Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Bears-Washington game at FedEx Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
LANDOVER, Md. — After a heart-stopping escape act in Denver last Sunday, the Chicago Bears evened their record to 1-1, despite the offense starting the season with back-to-back rather dismal performances. But in the NFL, you take a win, especially a road win, in any manner that you can — and last week it came off the right foot of rookie kicker Eddy Pineiro.
Fast forward a week, and the Bears traveled to the nation’s capital to take on Washington tonight on Monday Night Football. Another prime time game, another opportunity for the Bears to get their prime time spotlight monkeys off their backs, especially on offense.
This was a game the Bears absolutely had to have. With the NFC North going 3-0 collectively on Sunday, the Bears needed a win to keep pace in the division — that, too, with the Minnesota Vikings coming to Soldier Field next week. The Bears can’t afford to start 0-2 in the division with both losses coming at home, but that’s a topic for next week.
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In the end, in a game the Bears absolutely needed in front of a national audience, they rode a dominant first half performance and held on late to take their second straight game on the road.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts, and observations below. Enjoy!
Thoughts and Observations
1. The Bears were dealt a pre-game surprise when OT Bobby Massie was declared inactive due to a bout of vertigo. That’s a major loss on an offensive line that limited Von Miller and Bradley Chubb to zero sacks last week in Denver. Massie has been a revelation the last year plus, and losing him in a road game against a strong defensive front that includes Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, and Jonathan Allen is not ideal. Hopefully Rashaad Coward and/or Cornelius Lucas can adequately cover and not wreck the game plan.
On the bright side, kicker Eddy Pineiro is active and able to kick field goals (albeit certainly with a distance limit). Pat O’Donnell will handle kickoffs. Amazing how we were sweating the absence of a rookie kicker, huh?
2. Bears opened on offense after Washington won the toss and deferred. Mitch Trubisky and the offense were in a rhythm early, staying ahead of the chains and gaining a few first downs to get into opposing territory. But a missed connection on first down (should’ve been an easy throw) hurt them. A tackle for no gain on second down and a massive 14 yard sack on third down ruined the drive. Pat O’Donnell’s punt went for a touchback, so Washington opens at their own 20.
It’s unsettling that the Bears couldn’t recover from one play that broke their rhythm. It’s also clear that they weren’t fooled by any play action. Cornelius Lucas did not have a good opening series at RT. That’s a matchup to exploit for Washington.
3. Hello, Bears’ defense! On Washington’s opening possession, the Bears were bailed out on a drop on what would’ve been a first down, thanks to an excellent throw from Case Keenum. Next play, Keenum overthrows his receiver and it falls into the hands of former Green Bay castaway, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix! Pineiro nailed his XP try, so Bears are up 7-0.
Ensuing drive for WSH, Khalil Mack ended some lives to force a punt. The guy is absolutely unbelievable. While they forced a punt, a dumb holding penalty negated a great return by Tarik Cohen. Instead of at their own 39 yard line, they have it at their own 10.
4. All I can say about the Bears’ offense so far is this:
I really think the Bears should consider switching Cody Whitehair and James Daniels again. They were a much stronger team and unit last year in that alignment. Daniels is talented, but with the current alignment, teams are getting way too much interior pressure. And they’re committing so many penalties, it’s wild. They need to be better.
5. The Bears committed four accepted penalties in the first quarter (seven overall!). Awful penalties, at that. This team is supposed to be well-coached, and they’re not playing like it right now. Washington is driving as the first quarter ends thanks to two bad penalties on the drive, one of which wiped out a sack/strip and fumble recovery by the defense.
Still, the Bears escaped unscathed on that drive as Dustin Hopkins pushed a kick wide left. Bears still lead 7-0 early in the second quarter.
6. The Bears took the ensuing drive all the way down the field, methodically, and scored on Trubisky’s first touchdown pass of the season — a wide open lob to Taylor Gabriel. Trubisky made some good plays to keep the drive alive, and was aided on two egregious misses by Washington penalties. But this drive was all about Matt Nagy. He did everything he could to make it easy for Mitch there, and Tru largely delivered. Beautiful drive, excellent result. Bears lead 14-0.
7. Here’s the next 41 seconds of football for you, summarized here:
8. An absolute dime by Trubisky just before the half to Taylor Gabriel to put the Bears up 28-0. On third down and long, he rolled to his right in a collapsing pocket and fired off balance to Gabriel, who did a great job just getting his feet in. THAT was a big time throw and catch. That’s the kind of play we’ve missed this year from #10. He’s been throwing with more conviction today, let’s see if he is sparked by this success so far.
9. Washington gets a field goal to close the half, and the Bears are up 28-3 at halftime. Other than sloppy penalties, Chicago has been the stronger team all game (not surprising). They are starting to impose their will. They will need to continue with this intensity in the second half to ensure Washington doesn’t start to somehow climb out and ‘hang around’.
10. Can’t really even be mad about Eddy Pineiro’s first missed field goal of the season, wide right from 44 yards out. He’s clearly in pain and gutting out this game. I’m actually surprised Nagy let him try that FG.
11. Washington scores on the ensuing drive, strong throw by Keenum and a better catch by Terry McLaurin. That guy is going to be so good. They don’t convert on the two-point try, so Bears are up 28-9 with six+ minutes left in the third quarter. Here’s what the offense needs to do:
12. Well, Trubisky led a really strong drive down the field, and got picked off on the goal line. He underthrew Allen Robinson on the fade and Josh Norman picked it off. Instead of almost guaranteed points, Bears walk away empty-handed. Yeesh.
Meanwhile, Washington is driving with ease as the third quarter ends…
13. And they score a touchdown on fourth and goal. A pick play created a wide open receiver, and Keenum found him with Mack gunning for him. They don’t convert the two point try, so Bears are up 28-15 with 13 minutes left.
The defense was clearly playing a lot of soft coverage on that drive, but Washington executed well and scored on a 97 yard drive. Impressive work, actually. Bears need a drive on offense. Ideally, one that ends with points.
14. After a brutal three-and-out, Washington continued to nickel and dime this defense down the field, converting a fourth down on their side of the field! Bears had seemingly no concept of adjusting. But on a fourth down and short, the Bears knocked the ball out from Keenum and recovered it. Honestly, even at 28-15, it was a game saver.
15. Excellent job by Trubisky to go through his progressions and find a wide open Javon Wims for a critical third down conversion to keep the clock rolling. Big play.
Also, how lucky are the Bears to have David Montgomery? He is fantastic.
16. Eddy Pineiro is such a warrior. He drills a 38 yarder with under two minutes left to give the Bears a 16 point lead. He’s in pain and hobbling. Bears’ fans should love this guy.
17. Big win for the Bears as they take care of business on the road. Things got dicey late and they have some stuff they can correct from this game. But they did more than enough to win on Monday night.
18. The Bears welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field this coming Sunday, the Bears’ first home game since dropping the much anticipated opener to Green Bay. The Vikings’ rushing attack looks reborn with Dalvin Cook’s return, and he looks fantastic. Bears will have their work cut out for them against a divisional opponent. Expect a defensive slugfest, but with the way the Bears had no real answers for second-half-Washington, I am going to err on the side of caution in this one. Bears win a close one at home.
Early prediction: Bears 16, Vikings 15.
