NEWSLETTER
It’s not like this one was a must win for the Chicago Bears. There aren’t “must-win” games in October. Not when you’re just four weeks into the season.
But this felt like one the Bears should’ve won.
Sure, the Bears were on the road and an underdog in the eyes of oddsmakers as sports books. But this is a game that you probably had circled on your calendar as one where (1) Justin Fields could show off some development *AND* (2) the Bears could sneak through with a win.
Well, one of those things kinda happened. But it ultimately came in a 20-12 Giants win, dropping Chicago to 2-2 while elevating New York to 3-1.
Let’s fire off some quick postgame points of emphasis…
At Least Justin Fields Looked Better
Look at Brett out here giving me a run for my money dropping football knowledge:
Fields’ final line: 11/22 (50%), 174 yards, 7.9 Y/A, 0 TD, 0 INT, 76.7 passer rating; 7 rushes, 52 yards; 1 fumble lost
It’s a mixed bag for Fields, who set season highs in attempts, completions, passing yards, and yards per attempt. But he also turned it over on a fumble (which became 7 Giants points), engineered just one second-half-scoring drive, and struggled for stretches to move the ball. Then again, there were drops (the back-shoulder throw that was dropped by Dante Pettis was gut-punch), missed blocking assignments (are we just not accounting for dudes coming free off the edge?), and play-calling choices leaving much to be desired.
There was also this throw:
Seeing Fields unleash a deep ball, down the sideline, thrown with conviction felt like seeing a big box next to the tree on Christmas morning. And perhaps that is a fitting analogy, as that box probably has a bunch of pieces that require patience in putting together — much like the Bears offense.
And yet, the Bears have so much work to do. Fields has a long climb to go. That much is known. The QB clock needs to move faster, pocket presence needs to improve, and the decision-making needs to sharpen up. But for the first time in two games, it feels like Fields made progress. It’s not good. Or even good enough. But you must crawl before you walk.
Ryan Poles’ Picks Were Struggling at Points
Rookies are going to struggle. Particularly rookie cornerbacks. But we knew that. Even still … it was a rough one at several points for first-year Bears players.
Teams continue to pick on Kyler Gordon, who got worked by Darius Slayton to the point where he needed to take a pass interference penalty instead of giving up a touchdown. And he almost gave it up anyway as Slayton still got free to make a play on the ball. Problem was that it hit him in the wrong spot — right in the hands. No wonder Slayton shows up in trade rumors as a guy the Giants are trying to push out of town.
We knew Braxton Jones was going to take some L’s as a Day 3 pick who went from developmental rookie to Week 1 starter in the span of a few months. Jones had his first penalty of the game on a 3rd-and-10 just outside of the red zone. And he was also beat badly on the Fields fumble. These are the type of mistakes you have to live with as a rebuilding team. It’s a shame knowing what’s coming doesn’t make it easier to deal with.
In fairness, Velus Jones Jr. had the type of performance you’d expect to see from a rookie making his regular-season NFL debut. There was good (that 19-yard punt return was nice) and some bad (that muffed punt was bad and at the literal worst possible moment for the Bears). That mishandled punt after the Bears pinned the Giants deep and came through with three stops figures haunt like me in a way that is fitting for Spooky SZN. I was looking forward to seeing Jones return punts. But now I’m looking forward to seeing how he bounces back from that one.
Brian Daboll Out-Schemed Matt Eberflus
I can’t predict the future, but I think there will be a shift in how we talk about the Bears (both here and in our social circles with fellow fans). Because Brian Daboll really stuck it to a Bears team that many fans were vocal in supporting his candidacy during the offseason.
This was the type of game where I saw plenty of chatter from you in replies questioning coaching and management. And, to be honest, I see your concerns and share some of them. So while it’s too early to bail on a staff and/or management crew, we need to operate with a “see something, say something” mindset.
For instance, I feel as if alarm bells went off with how Daboll was coaching today. There were several points in which Daboll — who interviewed with the Bears this past offseason — was out-coaching his counterpart Matt Eberflus. Especially in their specific sides of the ball where there were previously assistants. Daboll’s usage of rollouts and bootlegs had Eberflus’ defense discombobulated. It was almost as if they Bears “D” was wholly unprepared and undisciplined whenever Jones was on the move. That shouldn’t happen as often as it did on Sunday. And Jones sure as heck shouldn’t have had *TWO* rushing touchdowns.
Don’t even get me started on the differences between a Daboll offense with a developing QB vs. a Luke Getsy scheme in a similar situation. We’ll get to that in due time tomorrow.
But Hey, At Least the Bears Found a Kicker
If in the darkest hour on the coldest day of a painful post-double-doink winter, you had told me that the Bears would have unearthed three serviceable professional kickers in the years to come, I would’ve been the Obi-Wan Kenobi visible happiness meme. And it’s just one game, but Michael Badgley made a good first impression making all four field goals. And in a crummy, windy environment out in New Jersey. Unfortunately, it was all the scoring the Bears would muster on Sunday.
That’s right. All of the Bears’ points came off the leg of a player who’s been on the team for 27 hours or so. A fitting final block for that game. Now, go do something fun with the rest of your Sunday while the weather in Chicago is still nice enough to enjoy.
