Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Cardinals-Bears game at Soldier Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears breathed a *little* bit of life into their season on Thanksgiving Day. Cairo Santos’ 28-yard FG as time expired at Ford Field lifted the Bears to a 16-14 win after a tumultuous week for Matt Nagy and the entire organization.
Alas, after a mini-bye, the Bears prepared to take on the #1 seed Arizona Cardinals at rainy Soldier Field. And they got QB Kyler Murray and WR DeAndre Hopkins back today after missing three games… Needless to say, things weren’t promising heading into the game.
Thread: Some thoughts before Cardinals-Bears…
1. It's expected to be in the 40s and rainy at Soldier Field.
It'll be the first bona fide "weather game" of the 2021 season for the Bears, and I can't wait.
Football in the elements is awesome.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 3, 2021
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In the end, the Bears turned it over four times on four Andy Dalton interceptions (though only two were his fault), and the Cardinals blew out the Bears at rainy Soldier Field to kill off their playoff hopes and the Matt Nagy era.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. (PREGAME) — The good news is the Bears activated rookie OT Teven Jenkins for this game. The bad news is, the Bears were missing the following: Justin Fields, Allen Robinson, Marquise Goodwin, Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks and Mario Edwards Jr.
WHEW.
Just a stacked deck against the Bears today. Simple as that. The hope is the last remaining rungs on defense, Robert Quinn and Jaylon Johnson, can make it through the game. Same with the offensive line.
#Bears Friday injury report: pic.twitter.com/h8DhfxnlcS
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 3, 2021
The game plan for the Bears in the rain should be running the ball (a lot) and throwing RPOs/screens to counter Arizona’s dangerous pass rush. With Andy Dalton starting today, timing should be better than when Justin Fields has been out there. We will see how effective the Bears’ offense is and if they can possess the ball.
2. What a start for the Bears (sarcastic). Chicago started with the ball and Dalton threw an interception on third down — a terrible throw behind (and high) to Jakeem Grant which bounced off Grant and into the arms of the defender.
Terrible throw behind Jakeem Grant, who probably would've secured the first down.
Cardinals already in business.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
The Cardinals then went for it on 4th down — with Murray hitting Hopkins deep for a touchdown. 7-0 Cardinals. Quickly.
It’s already gearing up to be an ugly day, folks.
3. Oh no. The Bears used the running game to drive all the way to red zone. And then on 3rd down, Cole Kmet “dropped” a completion that turned into a 76-yard interception return to set up AZ on the Bears’ 16. Brutal, brutal. The Bears went from setting up 1st and goal to now facing a 14-0 deficit in a matter of seconds. Awful.
(Sure enough, AZ scored on a 3rd down scramble by Kyler Murray.)
And on third down, the Cardinals score another touchdown to put this game away in the first quarter.
Awful turn of events for the Bears.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
4. Very nice drive by the Bears to follow up a disastrous start. David Montgomery is a total star, folks. He is single-handedly keeping the Bears’ offense somewhat competitive.
Montgomery is on fire.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
Jakeem Grant made a nice catch on 4th and 8 to keep the drive alive, and Damiere Byrd caught a pass to convert a first down at the 1-yard line. Montgomery scored a touchdown a play later. Bears cut the deficit to 14-7.
Bears score a touchdown after a very nice drive.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
Naturally, the Cardinals marched right down the field (with ease) to score a touchdown of their own. An incredible catch by James Conner (and some awful tackling) saw him get in from 23 yards out. Arizona up 21-7 with 5:40 left in the second quarter. No signs of slowing down.
What an insane play by James Conner for a TD.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
5. While the “boo birds” have been out in force for some time, the “Fire Nagy” chants have now started at Soldier Field with a few minutes left in the first half. It’s going to be a miserable rest of the game for the Bears and Matt Nagy. The Cardinals are doing whatever they want.
6. Bears down 21-7 at halftime, and given the way that half played out, that Kmet drop-INT is the main reason they aren’t really competing with the Cardinals at halftime. A drive that would’ve ended in *some* points, instead resulted in an easy seven for the Cardinals. That’s at least a 10-point swing in a 14 point game.
A pathetic drop by Cole Kmet is the main reason why the Bears aren't hanging with the #1 seed at halftime.
Cardinals get the ball after halftime.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
Even if you think the Cardinals would have another touchdown in there on their own drives, it should be at least a 21-10, if not 21-14 game.
No, the Bears aren’t likely to win, but this shifts their entire game plan / make up in the second half. Tough stuff for a bad team.
7. After the Cardinals drove easily for a field goal to start the third quarter, the Bears went on a long, adventurous drive to punch in a touchdown. (Once again carried by David Montgomery, sandwiching a wild trick play to Jakeem Grant.)
Bears reach the end zone and they cut the deficit to two scores.
Interesting drive. David Montgomery carried them again.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
Bears down 24-14, near the end of the third quarter. Seems like too little, too late. But some fight on offense, at least.
Montgomery is truly a star.
Montgomery is insane.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
8. Man, what a brutal turn of events for the Bears. After forcing a Cardinals punt, the Bears got good fortune after a Dalton sack — as Pat O’Donnell was roughed up on the punt, giving Chicago new life at their own 30 yard line.
The next play, Andy Dalton’s pass was tipped at the line and picked off. But the Bears’ defense put up an impressive stand at the goal line to force a FG. Arizona is up 27-14, but Chicago is still alive.
If you’re counting, though, 17 points for the Cardinals off turnovers…
Prater's kick is good and the Bears are still within two scores.
Great job by the defense.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
9. Andy Dalton was picked off on a screen pass. And that should do it.
That's something else.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
(For good measure, Kyler Murray ran it in a couple plays later to put AZ up 33-14.)
10. It appears Matt Nagy might be calling plays again, too. Twitter’s reaction:
Matt Nagy might be calling plays again.
Bears fans: pic.twitter.com/jiG55Sox4q
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 5, 2021
Like, seriously. At this stage, who cares? The dude is getting fired. Let him go out his way.
11. Jakeem Grant with a very nice touchdown catch on 4th down to make it 33-22, Cardinals.
He is filling that Tarik Cohen role on offense a little bit late in the season here. He’s someone I’d like to see back on offense in 2022.
12. James Conner gets a first down as the Bears are burning timeouts and that’ll do it. Rough, rough loss for the Bears.
13. That about slams the lid on the Bears’ season. They go to Lambeau Field next Sunday night for a prime time showdown … er, “showdown” … against the Green Bay Packers. Justin Fields will likely be back for that one, so there may be something worth watching. Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears fired Matt Nagy after today’s humiliation at home, in Bear Weather, to a desert team.
Early prediction: Packers 37, Bears 17.
