With a kickoff temperature of about 8 degrees and a wind chill dipping well into the negatives, the over on today’s Bears-Bills contest was never really in question. Neither was the game’s result, though, if we’re being honest.
With Josh Allen and the Bills coming into Soldier Field still playing for an AFC East title and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture, there really wasn’t a chance for the Bears today. Especially given the makeshift combination on the offensive line and multiple starters sidelined by injuries.
Even still, the Bears did what they’ve done all season, made it interesting long enough to walk away with some good feelings about the game despite a loss.
Heck, they even took a 10-6 lead into the locker room at halftime. Justin Fields and Josh Allen traded touchdown tosses in the first quarter, and Cairo Santos added a field goal to round out the scoring in a first half that lived up to the low-scoring expectations of a game as frigidly cold as this one.
It wasn’t glamorous by any means. Justin Fields was held to 55 yards and a touchdown in the first half through the air, with nothing much to speak of on the ground. Fields finished the game with 119 yards and a touchdown. Not great, but Josh Allen wasn’t much better, throwing for 159 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
Allen did what you would expect a Josh Allen to do — and something we hope Fields to do soon — which is just enough to get a must needed win. Allen, however, got plenty of help from the running game. Devin Singletary ran for 106 yards, and James Cook added 99 yards, with both punching it into the endzone for six.
Don’t let the Buffalo garbage time points fool you, it was another win for the future today for the Bears. Yeah, 3-12 is tough. It’s been a long season, and we all deserve something nice from Santa tomorrow for watching along. But the future is looking good for Bears fans starving to be like the Bills and the Eagles, who came into Soldier Field the past two weeks on their paths to the postseason and faced a challenge from the lowly Bears.
For now, enjoy today. Hug and kiss your loved ones, enjoy more football, and have a Merry Christmas. Plenty more on this one to come this week. Enjoy the holiday!