Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: What Are Experts Saying About Chicago?

The Chicago Bears lost for the ninth time this season when the New Orleans Saints beat them on Monday Night Football, 31-15. The Bears will play their final home game of the season this Sunday when they take on the Detroit Lions.

Chicago was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in Week 14 and has been in a downward spiral for much of the 2014 season. After starting the season 2-1, the Bears have only come away with three victories since Week 3.

The Bears will welcome the 10-4 Lions to Soldier Field this Sunday and try to dash Detroit's hopes of winning the NFC North. Even though the Bears are 5-9 this season, experts have had plenty to talk about this week. 

What exactly are the experts saying about the Chicago Bears heading into their Week 16 matchup with the Detroit Lions? 

Dan Pompei: Bears Were Outclassed by the Saints

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Following yet another disappointing loss for the Bears this season, longtime NFL columnist Dan Pompei criticized Chicago's effort and class against the New Orleans Saints:

"

3. From the national anthem to the postgame press conference, the Bears were outclassed.

— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) December 16, 2014"

Chicago looked completely disinterested from the moment the ball was kicked off on Monday night. In addition to going into the game already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Bears were coming off a week filled with turmoil.

A report surfaced from the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra of NFL.com) saying the Bears have "buyer's remorse" regarding Cutler following the team's loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14. It was later revealed that offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer apologized to the offense the following Monday for being the one who had spoken with Rapoport, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

"He spoke outside of this building on things that were inappropriate to say at that time,'' head coach Marc Trestman said last week about Kromer, via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. 

Even though Trestman made it clear he was not happy with how Kromer approached the situation, Kromer was still allowed to stay on the staff.

Whether it was the team's way of rebelling against Trestman and his decision to keep Kromer, or they were simply that bad, the Bears looked completely out of place against an average-at-best Saints team on Monday night.

Eric Edholm: If Trestman Was Safe Before, He Shouldn't Be Now

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Even with the Bears struggling in recent weeks to find any sort of balance or rhythm on offense, it still seemed like head coach Marc Trestman would retain his job in 2015. But with the team's most recent struggles, Yahoo's Eric Edholm does not think Trestman's job is safe anymore:

"

No one is fighting for Marc Trestman. Maybe Matt Forte is, or maybe he's just incapable of not playing hard. Cutler looked upset when his receivers jumped offsides and ran the wrong routes, but you can't blame all three interceptions and seven sacks on Cutler's surrounding cast. He was miserable, too.

Word has leaked out of Halas Hall last week that perhaps Trestman would be spared. That was before the Kromer thing happened.

But now?

"

In addition to Edholm's thoughts, 670 The Score radio host Dan Bernstein tweeted this earlier in the week:

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Source: #Bears ownership met last night. Trestman likely fired at season's end, Emery's fate still undecided.

— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) December 16, 2014"

According to Edholm, the last time the Bears fired a coach with less than four years spent coaching the team was back in 1957 when they fired Paddy Driscoll after two seasons. There is no guarantee the organization opts to fire Trestman after this season, but after having one of the league's best offenses last year, the offense has looked absolutely clueless at times this season.

Edholm fears if Trestman returns in 2015, an already apathetic team will have very little to play for.

"If you bring Trestman back, you're telling the players that their apathy will be accepted. Their subpar performance is good enough," Edholm wrote. "They can keep not playing hard, and they'll still receive their checks."

Unless they make wholesale changes this offseason, the Bears will likely put a similar product out on the field next season.

Ross Tucker: Why Did the Bears Give Cutler a Long-Term Deal?

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Despite the quarterback putting up just average numbers at best last season, the Bears opted to sign Jay Cutler to a seven-year deal this past offseason. SportsOnEarth.com's Ross Tucker does not know why the Bears re-signed Cutler to a long-term deal:

"

Why did they feel compelled to give him that contract? The Bears could have franchised Cutler for year two under new head coach Marc Trestman and make sure he was a good fit for the offense before committing cash. Instead, the Bears now have the rarest of rarities in the NFL: a contract that they can't get out of or get rid of. It's almost like Cutler is in the NBA or MLB. (Yes, it's true that they can cut Cutler by March 2015 and get out of some of that guaranteed money, but that isn't an appealing option either.)

"

Instead of franchise-tagging Cutler for what would have been $16.192 million in 2014, via NFL.com, the Bears were hit with an $18.5 million hit this season under the parameters of his contract, via Sportrac.com.

It is hard to argue with Tucker's point here. Why exactly did the Bears sign Cutler to a long-term deal when he has not proved he can have sustained success at the NFL level?

Even though the Bears can technically get out of the contract after the 2016 season, the real question will be whether he remains with the team after this season.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk clarified how much money the team could save by cutting Cutler. "If the Bears dump him by March 2015, they’ll avoid $16 million in guaranteed money," he wrote. "If they part ways with him by March 2016, they’ll save the final $6 million guaranteed."

Hindsight is always 20/20, but months after the Bears signed Cutler to a long-term deal, he has done little to prove that the organization was right to sign him for more than one season.

To make the situation even worse, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Bears will bench Cutler this week in favor of backup Jimmy Clausen:

"

Stunner from Chicago: Bears starting QB Jimmy Clausen this week, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2014"

With his benching, Cutler's future in Chicago could not be any more up in the air.

Jon Greenberg: The Bears Are the Raiders of the Midway

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Following the Bears' third straight loss on national television, ESPNChicago.com's Jon Greenberg compared them to one of the league's most dysfunctional franchises.

"The Bears (5-9) don't just lose games like typical losing teams. They get blown out and destroyed," Greenberg wrote. "Although they have five wins on paper, on grass this looks more like a 2-14 team, the Raiders of the Midway."

The Raiders are currently 2-12 and have not finished a season over .500 since 2002. 

While the comparison by Greenberg may seem a little harsh on the surface, is he wrong? Chicago does have three playoff appearances since 2002, but appears to be on the verge of firing its second head coach in three seasons. Two big reasons for Oakland's demise over the years have been the lack of leadership at the top of the organization and poor coaching hires.

Since Bill Callahan was fired following the 2003 season, the Raiders have had six head coaches. Tony Sparano is currently serving as the interim head coach after Dennis Allen was fired in late September.

The Bears did employ Lovie Smith from 2004 to 2012, but if they fire Trestman this offseason, they will need to make a solid hire or risk the possibility of having constant turnover with their head coach.

The Raiders were once one of the league's most revered and respected franchises before ownership and management struggled to put the right pieces in place for long-term success.

If the Bears cannot right the ship this offseason from the top of the organization on down, they could run the risk of turning into the Midwest's version of the Raiders.  

Pete Prisco: Bears Look Like They've Packed It in

Brian Kersey/Getty Images

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco incorrectly predicted the Chicago Bears to defeat the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 15. Monday's performance has Prisco predicting the Bears will lose this Sunday to the Detroit Lions.

"The Bears were horrible in losing to the Saints on Monday night, but the Lions have to be careful. If they are flat...uh, no," Prisco wrote. "The Bears look like they've packed it in, especially on offense. The Lions defense eats that line up. Jay Cutler has another rough day."

He has the Lions winning 31-17.

Prisco's prediction was written before the news came out that Jimmy Clausen would be getting the start at quarterback, but it is hard to imagine him playing much better than Cutler.

As a whole, it is hard to disagree with Prisco's prediction for the game. After a successful transformation on offense last season, the Bears were expected to compete with the NFC's best in 2014. They have struggled to find any consistency this season, and it looked like they simply gave up against the Saints last week. Even though there are two games remaining this season, it is hard to imagine that the Bears will have much to play for this week or next.

Record/statistical information provided via email from the Chicago Bears or NFL.com.

Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Follow @MattEurich