CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears competed for a while (thanks to some errors from the opposition), but then completely unraveled against the New England Patriots on Sunday, a week after the Bears’ defense forgot how to tackle in the second half of their implosion in Miami.
My main takeaway? This team just isn’t ready as yet. And Mitch Trubisky? Woof.
I tweeted my live, in-game reactions, thoughts, and observations during the game. Continue the conversation with me on Twitter @DhruvKoul. Enjoy. Kinda, I guess.
1. Opening drive for New England, an easy touchdown. The tackling was atrocious, as the Patriots took advantage of an aggressive Bears’ defense with misdirections and screens to march down the field. I tweeted about this right after the Miami loss, and tweeted the below during the week:
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Right again. https://t.co/W5PtQBCg2G
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 21, 2018
One drive in, the problems continued.
2. Bears’ offensive line got destroyed on their opening drive. They couldn’t block on the first two plays that gained four yards total on runs. And then the Pats brought pressure on each play after that (throwing plays). Mitch Trubisky converted a first down on a nice run on third down, but then three straight incompletions (under heavy pressure) forced Chicago to punt. Bill Belichick is going to send extra rushers to confuse / hurry Trubisky all game. The OL needs to be better with its assignments. They were lost on the opening drive.
3. The Bears’ offense through three drives has largely been the running game, and largely through Trubisky. What a beautiful run (albeit scary run) for a touchdown following Cordarrelle Patterson’s kick return fumble. When he went backwards, that was scary, but beautiful vision after he got away from the pressure to run it in. Trubisky playing well (overall) and composed against a tough defense for young QBs to face.
4. Bilal Nichols is a heck of a player already. He showed up big against Arizona before Josh Rosen’s fourth-down INT essentially helped put the game away. And then he just got Sony Michel to fumble the ball away. He’s been fantastic overall, and GM Ryan Pace found him in the fifth round this year. Fifth!
Michel also got hurt on the play, and it didn’t look good. Hoping he’s OK.
Bilal Nichols is a hell of a player already. Ryan Pace is brilliant in the later rounds.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 21, 2018
5. Following the Michel fumble, it was not a good series for Mitch Trubisky at all. He missed a couple of throws that he HAS to make, and then he made some awful decisions. He decided to throw it while being sacked and it was right to Dont’a Hightower, who almost intercepted it. And then he threw a pass while rolling right intended for OL Bradley Sowell, who was in traffic, and it went right through the hands of another Patriots’ defender. The Bears escaped, though, as Jordan Howard took the next snap into the end zone. But these kinds of plays cannot happen. Trubisky has made some great plays with his legs today, but has struggled mightily throwing it, mainly mentally.
Trubisky is still struggling to hit throws that he needs to make and making curious decisions. Patriots do a great job confusing young QBs, but some of these plays just can't happen.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 21, 2018
6. Poor coverage by the special teams on the following kickoff, as Cordarrelle Patterson made up for his fumble earlier by returning it 95 yards for a touchdown. To be fair, Chris Tabor’s unit has been more than solid for most of the year. Good blocking and a nice juke by Patterson enabled that return.
7. I’m ready to say that Leonard Floyd is a “not good” pass rusher until proven otherwise. He has opportunities against favorable matchups and just isn’t able to win. It can’t be all on Khalil Mack, or this defense won’t reach its potential.
Bears' pass rush doing nothing again. Big reason? Leonard Floyd continues to fail against his matchups; this time, against a backup tackle. Unacceptable.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 21, 2018
8. Halftime thought: The Bears have been largely outcoached today. They were outcoached last week. The game plan isn’t clear on offense: Why are non-pass-catchers running routes and why are you consistently throwing when Trubisky is struggling? And the game plan is largely flawed on defense. Why not take away the short stuff, especially given the pass rush isn’t close to getting home anyway? Bears need to adjust big time for the second half.
9. Good drive to open the second half for the Bears. A great run from Trubisky set up first-and-goal at the one. An illegal formation penalty on a TD run almost killed the Bears, as Trubisky was nearly intercepted on a fade on the next play (likely would’ve been a pick-six). But Mitch made a nice check to a screen to Cohen on third down as the Pats showed blitz, which resulted in a TD. That drive deserved a touchdown.
10. Special teams failed again. Pat O’Donnell had a punt blocked that the Pats returned for a touchdown. The Patriots have scored two special teams’ touchdowns today. The Bears have done a decent job of limiting Brady’s time on the field, but giving up multiple scores on special teams is back-breaking.
11. Awful ensuing drive from Trubisky resulted in an INT. The Pats finally caught one. This one seems just about over at the moment.
This might be the worst game throwing the ball I've ever seen from Trubisky.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 21, 2018
12. Trubisky underthrew a wide open Anthony Miller for what would have been a touchdown. The defender Jonathon Jones made an excellent, one-handed play for another INT. The special teams has been poor today, but Trubisky has lost this game for the Bears by playing a horrible game. I’m not writing him off, but I have serious questions as to whether he’s the guy.
13. Following drive, terrible defense by the Bears, both play calls from Vic Fangio and tackling effort from the players. Touchdown Pats to seal the game.
14. The reality is, these Bears just aren’t ready. They got soundly beaten in every phase by the class of the NFL. At home. I’ll let this tweet say it all about today.
Bears were out-coached thoroughly today. Special teams was poor, and Trubisky was awful. Deserve to lose.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 21, 2018
15. Amazing four-minute offense by the Patriots to salt the game away. They just straight up ran it down the Bears’ throats. And this is without their #1 rusher (Michel) or one of their starting linemen. Epic football, and something the Bears’ defense just can’t have.
16. Wow. Despite everything, the Bears ended one yard short.
17. The Detroit Lions just torched the Miami Dolphins. In Miami. That loss looks even more awful for the Bears right now.
18. The Bears are 3-3 and in fourth place in the NFC North now. That’s how competitive this division is. They’re still very much alive in the playoff race for the time being, but they have to bounce back soon and get back to playing the type of football defensively that they did Weeks 1-4. And Trubisky needs to not suck as awfully as he did today. It’s been a rough couple of weeks.
19. The New York Jets come to Soldier Field next week. They’re an interesting team with a damn solid defense and some playmakers on offense. This game is going to come down what Trubisky does and what Sam Darnold does. I expect a defensive slug-fest for the most part. The Bears are a better team, but I’m wondering how they’ll play after a tough game against the class of the NFL. Also, while I don’t think Darnold is that good, I actually trust Trubisky less at the moment, even at home.
Early Prediction: Jets 20, Bears 10.
