“I’m a great play designer and I’m superior to most at calling plays! And, that’s why I am naming Nick Foles our new starting quarterback!”

That’s not what Matt Nagy said at Monday’s media conference when he announced Foles is indeed the Chicago Bears starting quarterback, but I got the sense that’s what he was thinking.

Let’s face it. Mitch Trubisky, the high-investment Ryan Pace draft pick, was hampering Nagy’s offense. And, while the coach himself may not have helped Trubisky with some questionable play calling (at least from my perspective), Nagy, though, deserves to have the quarterback of his choosing run the offense that he’s designed.

Throughout training camp and into the season, Nagy was careful with his praise of Trubisky. He clearly was seeing what Trubisky wasn’t… opportunities.

At halftime of the Falcons game Sunday, Nagy and his coaching staff talked about possibly making a change. They decided to trot Trubisky out for the start of the third quarter. And, then this happened.

Not seeing the Falcons defender in a position to make the easy pick is one thing, failure to see a wide open receiver downfield is another.

Another mistake that broke Trubisky’s back, to bastardize a phrase.

In case you can’t see the wide open Allen Robinson…

The decision to pull Trubisky was entirely justified. The original sin was drafting Trubisky in the first round (that’s not hindsight, see here for my rant on the choice). And, once the decision was made the team did everything in their power to make things work with investments into the offensive line, playmakers, and a coaching staff with a pedigree of developing quarterbacks. (You can argue that some, or all of those investments were poor choices, nonetheless they were made.)

Trubisky failed to get the job done. He had moments. Great moments. But, as Matt Nagy said he was “consistently inconsistent.”

Making a quarterback change more urgent is talk that some players had become frustrated with Trubisky’s performance. A source told the Barroom that with so much on the line – playoffs, contracts, and team morale – how long would the team’s decision-makers tolerate mistakes at the quarterback position when other position players were held to a higher standard and, in fact, were being singled out to the media for their mistakes.

Some comments made by players after the game might have clued us into that frustration. Take for example what Akiem Hicks said when asked if he spoke to Trubisky after he was lifted, “That’s above my pay grade…”

Full quote here:

How big of a gamble is benching Trubisky for a career back-up in Foles?

I’m laying heavy money that Foles will play much better than the former starter.

Here’s a prime example: On 4th down and six, a crucial moment in the attempt to come back and upset the Falcons, Nagy made a play call that he’s made for Trubisky several times in the past, but was rarely successful. An explosive play.

Instead of calling a higher percentage pass closer to the first down marker, Nagy called for a pass play that had the ball up in the air for 25 yards. Foles threw a dime.

Foles has had an up and down career. Last year in Jacksonville was rock bottom for him. But, it was Jacksonville. a bottom dweller franchise that’s had issues with all aspects of its organization.

But, we shouldn’t forget his successes. In his second year in the NFL, Foles threw 27 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

Four seasons later, he stepped in for an injured Carson Wentz and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. In his three postseason games, Foles notched six touchdown passes and only one interception.

There’s room here for some optimism.

And with Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Akiem Hicks approaching the downhill part of their careers the time to win is now and Foles gives the Bears their best shot.