Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Bears-Giants game at MetLife Stadium. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After a Thanksgiving Day victory over Detroit at Ford Field and a blissful, mini-bye week, the Chicago Bears went back on the road to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
The Bears sat pretty at 8-3 coming into this game having won three divisional games against the NFC North in 12 days, with a prime time beatdown of the Minnesota Vikings sandwiched between two wins over the Lions. And after the Bears took care of business in Detroit, the Bears watched on Sunday night as the Vikings all but buried the Green Bay Packers.
The Giants, on paper, have some talent but were 3-8 coming into today’s game and eliminated from playoff contention. But they’d given some teams trouble and played many tight games this year. They reminded me of the John Fox era Bears in the sense that they’re usually in the game but find ways to lose. That’s what bad teams do. But they had dangerous playmakers in Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, and Saquon Barkley (when he’s in space) to contend with. And the Bears were rolling out their backup quarterback, Chase Daniel, for the second straight game.
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I picked the Bears to win because they’re clearly the better team all around, even though I expected the rainy elements in East Rutherford to affect both teams.
It's supposed to be rainy and messy at MetLife Stadium. So I'm a bit concerned the elements will affect the passing game without an effective running game to fall back on. But what affects the Bears affects the Giants. And the Bears are better.
Prediction: Bears 23, Giants 13. https://t.co/IzZaZTe22g
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 30, 2018
In the end, the Bears shot themselves in the foot repeatedly and were stunned on the road in a demoralizing loss to the Giants at the Meadowlands. With a game coming up against the Rams next Sunday night, this was a game they needed. What’s up with the Bears playing bad football coming out of long breaks?
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below.
PRE-GAME
1. With rainy and soggy conditions expected in the Meadowlands, I do believe that this is the game where the Bears will finally make Jordan Howard a focal point of the offense. It’s not that I don’t trust Chase Daniel to execute the passing game — I do. But running the ball in these conditions, while generally predictable, should be effective. When the field conditions are susceptible to slipping, the offense has an advantage in that they know where they are going with the ball and the defenders have to cut and react. They’ll be slower doing so in today’s playing conditions.
2. Before the draft, I stated that I didn’t think Saquon Barkley was an elite runner (key word is runner) because of his decision making at the line of scrimmage. I thought he was a special athlete and special in space, but until he learned to avoid dancing at the LOS and start attacking holes, I thought he’d leave much of his potential unfulfilled. The first nine games of the year were what I expected. But the last two games, Barkley has done a much better job attacking holes at the LOS and being decisive with his runs, in addition to being impossible to tackle in open space. So I hope the Bears are consistent with their run fits and tackling today. It’s going to be important.
FIRST HALF
3. What an awful start. After Taquan Mizzell muffed the kickoff in the end zone AFTER signaling a fair catch, the Bears lost two on first down and then Chase Daniel threw a brutal pick-six to Alec Ogletree. Just like that, Giants up 7-0 after the Bears’ and game’s opening possession. As the Bears got the ball back on the kickoff, Mizzell barely got to the 10 yard line. A penalty wiped down a first down catch and run by Taylor Gabriel, and then a screen went nowhere. Punt. Simply brutal way to come out of a mini-bye week.
What a disastrous start.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 2, 2018
4. There’s seven minutes left in the first quarter and Daniel should have three interceptions already. One of which where Gabriel was wide open down the field and Daniel threw it somewhere else completely. Luckily, the INT was dropped. This is an awful showing so far. Luckily, though, the Bears decided to feed Jordan Howard the rest of the drive and he got them inside the five yard line. Then, a play-action pass to Adam Shaheen resulted in a touchdown to tie the game at seven. Relief to have a tie game again.
Welcome back, Jordan Howard and Adam Shaheen! We missed you guys.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 2, 2018
5. Kyle Fuller with a beautiful read of a telegraphed pass by Eli Manning resulting in an INT when the Giants were driving. Unfortunately, with the Bears near the red zone, Daniel gives it right back on his second INT to Alec Ogletree. It was a beautiful play from the linebacker, but Daniel had an EASY as hell touchdown to Tarik Cohen if he gets the ball another four or five inches higher. Bears come away with no points. Terrible.
6. Jordan Howard is having a very good game running the ball, showing the vision that made him elite his first two years in the league. His running and an absolutely sensational catch by Allen Robinson while being interfered with helped the Bears get down to the goal line, and then Akiem Hicks plunged in on fourth and goal for the touchdown. Yes, Akiem Hicks! Bears up 14-7. I absolutely love the aggressiveness and the play call. Give it to the largest dude!
AKIEM HICKS THE FRIDGE!!!
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 2, 2018
7. I don’t understand Matt Nagy’s use of a timeout towards the end of the first half. On third and forever, it seemed both teams were content on going to the locker room. Instead, Nagy called a late timeout, Barkley gained a ton of yards on an excellent run, and they converted a fourth down with a quick throw outside to get into field goal range. And then Aldrick Rosas kicked a 57 yard field goal to get the Giants to within four at 14-10 at halftime, though it feels like the Bears should be up by 20 points despite Chase Daniel’s brutal game. I don’t understand that at all. They just gave New York an opportunity at three points they had no business getting. Nagy will be questioned about that post-game I’m sure, and grilled about it if the Bears end up losing by three.
I don't understand that timeout from Nagy. Now the Giants are only down four and they get the ball after halftime.
But also, real talk, nobody ever misses kicks against the Bears. It's crazy.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 2, 2018
SECOND HALF
8. The way the first half started, so did the second half: Brutally. Saquon Barkley ran over the Bears for about 25 yards over a couple plays, and then New York ran a trick play with Odell Beckham Jr. finding Russell Shepard all alone in the end zone. And just like that, Giants are up 17-14 (instead of being tied at 14 like it should’ve been). Oh boy.
9. The Bears have no answers for the Giants’ offense in the second half right now. They are man-handling the defense up front. Barkley is gaining significant yards and they are protecting Manning very well. Bears in danger of losing this game. On fourth and goal, Manning found Beckham Jr. wide open (busted coverage) while going down and puts the Giants up 24-14. This is currently a disaster.
10. I was pretty wrong in my first Pre-Game Thought … Chase Daniel can’t execute this passing game after all. Just, wow. I hope folks appreciate what the Bears have in Mitch Trubisky after this game.
11. Tarik Cohen wasn’t down!!! Why did the refs blow that dead? And I get that it’s a tough one to challenge, but that should have been a touchdown! Instead, Chase Daniel decided to ruin a red zone opportunity with some awful decisions and throws and the Bears kicked a field goal instead. 24-17 Giants with about 9.5 minutes left. Time for the defense to step up.
12. Chase Daniel wrecked the Bears’ chances. The refs screwed the Bears’ chances. And the defense kept giving New York chances. Brutal loss. Reminiscent of Miami.
A repeat of the Dolphins' game. Bears shoot themselves in the foot. The refs also screw 'em. And the Bears can't stop 'em on defense. Ugly.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 2, 2018
13. How did the Bears recover the onside kick? What is happening?? How did they score? Oh my goodness.
14. I don’t have enough words for this game. But a tough loss after a spirited comeback. That was fun, though the result wasn’t. Really, really tough.
15. Let’s go Patriots. Also, Packers lost to the Cardinals at Lambeau Field. My goodness.
16. Next week, the Bears return to Soldier Field to take on one of the NFC’s and NFL’s elite in prime time: The Los Angeles Rams. This game was flexed to NBC’s Sunday Night Football a couple weeks ago, and pits one of the NFL’s best offenses against one of the NFL’s best defenses (except this stinker today certainly kills some of the sexiness of the matchup, honestly). This game will be used as a measuring stick for the Bears. Mitch Trubisky should be back for this game, and that should give the Bears’ offense a boost in spirit and personnel. I expect a tough, hard-fought game. But the Rams’ front four scares me and they’re battle tested. Bears lose a close one in front of another national audience.
Early Prediction: Rams 27, Bears 23.
