The Bears have reached a new low after a seventh straight loss. And it’s not just the extension of a losing streak. It’s how it happened. The Bears were excited and brimming with positive energy about Thomas Brown becoming the new head coach (albeit with an interim tag) after seeing him rev up the offense and command the locker room in a way that had been missing under Matt Eberflus.

The practice week went well. Even the pregame warmups looked crisp. Then kickoff happened, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan issued a master class in offensive play calling. He had calls and designs the Bears couldn’t handle over and again in a 38-13 rout, and then said publicly that he doesn’t want to go anywhere, even to a Chicago team in need of a dynamic offensive force at head coach. Count that as a double whammy.

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This latest event has sparked more vitriol, more questions about the future of a beloved franchise hoping for better. Let’s answer them in the latest edition of Bair Mail:

Mark Jenkins from Minooka, Ill.

If the Bears lose the rest of their games this season, will Ryan Poles be fired or is he the Teflon man?

Bair: The Bears season hasn’t gone well. That include a disappointing result following the Matt Eberflus firing. That loss makes it possible that the Bears could lose out, with three division games and the NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks on the schedule.

Will that impact Ryan Poles job prospects? I still don’t think that’s a thing. Despite the fact that team president/CEO Kevin Warren didn’t hire Ryan Poles as GM, I take him at his word that Poles will be the GM moving forward.

He said that in no uncertain terms not that long ago, and reversing field wouldn’t be a good look. While some of his long-term contracts and draft picks don’t look as good as they did a few weeks ago, we can’t be short-sighted here. Poles can’t live off the Bryce Young deal but he should be able to see it out and draft what could be three selections in the top 40.

He built the team wrong recently, with investment in skill positions and not enough quality along the lines. That’s a mistake that can be corrected this offseason, and Poles should (and probably will) be allowed to rectify.

Ronald F from Downer’s Grove, Ill.

What has happened to the TE in the Bears offense. Cole was a critical part in their 4 wins. There have been games lately where he is not even targeted.

Bair: That’s a great point, Ronald, one I haven’t been able to wrap my head around this season. The offense the Bears run values tight end play, as we’ve seen in several game this season. Cole Kmet isn’t on the elite level, but he’s in the pretty-freaking-awesome sphere and deserves to be heavily involved in a game plan despite the fact that the Bears have three legit receivers deserving targets and the fact that they live in 11 personnel.

Having Kmet go without a target in a game where George Kittle is torching folks using screens and innovative designs is baffling. Just look across the line of scrimmage to see how a tight end is used well. Kmet has to be more involved and he isn’t. I get that he’s an effective run blocker and pass protector and does so many things well, but he has to be more involved in the passing game.

Always the good soldier, Kmet explained his thoughts about the lack of targets in a Tuesday meeting with the media.

“My perspective on it is just to go out and do what I can in terms of whatever’s called on the field,” Kmet said. “…In terms of that stuff, we’re at where we’re at situationally. I’m just here to be the best teammate I can be and do whatever I can do on the football field. Whichever way the ball rolls, it rolls. And it is what it is. I’m a guy who wants to make plays with the ball in my hands, but, if that’s not my role for a certain play or a game or a series or whatever it is, I’m just going to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability.”

Tony Roman from Bartlett, Ill.

How can the Bears coaching staff improve the O-line , during the season. So we can keep Caleb protected, healthy, and productive in the last 4 games of the season?

Bair: Valid question, Tony. Part of it is giving Caleb Williams options to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Part of it is handling a four-man pass rush. I don’t have any problem with Chris Morgan as offensive line coach. I think he’s good at his job and as the run game coordinator. I don’t think the team’s investment on the line has been productive enough, especially on the interior. The Bears probably need a new center and a new right guard, and should use top selections to acquire them.

They’ll have to make a choice on Teven Jenkins, a quality left guard who will enter unrestricted free agency this offseason. He has trouble finishing games but he’s also really good. What is he worth on the open market? Nate Davis was a major mistake, so the Bears must get better there.

Now back to your question, Tony. The changes made this season should be schematic, and can help Williams get the ball out fast and deal with pressure better. And, in the future, the Bears should invest heavily in offensive lineman to protect Williams better in the future.

David Oetting from Fort Wayne, Ind.

I would like to say watching this game today that Tyrique Stevenson is not even playing in this game at all. …And I’m not real sure about Tremaine Edmunds and the money. We paid him because he is been absent the whole season. The Bears have multiple issues on both sides of the ball. Go get Sean McVay.

Bair: I’m going to use this topic to address a bigger point. Bears fans have been blaming coaching for what has gone wrong recently. Honestly, that’s a huge reason why this season has tanked. But we’ve been using a line of delineation that this team is super talented. Now that’s in some question. The contracts Ryan Poles has doled have been view favorably, but this losing skid has exposed some players, as David mentioned. They all aren’t great. Tyrique Stevenson and Tremaine Edmunds haven’t been great. Even Kevin Byard and Darrell Taylor haven’t been good of late. While this slide has called several player performances into account, it brings up a greater point that the Bears issues aren’t all coaching. They need personnel upgrades at more spots than originally thought.