Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations on the Bears-Titans game at Nissan Stadium. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chicago Bears had a pretty tumultuous week entering today’s game against the Tennessee Titans. After an implosion cost them a win at home over New Orleans and dropped them to 5-3, the Bears had a significant bout with injuries and COVID-19, especially on their offensive line.
James Daniels was already out. Bobby Massie got injured. Cody Whitehair was injured and then tested positive. Sam Mustipher got injured. Jason Spriggs tested positive. Lachavious Simmons tested positive. I mean, WHEW.
Here was my pregame thread:
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Thread: A few thoughts on Bears-Titans…
1. Injuries and COVID-19 have suddenly decimated what was a relatively healthy Bears team. And now, they're facing a tough Titans team on the road. There's almost a "We understand!" feeling attached to this game if the Bears lose.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 6, 2020
With such a crazy OL trotting out in Nashville, I expected the Bears to (need to) tweak their offense to protect the OL and protect Nick Foles. The Bears’ offense needed to compete today to protect the defense against a very good Titans offense. While the Titans were rightful favorites, and my expectation was the Bears were going to lose, it did give way for some potentially interesting football in the Music City.
In the end, the Bears looked worse on offense than was ever thought possible — even worse than their beatdown against the Rams — in an ugly, sad loss in Nashville.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations on the game below. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation. Enjoy!
Thoughts and Observations
1. (PRE-GAME) While there was much emphasis placed on the seemingly horrific state of the Bears’ OL, there was some interesting news to come out pre-game.
One more thing — looks like TE Cole Kmet is good to go. He was questionable with a groin injury that popped up mid-week. That's good news.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
Ridley being active thanks to Javon Wims’ suspension is an opportunity for him to contribute, and Artavis Pierce being active leads credence to the theory that the Bears will lean heavily on their running game today to protect the OL and Nick Foles. Also, Cole Kmet being active is super important — he’s their best TE.
From the Titans’ perspective, EDGE Jadeveon Clowney will miss the game, as will WR Adam Humphries and super field-position weapon Brett Kern.
2. Well, the Bears’ offense looked good on the first drive of the game — they moved the ball 40 yards into Tennessee territory, but got stuffed on a 4th and 1 to David Montgomery where Germain Ifedi missed a block. Since then, it’s been brutal:
Woof.
Another 3 and out. Only a matter of time before the Bears' defense flames out.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
The Bears’ offensive line is missing blocks, Nick Foles looks terribly overwhelmed, there isn’t much separation in the secondary. It’s all bad so far.
3. Hey, the Bears tried a fake punt and it worked! A snap that then got handed off to Barkevious Mingo (!!!!!) went for a first down on 4th and 2 (after another three-and-punt, initially). That was creative and well executed, and it worked.
Of course, though…
They have to punt anyway.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
4. The Titans went up 10-0 and on an absolutely beautiful throw and catch by Ryan Tannehill to AJ Brown. It was a third-and-short from plus territory, and Buster Skrine had pretty tight coverage on Brown. It was placed absolutely perfectly, and Brown made a great catch. The touchdown put the Titans up two scores despite Tannehill having just five completions in the first half and Derrick Henry averaging under three yards per carry.
Titans touchdown. It's over?
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
5. The Bears had a chance for some late-half momentum after the Bears’ defense pinned the Titans deep and Dwayne Harris returned the punt to near-midfield. However, two big penalties on the Bears and woeful execution by Nick Foles left the Bears leaving the field empty-handed.
Penalties and… oh, forget it. https://t.co/PJhTKTw8ij
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
The Bears are down 10-0 at halftime and have looked absolutely atrocious offensively. The offensive line can’t block, Nick Foles looks miserable and uncomfortable, and it feels like the Titans have 15 defenders on the field on each play. The Titans were allowing 62+% of third downs to be converted before this game. The Bears were 0-6 in the first half.
Abysmal.
6. Second half — the Bears start on offense. How is this for a series of events?
— Fumbled snap, loss of three.
— Beautiful deep ball to Anthony Miller for 34.
— Almost INT for Foles.
— Two plays that pick up 9 yards, setting up 4th and inches.
— Opting to go for it. False start.
— Opting to go for it anyway. Another false start!
— Necessary punt.
Bears go for it anyway on 4th and 6 and nope! False start.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
I have no words, folks. Neither does Darnell Mooney — the rookie WR visibly showed his frustrations on the field after the second false start.
7. And a fumble by David Montgomery on a 3rd and 13 screen in Titans’ territory is returned for a touchdown to make it 17-0 Titans. For fun, the Bears were called for an illegal motion on the play that was declined.
Fumble returned for a TD.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
Is this rock bottom? I think it’s rock bottom.
8. Whew.
Bears with first and goal at the Titans' 4.
And then second and goal after a busted play.
And then third and goal after a run that did nothing.
And then fourth and goal after a dropped pick.
17-3.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
9. After the Bears could only a muster a FG there, the Titans ripped off a long drive that chewed up a good bit of the clock and scored a back-breaking touchdown to put the Titans back up by three touchdowns. 24-3. That’s the “wear you down” offense I was expecting the defense to succumb to much earlier — honestly, credit to the defense for holding this long.
Touchdown and it's over.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
10. Ryan Nall touchdown. It’s 24-10. I really wish the Bears used tempo earlier in this game. I don’t understand why they’re averse to doing so!
11. The Bears got a quick stop on defense to open the door to the slightest bit of hope, but then, Anthony Miller fumbled on the first play of the Bears’ offensive series to seal the loss. I don’t blame him for trying to get an extra something, but it’s a rough ending, regardless.
Fumble by Miller and that'll do it. The Bears are 5-4 and coming off an offensive performance that might be worse than the disaster in LA.
But don't worry, it gets worse: The Bears are back in prime time next Monday night. Sorry, America!
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 8, 2020
Why am I calling this a season-wrecking loss? Because I don’t know how much longer Matt Nagy can keep this team together. The offense is broken, his players look frustrated, and at 5-4, they’ve lost every bit of good will from their 5-1 start. The offensive ineptitude is fireable, even with Covid-19 “excuses” built in. I expect the Bears to implode from here.
12. The Bears host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football next week. A Bears prime time game after this woeful offensive showing in Nashville is not what Bears fans (or America) really needs. The Vikings are riding relatively higher, though, after beating Green Bay on the road last week and dismantling Detroit this afternoon. Could the Vikings come into Soldier Field (their house of horrors, especially in prime time) and steal a win? At this rate, you can probably bet on it.
Early prediction: Vikings 30, Bears 13.
