Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Bears-Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
TAMPA, Fla. — The Chicago Bears had a rough afternoon last Sunday. Not only did they lose again to the rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field, but Aaron Rodgers announced his ownership of the franchise, unbeknownst to the McCaskey Family. (It was just awesome and hilarious to hear Rodgers shout that to the Soldier Field crowd after his TD run.)
That loss dropped the Bears to 3-3. And they faced a *rough* follow-up matchup today in Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Thread: Thoughts on the upcoming Bears-Buccaneers game.
1. Even with Tampa's list of key injuries that mirrors some of the Bears' projected absences, I don't see any possible way how this game doesn't end with the Bucs blowing out the Bears.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 22, 2021
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The Bears did defeat the Bucs in prime time at Soldier Field last season. The upset ended with Brady famously losing track of downs on the Bucs’ final drive; this, after a wild Bears drive, highlighted by Nick Foles’ beautiful toss to David Montgomery on third down, set up a game-winning field goal by Cairo Santos. That loss to the Bears spurred the Bucs “figuring it out” en route to their Super Bowl championship.
You bet the Bucs were thinking revenge all week. Brady doesn’t let slights like this go. He remembers. And you just knew he was going to come out firing, looking to leave no doubts against Chicago this time around. And as highlighted in the thread above, this matchup was just all-around bad for the Bears.
In the end, the Bears ran into the buzzsaw everyone expected, getting absolutely torched to a 35-3 halftime deficit en route to a brutal demolition in Tampa.
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
1a. (PREGAME) — Before the game, the Bears put RT Elijah Wilkinson on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This is his second stint on the list, and it means the Bears will be without their new starting RT (after Germain Ifedi’s injury) against that ferocious Bucs front. Arlington Hambright was flexed up from the practice squad. Just not good.
The #Bears placed OL Elijah Wilkinson on Reserve/COVID-19 and have flexed OL Arlington Hambright from the PS to the active roster. https://t.co/2SfboGJKwJ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 24, 2021
Meanwhile, the Bucs will have Jason Pierre-Paul today against the Bears’ depleted OL. Here’s hoping Justin Fields ends up okay health-wise after today’s game.
1b. (PREGAME) — It’s raining at Raymond James Stadium before kickoff, and the forecast has rain possible throughout the afternoon.
UPDATING: It is raining in Tampa.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 24, 2021
While usually the weather elements can even things out game-plan wise, it usually puts higher emphasis on the running game and ball security. Given the Bucs’ run defense is their strength… you see where I’m going with this?
2. The Bears, for some reason, chose to take the ball after winning the toss.
So instead of going down 7-0 and *at least* getting the ball after halftime, they'll still go down 7-0 and let the Bucs get it after halftime instead. https://t.co/isSrgR8bap
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
It went about as you’d expect. A first down pitch got nothing. Fields was sacked on second down, with his fumble recovered by Khalil Herbert, and they proceeded to punt. They gave up a 43-yard return on the punt, and then the Bucs scored two plays later.
Bucs up 7-0 extremely quickly, and it was too easy for them.
3. After a beautiful run by Khalil Herbert for 29 yards got the Bears in Bucs territory, Cole Kmet dropped a perfect throw on third down to kill another drive. If he’s going to be the starting TE, he *has* to make those plays. It’s inexcusable.
Drop by Cole Kmet ruins a drive.
This is the type of nonsense the Bears can't seem to escape from.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
Luckily for the Bears, Roquan Smith is incredible and made sure it wouldn’t hurt the Bears on the ensuing drive. He snuffed out a screen on a Bucs third down and tackled Gio Bernard for a loss. He got there very quickly.
FWIW, on the play prior, Eddie Jackson had a chance for an interception in deep plus territory. It was probably thrown faster than his reaction speed, though. Tough play, but would’ve been a big one.
Huge play by Roquan to get the Bears off the field. Great tackle.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
Doesn’t matter, though, because Fields was picked three days later on what seems to be a typical Fields play lately. Great escape, terrible throw.
I don't think I blame Fields' decision, but I do blame the throw. It was awful. That has to be to the outside.
Rookie mistakes or not, they're bad mistakes.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
And of course, a few plays later, it’s 14-0.
That TD throw from Tom Brady was precision at its finest. Unreal.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
4. It’s the end of the first quarter, and it’s 21-0 Bucs. Justin Fields was sacked/stripped again, and the Bucs went right down the short field for another TD. Brady is two TD passes away now from being able to put up four fingers in a mockery of last year.
5. An update: Three fumbles (two lost) and an interception in 1.5 quarters of football. This is a big problem, folks. Yes, the Bears’ OL has been bad, but Fields is looking overwhelmed and not protecting the football. I get everyone wants to stick up for their QB, but he is complicit in some of this and needs to improve.
Don’t get me wrong, it appears the Bears have no chance this afternoon, down 21-0. But Fields is really struggling himself.
6. The Bears had a decent drive going after Ryan Succop missed a field goal… until the red zone. The Bears had 4th and goal at the Bucs’ 9 yard line and elected to kick the FG. That made it 21-3. Khalil Herbert was outstanding on that drive.
Bears take that missed FG by Succop and look transformed, at least for one drive… until the red zone.
Still, some success.
21-3.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
Against Tom Brady, though, that usually doesn’t pay off. And the next drive proved it, as Brady hit Mike Evans on back-to-back perfect throws — beating Jaylon Johnson on both — as it resulted in a quick TD.
That was easy.
28-3.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
Brady is up to three TD passes.
It’s every bit as ugly as feared, folks.
7. And Brady gets his fourth TD pass of the half. It’s 35-3 at halftime. Thirty-five to three.
35-3.
Brady got his fourth TD before halftime.
This is amazing.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
I wanted to watch Fields today while the game was close. See how he did against the pass rush. He has struggled immensely. Not everything is his fault today, but he has failed his own test(s) today. Unfortunately, he’s not looking like a premier prospect so far.
8. Halftime thoughts:
The Bucs were a terrible matchup for the Bears, on all fronts. None of this is really surprising.
The Bears' defense has been about as OK as you could expect against this juggernaut.
And sorry, Bears fans, I know the offense situation, but Fields has been quite disappointing.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
There really might not be much left to analyze from this one. The Bears’ press conferences tonight and Nagy’s tomorrow will be very interesting.
9. Bears’ first drive of the second half was going well, until it stopped. A holding call set up a 3rd and 12 near the Bucs’ red zone, and then Fields throw to Mooney went off his fingertips and was picked. No points for the Bears on what was looking like a solid drive.
Even on a drive where things go well, whew.
The Bears haven't just shot themselves in the foot today, they've emptied the chamber and reloaded over and over and over.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
The positive on that drive, though, was Fields was blitzed several times and he reacted much better than he had earlier in the game. Maybe some progress to build on.
10. Bilal Nichols was ejected from the game for throwing a punch in the red zone. This is the third time it’s happened under Matt Nagy. I’d expect some significant discipline for Nichols. Meanwhile, it’s a contract year for him… that is not something he can afford to do moving forward.
11. Whew.
Fields has two "his fault" INTs against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL.
It has to be at least a bit concerning for even the most optimistic Bears fan.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 24, 2021
It’s really, really ugly, folks.
There’s not much more that needs to be analyzed.
12. The Bears host the San Francisco 49ers on Halloween next Sunday. While there may have been some optimism in this game being winnable before the Tampa disaster, I’m not sure how anyone can have any sort of confidence going into a game against a tough, physical team like the 49ers. Justin Fields has a chance to show Kyle Shanahan he made a mistake passing on him at #3 overall, but I don’t think that’ll happen.
Early prediction: 49ers 26, Bears 10.
