Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears: An unnecessary implosion against the Vikings

by
bears, matt nagy

Chicago, IL–If you watched the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football in week 15, props to you for sitting through one of the ugliest games of the season. A week after losing to the Green Bay Packers on national television, the Bears returned to Soldier Field to take on Minnesota Vikings in another ugly game that was mirrored by inconsistency all across the board for Chicago on offense.

Rookie quarterback Justin Fields had one fumble on the evening but once again, the Bears failed to get any sort of rhythm established around the 11th overall pick, forcing Fields to once again play with desperation, doing anything to keep the Bears relevant. The Bears had five total redzone trips, with just one ending in a touchdown. Add in a missed field goal from Kicker Cairo Santos and the Bears were once again a dumpster fire throughout the evening.

What the Bears did do correctly was play hard-nosed on the defensive side of the ball. Rookie cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. was a pleasant bright spot who emerged in his first career start. Graham Jr. had seven tackles and three pass breakups, leading an already depleted secondary. Pass rusher Robert Quinn took yet another step forward with four total tackles and two sacks as the 11-year veteran looks to chase Richard Dent’s single-season sack record, which is currently set at 17.5.

From a numbers standpoint, the Bears had 24 total first downs and 370 total yards of offense, compared to Minnesota, which had just 193 total yards and 13 first downs. Despite sacking Vikings QB Kirk Cousins four times, what really hurt Chicago was seven total penalties, some of which could be considered questionable calls by the officiating crew.

With the Bears’ latest loss, Chicago has now lost 10 games on the season and has lost three total divisional games this season against NFC North opponents. Up next for the Bears is a road trip to the Pacific Northwest, where Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks await.

Chicago Bears: Matt Nagy won’t commit to starting LT

by
teven jenkins, bears

Lake Forest, IL– When the Chicago Bears drafted offensive tackle Teven Jenkins in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the assumption was that Jenkins would begin the season at left tackle and eventually develop into a franchise cornerstone. Instead, Jenkins was shut down in late August due to back surgery, forcing the Bears to sign veteran OT Jason Peters, who’s previously played for the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles.

When Peters injured his ankle in week 14 against the Green Bay Packers, Chicago was forced to turn towards Jenkins, who was flagged on four separate occasions in his first official NFL action. As the Bears return home to face the Minnesota Vikings, there is an important question that needs to be asked: Who will the starting LT be?

The Bears know and understand the impact of having a veteran like Peters be able to start. However, for the Bears, 2021 isn’t about Peters, it’s about the youth on the roster. With Jenkins being the future of the Bears franchise, the obvious answer would be to give the 39th overall pick the starting nod over the final four weeks of the regular season.

“I mean if he’s (Jason Peters) is healthy, for him, what I’ve been saying that what he’s done this entire year, helping us out, where he’s at the same point in time, with Teven, I do believe that yesterday (Sunday), for him was, although we had some holding penalties, he had a couple things here and there which can be significant, he can learn and grow from,” said head coach Matt Nagy via the Bears official YouTube Channel.

While Jenkins’ performance in week 14 against the Packers may have been a game to forget according to some, for the Bears to move forward with Jenkins and see improvement, Jenkins needs to get extended playing time. When the Bears drafted Jenkins, they saw his potential to develop into a multi-year starter who could protect Justin Fields blindside for at least the next decade.

Chicago Bears: Jaylon Johnson has breakout game in week 14

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Green Bay, WI– When the Chicago Bears drafted cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the franchise added a player that was ready and willing to step up whenever needed. In just his second season, Johnson has been a bright spot on the Bears defense, giving the secondary a lifeline option at CB position.

Johnson has had his fair share of bright moments in 2021. He’s quietly ascended into becoming one of the NFL’s most underrated CBs and week 14 against Green Bay Packers WR Devante Adams was another example of why Johnson had a major breakout game in week 14. Per Next Gen Stats, Johnson allowed just 1.9 yards of separation, 19 total yards against Adams, and one touchdown.

“A lot of motions, a lot of drag routes, underneath routes, a lot of pick routes, I mean they switch it up pretty good, so I mean, I did a lot of things to make covering him very hard,” said Johnson via the Bears official YouTube Channel. “We shouldn’t even have given him that last touchdown at the end, just some technique issues that we just got to fix all together as a secondary,” Johnson said. “We did a heck of a job in the first half, I mean anything else that they got, I thought we shot ourselves in the food and then there was a few plays where they made some plays.”

Johnson being able to shut down Adams so effectively shouldn’t be overlooked. During a season where the Bears’ secondary is amongst the worst in the NFL, Johnson has been consistent all season and as the Bears begin to rebuild a defense on the decline, Johnson has earned a right to be part of the Bears’ future. When Chicago begins searching for cornerbacks during the 2022 offseason, Johnson will have a new sidekick as he continues to the face at CB for the Bears.

Chicago Bears: Week 14 takeaways, quick tidbits, and more

by
bears, matt nagy

After another loss to the Green Bay Packers, there are just four games left in the 2021 regular season for the Chicago Bears. Before we look ahead to week 15, let’s recap week 14.

1) The Bears haven’t won in Lambeau Field since 2015. That’s right, it’s been seven seasons and Matt Nagy has won just once against the Packers since 2018. At some point, the McCaskey family needs to realize that Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace haven’t done what they were brought in to do: Beat Green Bay and make the Bears relevant again in the NFL’s oldest rivalry.

2) There are a lot of people who are pessimistic when it comes to evaluating Justin Fields play on Sunday night. There was some good, some bad, and some questionable. But overall, Fields had a typical rookie performance and went toe-to-toe with Aaron Rodgers, who already has a spot reserved in Canton, Ohio.

3) Speaking of evaluating Fields, it’s hard to gauge where he’s really at, especially since the rest of the Bears’ offense wasn’t exactly perfect on Sunday night either, especially in the second half. This brings up another important question: Is Fields struggling or does the rest of the Bears offense failed to execute and help Fields?

4) Justin Fields had a pick-six against Packers CB Rasul Douglas and while he’ll learn from this mistake, Fields responded with a 54-yard touchdown pass just a few plays later. The touchdown pass to WR Damiere Byrd is great but what really matters was Fields ability to respond to Douglas interception, something that gave the Packers life. Fields’ response showcases confidence that few Bears’ QB’s have exhibited over the years.

5) Want to know what we saw in the first half against the Packers? We saw exactly what Matt Nagy has wanted since arriving in Chicago: An explosive big-play offense that relies on quick passes to move the ball in big chunks and score with ease. The Bears had the ball for just 25 minutes the entire game and scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter.

6) The Bears’ inability to adjust in the second half is troubling. Few teams are going to score 24 points in the first half with ease against the Packers and the Bears took the foot off the pedal in the second half, which included abandoning the running game. This lack of second-half execution cost the Bears big time, especially in a game that was winnable until the very end.

7) Let’s give some love to CB Jaylon Johnson, who shutdown Packers WR Devante Adams in a way that not many have seen before. Per Next Gen Stats, Johnson allowed just 1.9 yards of separation and 19 total yards. If you want to talk about why Adams two touchdowns, it’s because he beat backup CB Xavier Crawford twice.

8) Sunday night was another indication the Bears WR room needs to be rebuilt and rebuilt badly heading into the 2022 offseason. Darnell Mooney and Allen Robinson combine for three receptions and 33 receiving yards, and 11 total targets. Robinson seems mentally checked out while Mooney had an off day which he’ll need to rebound from.

9) Artie Burns had another above-average performance, showing us all why he’s a better option than Kindle Vildor. Burns isn’t a long-term replacement by any means but he’s better than whatever the Bears have on the roster right now.

10) Tight end Cole Kmet dropped a pass in the endzone that would’ve been a touchdown. The Bears have run this exact some play multiple times this season and Kmet has yet to haul a TD in, which is troubling for a player who was a high draft pick and once the future of the TE position for Chicago.

Chicago Bears: Packers spoil Justin Fields return

by
justin field, bears

Green Bay, WI– After an offensive explosion that included 27 points in the first quarter, the Chicago Bears were once again beaten by their rivals to the north on Sunday night football. After two passing touchdowns in the first half too wide receivers Jakeem Grant and Damiere Byrd, the Bears looked to be well on their way towards a victory at Lambeau Field.

Throughout the first half, the Bears looked like a team that came to play in all three phases. After Packers cornerback, Rasul Douglas returned a 55-yard pick-six to the house, Fields confidence as he led the Bears down the field in just under two minutes for a touchdown, retaining the lead.

During the first half, the Bears defense set the tone, with veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn totaling two sacks. Second-year cornerback Jaylon Johnson had a strong first half, continuing to neutralize wide receiver Davante Adams, who eventually broke away and totaled 10 receptions for 121 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.

Despite another loss to the Packers, the Bears’ young talent did have some bright moments in this game. Rookie offensive tackles Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom had solid outings, with Jenkins taking over for Jason Peters, who left in the first quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return. Wide receiver Jakeem Grant, who was acquired earlier in the season for a 2023 sixth-round pick had a 97-yard punt return in the second quarter as the Chicago’s special teams unit provided a big boost throughout the evening.

The Bears may not be ready to compete with the Packers just yet but Sunday night indicated the Bears have a good foundation in place that will form the core of the team for years to come. While allowing 17 points in the third quarter helped the Packers pull away, Chicago put up a fight in a game that many never gave the Bears a chance.

 

Chicago Bears: Week 14 could be passing of the NFC North torch

by
justin field, bears

On Sunday night, when the Chicago Bears take the field for a primetime matchup against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears will look to earn their first win against their biggest rivals since the 2018 season. For more than a decade, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has tormented the Bears but Sunday, when the Bears trot out rookie quarterback Justin Fields, it’ll be the 11th overall pick’s first game at Lambeau Field.

What could be Fields’ first game at Lambeau Field against the Packers could also be Rodgers’ final game against the Bears in a Packers uniform. While 2022 isn’t set in stone, what we know is this: The Bears are committed to Justin Fields through 2022 and beyond. Meanwhile, after an offseason that featured rumors about Rodgers not wanting to return to Green Bay, the future at quarterback is uncertain for the Packers should Rodgers leave next offseason.

The Packers may have 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love on the roster but in just one career start, Love is 19-for-34 with 190 yards, one touchdown, and one passer rating of 65.9. Love’s numbers may not blow anyone away, however, to fairly evaluate him, the Packers need to see him start for a full season before coming to any conclusions.

Currently, with the end of the 2021 season quickly approaching, Fields is clearly the one quarterback with the most intriguing future. The NFC North appears to be wide open in 2022 should Rodgers not return, meaning Fields will have the opportunity to dominate for the next decade and turn the tide in favor of the Bears.

For the tide to begin turning, a win on Sunday night merely starts the process. The Bears have won just four games all seasons and while the chance of making the playoffs seem slim, a win on Sunday night on national television makes a lost season more bearable while continuing to build Fields confidence and setting the stage for a passing of the torch.

Why 2021 still matters for the Chicago Bears

by
david montgomery, bears

In another lost season, as the weather continues to get colder in the Windy City, the Chicago Bears have reached the point of the regular season that feels too familiar for fans, players, and coaches. With just four wins, the Bears are on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs, and head coach Matt Nagy is on his way out, an anticipated move that will likely come after the Bears wrap up the regular season on January ninth in Minnesota.

It’s hard to find a reason to be excited about the Bears. Most fans are merely tuning in to watch rookie quarterback Justin Fields, who’s missed two straight games due to a ribs injury. The rest of the roster includes a perfect blend of younger players and veterans, including names like Cole Kmet, Larry Borom, Teven Jenkins, Darnell Mooney, Jaylon Johnson, Roquan Smith, Khalil Herbert, and many more.

What happens over the final five weeks of the season will dictate how the Bears approach the 2022 offseason. Chicago winning at least four games over the next five weeks means the future is bright heading into 2022 but without a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Bears will once again be forced to rely on limited draft capital to continue adding to the roster.

The only question that remains is what the Bears will do with general manager Ryan Pace, who’s trending towards a fourth losing season in seven years. Should the Bears retain Pace as the organization’s top decision-maker for football operations, Pace will get an opportunity to hire a third head coach, one that could see a quick turnaround if Pace finds the right guy.

“I’m a fighter, I’m never going to stop fighting,” said Montgomery. “I’m never going to stop giving it everything I got.”

Montgomery’s fight is apparent, as is Smith’s. In a time where there isn’t much optimism surrounding the Bears, the amount of young talent that can lead to a quick turnaround in 2022 is prevalent for a team that’s struggled more than people have expected. A few early season breaks have led to some wins for the Bears and while there have been instances where the Bears lost winnable games, the remaining portion of 2021 provides the Bears with an opportunity to hit the reset button and see what adjustments need to be moving forward to maximize already existing talent on the roster.

Chicago Bears: Week 13 takeaways, tidbits, and more

by
bears, matt nagy

After losing to the Arizona Cardinals at home, the Chicago Bears have dropped six of the last seven games, and continue to be on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Let’s recap week 13 for the Bears.

1) Running back David Montgomery was the Bears’ best playmaker on Sunday. The third-year pro had 21 carries for 90 rushing yards and one touchdown. Montgomery was also involved in the passing game with eight receptions for 51 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per reception. The weather certainly factored into the Bears using Montgomery heavily but Sunday also proved that for the final five games of the season, the offense needs to revolve around Montgomery, which means shifting to a pass-first philosophy.

2) The Bears led the Cardinals in four key categories: Time of possession, first downs, total yards, and turnovers. Arizona averaged just five yards per play but having a short field on the first two possessions as a result of Andy Dalton’s interceptions is what led to an earlier-than-expected Arizona lead. The Bears’ defense isn’t good enough to overcome mistakes made by the offense, which means both sides of the football need to play a near-perfect game to have a chance at winning.

3) Jakeem Grant being the Bears leading receiver on Sunday shows how much the WR room needs to be overhauled during the 2022 offseason. Arizona locked up Darnell Mooney all afternoon and without Allen Robinson or Marquise Goodwin, the Dalton was forced to throw to the likes of Grant and Damiere Byrd. Chicago traded for Grant to be an impact player on special teams, not in the passing game, despite having some speed.

4) Center Sam Mustipher had two fumbles on Sunday. In other words, the Mustipher experiment needs to end for the Bears. With rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins officially active, the Bears can reshuffle the offensive line, inserting Jenkins into the starting lineup while moving James Daniels or Cody Whitehair to center. The Bears need to see what they have in Jenkins during the final five games of the season as Chicago believes it finally got an OT with the potential to develop into a franchise cornerstone on the OL.

5) Montgomery’s postgame presser was one of the best I’ve ever heard since I started covering the Bears in 2017. “I’m a fighter, I’m never going to stop fighting,” said Montgomery. “I’m never going to stop giving it everything I got.”

Talk about someone who’s a leader of men and is intrinsically motivated. With the chance of making the playoffs bleak, Montgomery’s positive energy should radiate throughout the locker room.

6) For the second straight game, cornerback Artie Burns posted some solid numbers with six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. Burns may not be a long-term solution but he’s a good enough security blanket to finish out 2021 before the Bears have to make a decision on his future with the team during the 2022 offseason.

7) The Cardinals’ offense is everything Matt Nagy hopes his offense can be someday. Arizona had the ball for just over 25 minutes but averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray carved up the Bears’ secondary all afternoon with explosive plays in the passing game to keep the Bears defense on its toes. Kliff Kingsbury has emerged as one of the smartest offensive minds in football and the Cardinals are finding their groove with the postseason right around the corner.

8) The Bears were 3-for-3 in the redzone and 4-for-4 on fourth down yesterday. Rarely does that ever happen but Matt Nagy found a way to get it done yesterday. Nagy is on his way out but at least converting in the redzone and on fourth down mattered in a game that Chicago tried to keep competitive.

9) One way to slow the Cardinals down is creating turnovers. And the Bears’ defense had none on Sunday. While Roquan Smith was hampered due to a hamstring injury, the Bears need to be better in this category to have a chance at being able to play complementary football and give the offense a chance at scoring more points.

10) The Bears had two drives on Sunday that lasted more than seven minutes. While this may not seem noteworthy to some, it is progress for an offense that’s been through growing pains over the last four seasons. Long drives aren’t the issue now but execution is still lacking as the Bears are unable to cap off these drives with touchdowns, instead of field goals.

 

Chicago Bears: The fight is apparent from RB David Montgomery

by
david montgomery, bears

After another gut-wrenching loss at home, the Chicago Bears have now lost six of the last seven games, and while running back David Montgomery has continued to be a bright spot for the offense, despite a frustrating season that’s included multiple blowouts.

Montgomery’s performance on Sunday afternoon shouldn’t be overlooked. Rushing 21 times for 90 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, and one touchdown, the third-year running back was also involved in the passing game, with eight receptions, 51 receiving yards, averaging 6.4 yards per reception.

The Bears didn’t get the job done in week 13 and Montgomery, who’s developed into a leader on offense knows that despite a losing record, the next five games still matter for a team that’s on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs.

“It’s frustrating, the entire season, it’s kind of been frustrating with the losses we’ve taken but I’m a fighter,” Montgomery said via the Bears official YouTube channel. “I’m never gonna stop fighting.”

The Bears know what they have in Montgomery. And Montgomery knows what he brings to the Bears offense week. As Chicago trends towards what is expected to be Montgomery’s first real losing season since entering the NFL back in 2019, the Bears need to recognize something: Montgomery is unique and his ability to be a leader even in the toughest of times and support anyone is a valuable asset.

“What you realized is what you learned, stepping into a leadership role or stepping at a point where when people watch you, the things that you do happen to carry a lot of weight, so it becomes infectious,” Montgomery said.

As the Bears prepare for a road matchup against the Green Bay Packers on primetime television, the Bears need to be positive heading into week 14, which is why leaders like Montgomery are essential. While a win against the Packers won’t change the trajectory of the season, it would still be the Bears’ first win against Green Bay since 2018 and first win at Lambeau Field since 2015.

Chicago Bears: Mistakes early derail any chance of a win

by
andy dalton, bears

Sunday afternoon was equivalent to a rollercoaster ride for the Chicago Bears. After snapping a five-game losing streak in week 12, the Bears got back to work against the Arizona Cardinals in week 13, only to lose by 11 points at home. The lone bright spot of the afternoon for the Bears on offense was running back David Montgomery, who had 21 carries for 90 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt.

Despite Montgomery’s strong showing, veteran quarterback Andy Dalton threw four interceptions, including two on the Bears’ first two possessions to give Arizona a short field to work with. From there, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray connected with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a 20-yard score to get the Cardinals on the board first.

Chicago’s second drive of the game wasn’t bad. The offense was moving the ball efficiently, taking whatever little yards the Cardinals defense was willing to give up. What appeared to be a drive that would end up in a touchdown was halted when Dalton tried to connect with tight end Cole Kmet at the Cardinals eight-yard line, only to be picked off by Cardinals safety Budda Baker, who returned it to the Bears 15-yard line for a 77-yard return.

The Bears’ defense struggled throughout the game. Despite a goal line stop in the fourth quarter which forced Arizona to kick a field goal, Chicago failed to generate any turnovers. A short-handed defense allowed just 257 total yards and 14 first downs but Arizona’s big-play offense proved to be too much for the Bears defense, which saw another big game from linebackers Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn.

With just five games left in the season, the Bears showed us that the talent gap between Chicago and some of the top teams in the NFL is still massive and that the Bears may have moved the ball well today but a lot of work remains to be done if Chicago is to have a chance at being able to seriously compete soon.