Dhruv Koul shares his live, in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Packers-Bears game at Soldier Field with the NFC North title on the line. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
CHICAGO — Well, here we are. After a remarkable first 13 games of the 2018 season filled with sensational highs and devastating lows, the Chicago Bears took on the Green Bay Packers in their final 2018 regular season home game at Soldier Field today with a chance to win the NFC North title.
Yes, this is real. The Bears came in needing either a win over the Packers or a Minnesota loss against Miami to wrap up the division and secure a home playoff game with two games still remaining. Even if the Bears were to lose and the Vikings were to win today, a Washington loss would still clinch a Chicago playoff berth. What a time to be alive.
With Green Bay reeling at 5-7-1 and having fired their head coach mid-season, no matchup could’ve been sweeter for today’s potential results, especially after what happened in Week 1 — we all remember; I’m not going to rehash that here. And tough season or not, the Packers will always be the Bears’ measuring stick.
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Even with the Packers coming off a big win against Atlanta, the Bears came off an even bigger, prime time win over the NFL-best Los Angeles Rams to stamp their legitimacy for the rest of the league (even though it seems that some national media folks were still being complete idiots — namely, Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Deion Sanders).
Despite the who-knows-what-could-happen reality of this game, I thought the Bears would finally finish against this team and complete their regular season mission:
The Packers' plan will likely be to get the ball out quickly to neutralize the pass rush, like they did in Wk 1 (and like Miami and New England did). The difference: Bears tackle well this time. And Jordan Howard goes for 130.
Prediction: Bears 27, Packers 24. NFC North Champs. https://t.co/qqer2KQUg2
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 14, 2018
At the end of the final four quarters on the Bears’ regular season home schedule, the Bears are NFC North champions!!!!!!!!!!
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from today’s game at Soldier Field below…
PRE-GAME
1. How will Mitch Trubisky respond a week after an awful showing in his first game back from injury? Chase Daniel’s performance in New York made it clear the Bears missed Mitch. But Trubisky was nothing but a liability against the Rams. Sure, both QBs in that game were brutal, but if the Bears seriously expect to make a run in the playoffs, Trubisky needs to be AT LEAST average (consistently). Today’s game is a huge step for him in his development: A big game against your biggest rival, at home, with the division on the line. Something tells me the Bears will be in many such big games the next few years with the outstanding job Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy have done. Can Trubisky lead a complementary offensive unit to this outstanding defense?
On the bright side, Trubisky can’t be worse than he was last week. He really can’t. So that’s encouraging, right?
2. Please feed Jordan Howard. The Packers are without Kenny Clark today, another huge blow to their defensive line, and Howard had good success running the ball in Week 1, and last week against the Rams. This is a great opportunity to get him a huge game and keep Aaron Rodgers on the sidelines. Please take advantage.
3. A recap of what I stated in my game prediction above:
I called it before the Miami and New England games, so I'll do it again: I'm imploring Bears' fans to not expect the pass rush to bury Aaron Rodgers in the Soldier Field grass. Green Bay is going to get the ball out quickly. The Bears have to tackle. That's the key today. https://t.co/t3RAInr5yj
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 16, 2018
Also, a reminder of what could happen today:
It's crazy that in about six hours, there's a strong likelihood that the Bears will not only be playoff bound, but NFC North champions.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 16, 2018
FIRST HALF
4. I said it last week and I’ll say it again: I love the Air Raid Siren. I absolutely love it. The Bears haven’t been a team with a lot to cheer about for five years, and even early this year it seemed that Bears’ fans were cautiously optimistic. The Air Raid Siren has changed the complexity of the atmosphere at Soldier Field and revamped Chicago’s home field advantage. The noise level when the Packers were on offense on their first drive after the Bears opened and pinned them deep was deafening. Great to hear it.
5. Good start for the Bears. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Bears won the field position battle as they traded punts with Green Bay. On the next drive, Matt Nagy called a balanced selection of plays, and Jordan Howard ran patiently and with strength to move the ball down the field, resulting in a wide-open, 9-yard touchdown run. I pleaded for continued commitment to the running game, and Nagy has delivered so far. Great to see.
There is nothing better than watching the opposition have no answers for your running game. Literally nothing.
Love to see Jordan Howard stay involved and have success. He deserves it.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 16, 2018
6. So far, it’s what I expected from the Packers’ offense — getting the ball out quickly and into their playmakers’ hands is of the utmost important to them. They’ve used screens, swing passes and other quick concepts to neutralize the pass rush at various points, and it has worked, as the Bears’ tackling has been inconsistent. I called this earlier as being the key to the game. They need to be better.
Meanwhile, Jamaal Williams is doing a nice job filling in for the injured Aaron Jones, who left in the second quarter with a knee injury (questionable to return). He’s a tough runner with the football — the Bears need to disciplined and physical with their tackling.
7. It is ridiculous how often Khalil Mack gets held by offensive linemen without a call. It is absolutely unreal. David Bakhtiari got away with a blatant mugging in Green Bay’s own end zone that should’ve been a safety. My goodness.
8. I’m stunned that the Packers ran it on third and short from inside their own ten-yard line near the end of the first half. That’s the ultimate John Fox move. I get that Joe Philbin isn’t Mike McCarthy, but I can’t believe Rodgers didn’t audible there. I’m legitimately stunned.
9. The Bears made ’em play! Mitch Trubisky found Tarik Cohen (great catch), and then he outraced the defense down the sideline to score a touchdown before the half. The play was scary though — it looked almost exactly like the Benny Cunningham fumble into the end zone for a touchback like last year. It was even over the same pylon! But luckily, Cohen scored to put the Bears up 14-3. Huge to get points right there, especially with the Packers getting the ball back after halftime.
Also, holy fuck that Hail Mary attempt was close. Davante Adams was clear and had the ball in his hands — thank goodness for Eddie Jackson. Bears go into halftime up 14-3.
SECOND HALF
10. Bad sequence to start the second half. Awful, in fact. After the Packers marched into Bears’ territory, they got a field goal to cut the lead to 14-6. On the Bears’ ensuing drive, they handed off to Taquan Mizzell (why not Jordan Howard???) on third-and-short, and then elected to fake the punt by direct snapping to Benny Cunningham. He got stacked. Packers take over at midfield with a chance to tie the game, putting pressure on a defense that doesn’t need more of it.
11. And we’re tied. Holy hell, what a turn of events. For the likely Coach of the Year, this is a bad showing today for Matt Nagy.
12. Wow. Matt Nagy got WAY too cute again and Tarik Cohen fumbled in the Wildcat. On third-and-one. GIVE. IT. TO. JORDAN. HOWARD. A great drive foiled with no points, giving it back to the Pack. Awful coaching today.
13. Next drive, Aaron Rodgers missed two wide open receivers streaking open in the secondary that would’ve gone for huge plays, one likely a touchdown. I’m stunned he didn’t hit them, but I’m also thankful. Bad memories and flashbacks being conjured right now. Really bad ones.
14. TRUBISKY TO BURTON! 21-14!
Mitch Trubisky has made some big-boy plays on back-to-back big drives. After an awful game last week, he's delivering this week. Huge growth opportunities here for him.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) December 16, 2018
15. EXCELLENT response by the defense on the ensuing drive. A quick three-and-out with great pressure on two snaps on Rodgers. And then Tarik the future Pro Bowler returned the punt to the 15-yard line! After a Cohen mistake that should’ve been a first down at least and could’ve been a touchdown, Nagy decided to kick the field goal, and Cody Parkey delivered — Bears up 24-14. Man, Bears really should be up 28-14 right now, but a two score lead with about seven minutes left is OK.
16. After another rough drive on defense, Roquan Smith had good coverage on Jimmy Graham and it resulted in Rodgers’ INT-free streak ending on a pick by Eddie Jackson. Huge play to keep momentum. Unfortunately, Jackson hurt his leg on the run back, while attempting to slide of all things, and he needed a ton of help getting off the field. It *looked* like an ankle injury, which would be a lot less serious than a knee injury, of course. We’ll see, but prayers up. This team needs Eddie Jackson.
17. It’s been eight long years since the Bears last won the division and made the playoffs. After losing out five years ago in Week 17, the Bears got their revenge this year. NFC North champions. What a year. Amazing.
18. Next week, the Bears travel to San Francisco to take on a depleted 49ers team. In my opinion, the offense, especially Trubisky, need to continue playing to build up experience in this offense as they prepare for more football. Let ’em play. Besides, they’re bad after long breaks as evidenced three different times this year. Also, they are still competing for that third seed, which should be motivation enough.
Early prediction: Bears 26, 49ers 13.
