Windy City Gridiron
Hello, Chicago Bears Fans! Well, that was a roller-coaster of a game, wasn’t it? In this week’s Good, Better, Best, we look back on a wild game against the Cincinnati Bengals where Joe Flacco did Joe Flacco things – and every Bears fan had their hearts in their throat, knowing how these kinds of games have traditionally gone for the Beloved. But yet again, we get proof that this is a new era of Chicago Bears football. So let’s take a look at what was good, better, and best in the best game of week 9 of the NFL.
Ben’s Creative Play Calling
Ben Johnson had a reputation for “trick” or “special” plays as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. He has brought his bag of tricks to the Chicago Bears as head coach. Each week, we have seen a creative play call or two, but in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he really stepped it up. Whether it was the “Philly Special” (which as Chicago Bears fans know, should be called the Chicago special, since Doug Pederson copied it from the Bears) to secure a touchdown or the “Baby Daddy” play with Tyson Bagent throwing back to Caleb Williams for a big winner, we are seeing the full scope of Ben Johnson’s creativity as we head to the midpoint of the season.
Turnover Ratio
The Bears won the turnover ratio against the Bengals, after losing it for the first time this season against the Baltimore Ravens. The Bears picked off Joe Flacco twice, added a strip-sack fumble, and did not turn the ball over in this game.
Bears Pass Rush
It sure is good to see Austin Booker out there on the Bears’ defensive line, isn’t it, Bears fans? The young pass rusher picked up where he left off in the preseason, now finally healthy, strip-sacking Joe Flacco. Booker would earn a 90.0 grade from PFF, the highest on defense in the Bengals game. The newly acquired CJ Gardner-Johnson contributed a sack, and Montez Sweat, who Ryan Poles said is looking more like his old self, contributed another.
Theo Benedet
I took Theo to task last week for his leaks in the pass rush against the Baltimore Ravens. Theo held his own this week against the Bengals’ rush, aided by the absence of Trey Hendrickson on the edge. But Theo showed out in the run game. As Brian Baldinger said, Theo just sticks to his man and “battles.” The arrow is pointing up on the Canadian Eagle.
Penalties
The Chicago Bears have been plagued by the men in stripes this season. Not only have they been one of the most penalized teams in the NFL, but their opponents have been near the least penalized teams. While the Bears do have to look at themselves in the mirror on some of these calls, particularly the pre-snap penalties, I think it is inarguable that the Bears have faced backbreaking and incomprehensible calls against them in nearly...
