In a 162-game regular season every win matters especially when a single game may be all that prevents a team from making the postseason. However, fans and the media can differ as to how they win the close ones may come back to bite the team in long run. A co-worker of mine doesn’t believe in nuanced analysis or that passionate fans can differing opinions of the above. This passionate Cubs-Bears-Bulls fan thinks that your membership on any of the teams’ bandwagons should be revoked for doubting.

As someone who has watched the last three Bears victories without seeing my blood pressure rise, I came away impressed by how this team has managed to win games the previous administration would have lost. I’m of the same belief as the current coach and several players that this team still has work to do but learning how to win despite not having their best stuff (borrowing a baseball term) is a step forward.

For context, the 2024 Bears went 3-6 in games decided by one score. They seemed to find different ways to lose games. Unfortunately, fans get scarred by their team’s poor performances, seasons and decades. The players, coaches and front offices may change, but the pain of losing lingers with fans. Thankfully, the players who were not a part of that history just play. The change in coaches appears to be what the Bears and their fans need. Most of the team doesn’t know or care about past failures. After an 8-3 start, it’s encouraging to note that the team is 6-1 in games decided by one score. Forget who they beat and that their point differential isn’t encouraging and it may blow up in their faces eventually, but who cares?

Last season the Minnesota Vikings went 8-1 in games decided by one score after going 4-8 the previous season. Not surprisingly, the Vikings were whomped by the Rams in their only playoff game and coincidentally their house of cards has collapsed this season.

Over the past few seasons, I’ve endured some horribly disappointing games from my alma mater’s men’s hoop team to the point that I turned games off midway through losses. This year we have a new coach and the team if off to a 4-1 start albeit against a few cupcakes. While I’m getting used to the new coach and a roster of unfamiliar faces, I love that they are winning games that they were losing the past few seasons. It’s a step in the right direction even if it’s only baby steps. I have no illusions of grandeur or a conference title (yet), but I have hope.