It’s relatively often that you can say that the Bears were involved in a blowout. It’s not often, however, that you can say that the Bears blew out their opposition.
That is exactly what happened in Cincinnati this afternoon. The Bears decimated the Bengals, winning 33-7. In all aspects of the game, the Bengals looked like they didn’t want to bother showing up, and the Bears did.
It’s not an understatement to say that this was the best game of the season for Chicago. The coaches opened the playbook and called a good game and Mitchell Trubisky looked like a great NFL quarterback. However, the most telling sign from this game was the fact that the Bears defense held the Bengals, who put up 20 on a Super Bowl contender just six days prior, to seven points.
The game started out relatively close, with the Bears trailing 7-6 after the first quarter. Mike Nugent’s missed extra point ended his “revenge game” before it really began in the first period.
After that, though, the game was all Bears. Nugent converted on two field goals, from 34 and 27, in the second quarter to give the Bears the lead at the half. During the third quarter, a Mitchell Trubisky touchdown run on a beautifully executed read option made it a two-score game.
The Bears completed the drubbing in the fourth quarter, however, after an Adam Shaheen touchdown reception followed by a Jordan Howard touchdown run sealed the game. For the last drive, the Bengals went to the bullpen and brought in their backup A.J. McCarron. I can’t remember the last time this was a positive for the Bears.
All-in-all, this Bears team looked incredible today. Yes, I know the Bengals were incredibly beat up, but the offense looked like an NFL-level unit, which is a promising sign.
Player Of The Game
I know I’m not supposed to do this, but I’m not giving this to a player. I’m giving this award to Dowell Loggains.
Loggains finally realized today that using the passing game in early down situations opens up the running game, and it worked like a charm today. Not only did Mitchell Trubisky get the time to look like a great quarterback, but both Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen had their best games of the season.
It may be because they got orders from upstairs, but the constant use of Adam Shaheen is another plus on Loggains’s resume in today’s game. Trubisky looked to be perfectly in sync with his fellow rookie, and thus Shaheen had his best game of the year by far.
I know that everyone (rightfully) are calling for Loggains’s head, but if today’s gameplan was his mastermind and not Ryan Pace’s, he deserves a ton of credit for it.
Play Of The Game
Eddie Jackson, on his birthday, continued his elite rookie season with another two takeaway game. While this one wasn’t as dramatic as his two touchdown game earlier this year, his forced fumble and fumble recovery was today’s play of the game.
Jackson never gave up on the play and hustled over from his free safety position to force a fumble on an AJ Green reception. Green got behind his man, Prince Amukamara, into a pocket on the left sideline. Jackson did his best Charles Tillman impression, punching the ball from Green’s grasp and recovering the fumble himself.
It was initially called an incomplete pass on the field, but after a John Fox challenge, the call was rightfully overturned.
What’s Next?
Chicago Bears (4-9) @ Detroit Lions (7-6)
SATURDAY, December 16th
3:30 PM
Detroit, MI
