Week 4 of the 2018 season will always be remembered in Chicago Bears lore as the day Mitch Trubisky went crazy. After hearing the critics for over a year, the former #2 overall pick rain destruction down on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with six touchdown passes in three quarters of action. It was a pasting this city hasn’t seen since the 1940s. Yet amidst the euphoria, a lot of people don’t understand how great the Bears defense was.
Let us set the stage. The Buccaneers were the #1 offense in the NFL going into this game. They were averaging a whopping 473 yards per game and had scored at least 27 points in each of their games. Ryan Fitzpatrick had thrown for 400+ yards in all of those games as well. It was a monumental undertaking for the Bears to tackle.
This is especially true given recent history. In 2016 the Bucs hammered the Bears 36-10 down in Tampa Bay. Last season it was more of the same, this time a 29-7 runaway. For whatever reason, the Bucs have had their number. Would it be more of the same this time around? No. No it would not.
Bears defense swarmed Buccaneers from every direction
Every quarterback is either validated or exposed when they face a great pass rush. Such was going to be the case again here. Fitzpatrick had to prove himself against Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and the rest of that gang. He failed. The Bears collected four sacks in the game and Fitzpatrick was pulled for Jameis Winston in the second half.
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It didn’t help. Both quarterbacks combined for three interceptions on the afternoon and failed to crack even 300 yards combined. Their running game was even worse, managing just 60 yards on 18 carries. Remember this is an offense that has Mike Evan, Deshaun Jackson, Chris Godwin, and O.J. Howard. These are really good football players and the Bears made the all look like a junior varsity unit.
Not only that, but they did it without starting cornerback Prince Amukamara for the entire game and stud defensive tackle Akiem Hicks for half the game. Hicks was ejected in the first half following a physical confrontation with one of the referees. The touchdown they gave up was when the game was far out of reach the Bears had already begun to substitute their reserves.
People weren’t sure if this defense was for real. Now there are no reasons left to doubt. It’s legit and the confidence they play with is only growing.
