got confidence in him.”
No offense, Coach, but as someone that believes actions speak louder than words, your actions Sunday said everything.
After Pineiro missed his first field goal on the Bears’ opening possession, the Bears offense was faced with a fourth-and-9 in Rams’ territory. Rather than attempt the 49-yard field goal, Nagy opted for his struggling offense to go for it…on the second possession of the game.
That’s not exactly a move that speaks of your confidence in your kicker.
Still, that’s something that Nagy insists they’re working through with Pineiro, who will return to the windy and chilly conditions of Soldier Field, where he’s already had three misses — two field goals and one extra point — since the weather turned.
“That’s what we’re working through,” Nagy said. “So now, when we get back out there, he’s going to make them and we’re going to get rolling.”
The true test will come Sunday against the New York Giants when Nagy is faced with the decision to kick the field goal or go for it on fourth down. He might go for the kick the first time, but if Pineiro misses again, all bets are off.
