In a slugfest from the opening whistle, the Chicago Bears played the Green Bay Packers in an intense, playoff-caliber football game that went down to the wire. While the result is not what any Bears fan would like, make no mistake about it. The Bears are back. I expect Soldier Field to be insane in two weeks for the rematch.
Let’s get to my notes from this one.
Bears Offense:
- As expected, the Bears ran the ball well early. Unexpectedly, however, they ran the ball only 12 times in the first half. More than doubling that amount helped make things close in the 2nd half, but it was too little, too late.
- As has been the case most of the season, Caleb struggled with accuracy in this one. Especially early. Was hoping for a more tightened-up operation this week, but alas.
- That said, he continued to amaze with his escape ability and had multiple throws on the run that were unimaginable. The throw along the sideline dropping it into Kmet’s outstretched arms over the coverage was one. His TD throw along the sideline to Olamide Zaccheus was another. Multiple darts throughout. His really only mistake was the last throw in the endzone to Kmet at the end of the game. Eschewing a wide open DJ Moore for a riskier attempt, albeit one extremely similar to his game-winner last week. Sometimes the kill shots ARE the layups.
- The offensive line looked overmatched on passing downs. Credit to the Pack DC for scheming up formations and designs to confuse the Bears’ OL.
- Rookie LT Ozzy Trapilo looked like a rookie in this one. Not a terrible rookie, but a rookie, no less.
- Speaking of rookies, our rookies showed up in this rivalry game. Starting with the bruising run by Kyle Monangai where he de-cleated (and de-decaled) Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper. Continuing throughout with a chippy Luther Burden III, and sprinkled in with clutch catches and tough yards after the catch by tight end Colston Loveland.
- Speaking of TEs, I loved the way Loveland played and wish Kmet didn’t remind me of Greg Olsen so much after the catch. In a game of this magnitude, you should not be giving yourself up with even just a few yards left on the table. Take what you can get and fight for more.
- An awesome play call on the TD to 4th quarter TD to Loveland at the 1 yard line on 3rd down highlighted a nice day by Ben Johnson. A couple well-called screens that were close to breaking but the Packers defense simply made plays. It was also the 2nd game this season where they decided to rotate Monangai back in after I thought Swift was closing the game out. Baltimore was the other one.
- In the end, a tough pill to swallow. One might say a jagged little pill. But make no mistake, the Bears are back and I cannot wait to...
Windy City Gridiron
