Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the 49ers-Bears game at Soldier Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears entered Week 8 at a crisis point. After an emotional road win in Las Vegas buoyed the Bears to a 3-2 record, they lost two straight to NFC heavyweights.
First, they lost at home to the Green Bay Packers where Aaron Rodgers declared his ownership of the franchise. And then they got blown out in Tampa Bay, a massive revenge game for Chicago’s surprising 2020 upset of the Buccaneers. The Bears dropped to 3-4, and then head coach Matt Nagy announced he tested positive for COVID-19.
Enter the San Francisco 49ers. Another disappointing NFC team which has lost four straight games, they came into Chicago today looking to get their season back on track against a similarly desperate team without their head coach.
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I usually release a pregame thread the Friday before a Bears game.
But this 49ers-Bears game is simple.
1. Stop SF's run game / tackle.
2. Generate *any* passing offense.That's it. Those are the keys.
Until the Bears can prove #2, though…
Prediction: 49ers 20, Bears 17
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 29, 2021
The storylines are fun for this one. Obviously you’ve got the Jimmy Garoppolo returning to Chicago (suburban Arlington Heights native) to play against his childhood team. He, of course, beat the Bears in 2017 in his first start for the 49ers which came at Soldier Field.
And then you’ve got spicier story of Justin Fields and Kyle Shanahan. If you recall the 2021 predraft process, the 49ers traded up to the #3 overall pick well before the draft. Rumors circled for months about whom they coveted. At Fields’ pro day, a picture of a smiling Fields and Shanahan went viral.
Alas, San Francisco took Trey Lance, and Fields ended up in Chicago.
Think Fields feels like he has something to prove against the organization — and coach — that passed on him?
This game overall was critical for the Bears’ future this season, and for coach Matt Nagy. Win against a beatable opponent and home, get to 4-4, and live to fight another week. Lose… and the season effectively ends — and you could essentially start drafting Nagy’s pink slip, despite his absence for this game.
Interested to see how the desperate Bears respond tomorrow against a similarly desperate opponent.
Regardless of the result, Matt Nagy is in a lose-lose situation from a PR standpoint. https://t.co/Vhny4vdhG6
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 30, 2021
In the end, the Bears imploded in the second half, with no answers on DEFENSE (!), to lose a brutal NFC conference game at home to the similarly roughed up 49ers. This game should just about do it for their season in terms of contention. And it’s likely the true beginning of the end for Matt Nagy and this regime.
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 Bears are without Matt Nagy and star EDGE Khalil Mack today. Those are devastating losses for this team — especially Mack. This game figures to be low scoring and all about stopping the run / TOP. The Bears need Mack for that. However, the 49ers are banged up, too. This figures to be a battle to the very end of exhausted, desperate, “hanging by a thread” teams. Best of luck to Chris Tabor — the special teams coordinator — who will serve as acting head coach for the Bears.
Akiem Hicks is back. That's huge for this matchup. https://t.co/f1bBNlwQdq
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
2. The Bears’ defense lost Eddie Jackson on the second play of the game to what appears to be a hamstring injury. He limped off the field, favoring his right leg. That’s a big loss for the Bears’ secondary, no matter how many jokes Jackson is a part of amongst Bears fans. Luckily, Robert Quinn helped blow up San Francisco’s opening drive with a TFL and drawing a hold against Trent Williams. Joey Slye then missed his FG attempt wide right.
Robert Quinn came to play after a break on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
49ers go empty on the first drive, though. Robbie Gould's replacement goes wide right.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
The Bears’ first offensive possession featured some promise, but penalties killed it. A hold on James Daniels on a big Khalil Herbert run set it up, and then a bad set of penalties on a successful screen (!) pass forced a FG attempt. At least Cairo Santos was good.
Cairo Santos shows how it's done as Robbie Gould returns to Soldier Field.
3-0 Bears.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
3. After the 49ers answered on a quick response with a field goal — after EJax’s replacement, Teez Tabor, dropped a gift-wrapped INT — the Bears went on a methodical drive from their own 25-yard line to punch it into the end zone. A beautifully balanced drive — with Khalil Herbert and Cole Kmet the catalysts. Fields bootlegged left and threw to Jesse James for a TD to wrap that drive. A thing of beauty from the Bears, and they’re up 10-3.
Justin Fields to Jesse James for a TD — just like training camp.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
The offense looks efficient today. It’s been in rhythm, on time, and ahead of the chains for the most part — minus those first drive penalties. It’s been a clean and fun operation to watch through two drives.
4. The Bears are clearly missing Khalil Mack today. Jimmy Garoppolo has plenty of time to survey the field — Chicago is not pressuring him enough. The Bears are lucky, though, that Robert Quinn returned today and has been able to impact several plays. This could’ve been a lot uglier without him. Let’s see if the Bears try to manufacture any pressure as this game progresses. Getting Jimmy G uncomfortable is important.
Bears are missing Khalil Mack a lot today. Jimmy G has had all day on several plays. They're fortunate Deebo Samuel has a case of the drops.
Joey Slye's kick is good and it's 10-6, Bears.
The 49ers' last 30 points against the Bears have all come courtesy of field goals.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
5. Another very efficient and strong drive for the Bears before halftime — taking over eight minutes off the clock on a 16-play drive. But a swing screen to the flat on a third down was a bit of a poor choice to kill that particular drive. But the Bears are up 13-6 with just over a minute remaining, and Chicago gets the ball after halftime.
Not a fan of that third-down call.
But Cairo is good again. 13-6.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
6. Man, Kindle Vildor has been been torched today. He’s been the victim on several third-down slants/drag/crosser routes to extend drives for San Francisco, and then inexplicably let Deebo Samuel beat him deep at the end of the first half to set up SF at the 4-yard line. That just can’t happen. Can’t help but wonder if one of the Bears’ safeties was out of position…
Luckily, Garoppolo missed Samuel on the goal line and the 49ers only managed a field goal. That has to be cleaned up in the second half.
Lucky it didn't cost the Bears four extra points.
Bears take a 13-9 lead into halftime.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
7. Very good drive coming out of halftime by the Bears. Justin Fields delivered some very nice throws, including a clutch 3rd and 12 to Marquise Goodwin to split two defenders. He also had an incredible spin move on Fred Warner to get out of a sack.
Unfortunately, the drive stalled inside the 10. But the Bears go back up by a touchdown. While more points would’ve been great there, good job to keep the pressure on San Francisco.
That was a very good drive coming out of the second half. Bummer that Cole Kmet couldn't haul that in … probably should've been a hold?
Either way, Cairo Santos does his thing. 16-9, Bears.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
8. Anddddd a brutal sequence there right afterwards. After a San Francisco penalty made it 3rd and 20, the 49ers took a WR screen 83 yards to set up for a touchdown. Absolutely back-breaking for a team that was working so hard for control in this game. That changes the dynamic of this game entirely, takes the crowd out of it, and puts pressure on the home team to keep up the scoring.
That's about as back-breaking as it gets. Had a chance for a big stop and to take two-possession control of this game.
Instead, it'll likely be tied here soon. And that gives significant confidence to what's been a reeling 49ers offense.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, after a Jimmy G keeper on 3rd and Goal at the 2 went for a touchdown, Joey Slye missed the XP, so the Bears retain a slight lead. They need points here… time for the offense to pick up the defense.
Not so fast! Slye missed the XP.
Bears up 16-15.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
9. This game has shifted immensely. After picking up two first downs, Khalil Herbert got injured on the ensuing possession, recovering a fumble on a bad pitch play. It appeared he got kneed in the head and hurt his neck — he had to leave the game. The Bears then promptly had to punt.
And then SF just ran roughshod on the Bears — beautifully balanced — pass and run. The Bears have no answers. And it’s 23-16, San Francisco.
Unless Robert Quinn just straight up *can't* rush against the RT, I don't understand why they're wasting his prowess against Trent Williams.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
49ers just willing themselves ahead.
What a performance.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
10. What a response by the Bears! Justin Fields almost single-handedly willed the Bears to a touchdown on the ensuing drive — lucky to not be picked a few plays before. On 4th and 1 near the red zone, Fields was dead to rights going to his right, and then he cut back left and outran the entire SF defense for a touchdown. An incredible play.
Unfortunately, Cairo Santos missed the XP and the Bears are still down one, 23-22. That’s a brutal missed kick.
Cair-oh, no. Bears still down by one.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
Gut check time for the Bears.
11. Nope. It took five plays. Five. 30-22, 49ers. Brutal from the defense.
And Jimmy G scores another one.
Maybe Sean Desai needs Matt Nagy on the sideline. https://t.co/ZmHrHAPGAK
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
12. Bears punt on the next drive and the defense promptly gives up a ~40-yard play to Elijah Mitchell on first down. Absolutely unreal. A devastating loss for the Bears who fall to 3-5 and a whole lot of ground to make up in the NFC. It’s very likely game-set-match on the season, given the number of NFC losses they have now.
This has been an embarrassing second half for Sean Desai's unit. That'll do it.
Bears fall to 3-5 and the season has pretty much slipped.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 31, 2021
13. All Jimmy Garoppolo does is beat his hometown Bears — especially at Soldier Field. Credit to him, he’s played very well today, and taken all the easy yardage the defense has given him. Good for him.
14. This probably *should* make the Bears sellers before Tuesday’s deadline. They have assets they can afford to sell off and look to the future while building draft capital. But it’s not like the McCaskeys to wave the white flag like this. So we’ll see. The Bears might have to carry a lot of deadweight through to the end of the year.
15. The rest of this season is certainly about Justin Fields’ development (as much as they can), and the Bears head to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers next Monday night. Who really knows about that game. It could be as ugly as most of their prime time performances have been lately. It feels like the true beginning of the end for Matt Nagy and this regime after such a brutal loss at home to San Francisco.
Early prediction: Steelers 24, Bears 16.
