The Chicago Bears operated professionally throughout the week in London. They arrived early to give players a chance to acclimate to the time zone difference. Players got a chance to stay loose and enjoy the attraction of one of the most famous cities in the world. By contrast, the Jacksonville Jaguars arrived on Friday morning because they chose to leave later in the week and got delayed by Hurricane Milton. Players had no time to enjoy the sights or adjust to the time difference. When Andre Cisco and his teammates took the field, it became apparent right away the Bears were ready for them.
After a quiet first quarter, the floodgates opened in the second. Chicago put up over 200 yards and two touchdowns in 15 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Jaguars safety was helpless watching rookie quarterback Caleb Williams slice through them for almost 300 total yards and four touchdown passes. When the carnage was over, the Bears had won 35-16. The final score didn’t feel that close, too. Cisco admitted after the game that it felt like guys quit going into the half.
“Yeah, it was really bad. I just felt like there was – how should I say this – a lot of quit … In a situation like that, you can feel when we’re playing as one, and when we’re not. And it felt, very early in the game, maybe out of halftime, that we weren’t playing as one … We’re laying our bodies on the line. Guys got to understand that when you’re going out there, you’re really playing for your brother. You’re putting guys in vulnerable positions, whether that’s physically or just from a career aspect. Take care of each other when we’re out there, at the least. Even if things start to get bad.”
Andre Cisco saw a Bears team that was better motivated.
They played with more effort and intensity for most of the afternoon. There was also a greater emphasis on limiting mistakes. Jaguars receivers dropped several passes throughout the game. Too many penalties were committed. It was a poor operation. Yet another reminder that head coach Doug Pederson might be on his way out in the near future. Don’t forget team owner Shad Khan has strong business aspirations in London. It is why his team now plays two games there. Getting humiliated like that might’ve been the final straw.
If so, it will be the latest in a string of head coaches the Bears have helped get fired in recent years. Maybe Andre Cisco and others should be grateful. It is clear the locker room has a glaring disconnect. There is no unity. No healthy culture. Chicago is the exact opposite. Guys play for each other. They’re unselfish and strive to be better. Credit must go to head coach Matt Eberflus for this environment. The Bears are finally yielding the fruits. Making the Jaguars quit on their “home” turf was extra sweet.
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@jmscooby – I’d have to agree with that. Fields will likely only be a great runner for a few more years unless he’s very lucky, if that is what you’re alluding to.
By comparison, Rodgers has lasted until the smoke-ables have rotted his mind at the edges.
@Tred. I am a big fan of that, too. I’m glad he is a scrambler and not a runner. Too many chances to catch a knee to the helmet.
@jmscooby – I’m worried about sacks because I worry about Williams. I don’t want him to get hurt, or turn into David Carr v2.0.
I believe in supporting our QBs, and I hope the team does, too.
@BearDownTX — Your Amegadjie-Wilson-Edmunds “contest” update is in — for the first 6 games of the 2024 season. __________ According to PFF: Kiran Amegadjie (9 NFL snaps) 1 RBlk; 8 PBlks OFF ▪︎ RBLK ▪︎ PBLK ▪︎ 62.0 ▪︎ 60.6 ▪︎ — 69.0 Payton Wilson (174 NFL snaps) 7.4% missed tackle rate. DEF▪︎ RDEF ▪︎ TACK ▪︎ PRSH ▪︎ COV 65.8 ▪︎ 68.6 ▪︎ 76.6 ▪︎ 71.4 ▪︎ 59.1 61 Run defenses; 9 Pass rushes; 104 Coverage; 2 Pass rushes. 21 Tackles; 4 Assists; 0 Sack; 0 Hit; 0 Hur; 0 Bat; 0 Pressures; 2 Misses; 10 Stops. Payton Wilson… Read more »
Tred, I completely agree about sacks, but it looks more like running plays that went for minus 1 yards vs 8 to 15 yard losses. I’ll take that as progress. Sacks are drive killers, I say it all the time.