If anyone reading this column had a bad feeling entering this game, you are not alone. Games that, on paper at least, should favor the Chicago Bears routinely ending in heartache is not something new to us Bears fans. Especially road games of such variety. But yesterday’s performance was… different. Here are my notes.
Offense:
- Ill-timed penalties and persistent pressure allowed were once again themes in this one.
- Speaking of familiar themes, the lack of a run game was prevalent throughout – that is, at least, until it really mattered down the stretch. More on that later.
- Maxx Crosby was a one-man wrecking crew yesterday. All over the field making plays one on one, in stunts, against the run or pass, he was a full-blown menace. While I give credit to 2nd year UDFA Theo Benedet and rookie 2nd rounder Ozzy Trapilo for their valiant efforts against the All-Pro, Crosby nearly single-handedly stole the game from Chicago in this one.
- Though the Bears only let up 1 official sack, Caleb was on the move all game and thrown out of rhythm. Multiple plays were thwarted due to Caleb needing to avoid pressure and thus miss his open receivers or forcing him to escape altogether. It was an escape show worthy of any Vegas venue, but not a fun one to watch as Bears fans.
- I am pretty sure we saw a stumble bum in quarter one. Also a fake flea flicker, which was actually pretty neat and went for a nice gain had there not been a penalty.
- Back to those penalties, we saw another couple tick-tack calls against us, most egregiously, IMO, was the “hold” on Jonah Jackson on the nice run play. Multiple false starts again with the worst part being the perpetrator. Having a guy in his first start = not so bad. Cole Kmet committing two in this one? Unacceptable.
- Speaking of Kmet, he easily had his worst game as a Bear. At least from what I can remember. His drop down in scoring territory crushed a drive and was as easy as they come. His other drop on the sideline after some Caleb heroics was not as bad, but definitely hurt. Big-time players make big-time plays. Kmet is getting paid like a big time TE and he looked anything BUT in Vegas.
- No Rome drops in this one. At least not easy ones. I recall one that he didn’t come down with on a 3rd and long where Caleb threw it too high, but Rome continued his record-breaking season and now stands as the ONLY player league-wide with a TD catch in all 4 games this season.
- Nothing seemed to go our way in the first half and Ben Johnson was pissed. His halftime interview was popcorn-worthy if you have not yet seen it. I doubt that reporter is as bold in her next interview at halftime.
- While Swift and Monangai really struggled in...
Windy City Gridiron
