Even though it’s concerning that Mitch Trubisky has gotten off to slow starts in each of the Bears’ last three games, it’s quite encouraging that he has rebounded in each of those contests to put up quality second-half numbers en route to stringing together a quality stat line.
Trubisky’s second-half numbers are as follows: 80 of 120 (66.7% completion rate), 873 yards, 8 TD, 3 INT, 99.8 rating. And it’s not as if his first-half numbers are bad, but the completion percentage ticks up from 62.2% after intermission, while the percentage of sacks Trubisky takes in the second half declines by a fraction. This group of numbers suggests Trubisky and the offensive coaching staff are making adjustments, which might be the most encouraging thing of all.
We have watched too many games as Bears fans to know what it looks like when teams and players don’t make use of halftime to make in-game changes when necessary. So when it appears that the Bears are doing so now, it’s easy to point out because it simply wasn’t something that was happening before.
To be clear, the Bears and Trubisky need to be better in the first half. Should Chicago jump out to a big lead early, it wouldn’t need a big second-half performance from the quarterback. But because Trubisky has led some good-looking second-half drives in recent weeks, I don’t find myself as worried as I was in Week 1 when they needed one (and couldn’t get it) against the Packers.
Here’s to not needing late-game heroics today.
Game Info
Chicago Bears (4-3, 1st NFC North) at Buffalo Bills (2-6, 4th AFC East) – noon CT, FOX (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin), WBBM-AM 780, WCFS-FM 105.9
Odds: Bears (-10), Over/Under 38, via the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas.
Note: The Bears have been double-digit favorites for most of the week.
Game Thread and Week 9 Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun. And hopefully, we can watch the Bears close out the AFC centric part of their schedule in style.
Your Week 9 Preview lives here.
Coaches
Matt Nagy (4-3) vs. Sean McDermott (11-13)
Starting Quarterbacks
Bears: Mitch Trubisky: 1,814 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT, 64.6 completion pct., 97.8 rating
Last week vs. Jets: 16-29, 220 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 102.7 rating; 6 rushes, 51 yards
versus
Bills: Nathan Peterman: 108 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT, 40.6 completion pct., 20.8 rating
Last start at Ravens (Sept. 9): 5-18, 24 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 0.0 rating
Bears Inactives
Today's inactives for #DaBears:
11 Kevin White
12 Allen Robinson II
31 Marcus Cooper Sr
52 Khalil Mack
69 Rashaad Coward
84 Ben Braunecker
98 Bilal Nichols#CHIvsBUF— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) November 4, 2018
With Kyle Long being placed on IR yesterday, Taquan Mizzell Sr. takes his spot on the active roster and is dressed to play today.
Bears Expected Offensive Starters
Bears Expected Defensive Starters
Bears Specialists
Bills Inactives:
Today’s inactives. #CHIvsBUF pic.twitter.com/cDnMMyd0L1
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) November 4, 2018