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Thread: A few extra thoughts on Bears-Panthers...
1. Nick Foles is right: The aesthetics mean nothing. Did the Bears play a perfect game? No. But guess what! They won anyway and they're 5-1. They're 3-0 on the road. They're 5-0 in the NFC. And they're absolutely legit.
1. Nick Foles is right: The aesthetics mean nothing. Did the Bears play a perfect game? No. But guess what! They won anyway and they're 5-1. They're 3-0 on the road. They're 5-0 in the NFC. And they're absolutely legit.
2. You see what this defense does when it's given a lead? They had four sacks, six QB hits, two INTs, a forced fumble, and numerous other pressures against a QB and offense that DOESN'T turn it over or make many mistakes. They flat-out dominated. We're seeing shades of 2018.
3. The sacks, INTs and everything else were great. But the play of the game was Kyle Fuller's tackle of Teddy Bridgewater near the goal line in the second quarter that held Carolina to a FG. Those four crucial points saved changed the game. Fuller is just outstanding.
4. Where the hell did the Bears find Mario Edwards Jr.? That dude single-handedly wrecked a Panthers drive by himself. He's been a phenomenal addition for the DL.
Another great game? Roquan Smith. He was everywhere, and wasn't having any of the Mike Davis Revenge Game.
Another great game? Roquan Smith. He was everywhere, and wasn't having any of the Mike Davis Revenge Game.
5. The Eddy Pineiro Era looks to be over. Cairo Santos officially opened the door to take the job with two clutch field goals last week to beat the Buccaneers. He slammed it shut on Eddy by drilling a 55 yard FG before halftime to give Chicago a 13-6 lead. What a kick.
6. The OL is officially a major problem. A Panthers front missing Kawann Short and Yetur Gross-Matos had no trouble harassing Foles or shutting down the run game. Rashaad Coward and Charles Leno Jr. looked lost. I'm not sure what game plan can work without an effective OL.
7. Anthony Miller might've played himself out of a job on Sunday. His lack of awareness to lose a first down just cannot happen for an offense that's struggling without that "help".
The good news? The punt returner job could be open for him soon. Ted Ginn is bad at it.
The good news? The punt returner job could be open for him soon. Ted Ginn is bad at it.
8. One of these days, an Eddie Jackson pick-six will count. The DPI call on Kyle Fuller was questionable at best, especially with the blatant non-call on the Panthers earlier in the game. That referee crew was brutal.
Also, a shoulder-to-shoulder hit isn't roughing, FFS.
Also, a shoulder-to-shoulder hit isn't roughing, FFS.
9. DeAndre Houston-Carson must be part of Chuck Pagano's "Let's Go Home" package. That's two game-sealing plays in consecutive weeks with him showing excellent instincts and awareness by sliding immediately after the INT. That's good coaching.
10. Now, for some bad coaching? The multiple "Too Many Men" penalties. The delay of game after a timeout. Even though he didn't cross the LOS, why even flinch for a terrible referee crew to be called for a neutral zone infraction to turn 4th down into 1st down? Yikes.
11a. I thought about it, and I don't have an issue with the 3rd and 2 rub route to Robinson that would've sealed the game. David Montgomery is awesome, but who trusted the OL to block for two yards? Anyone? If you say you did, you're lying. And the play was there to be made.
11b. Similar to last week, my guess is Nagy felt OK about calling that play because of how well the defense was playing. And he mentioned in his post-game presser how the offense has to help the defense. That was an opportunity right there to take the load off entirely.
12. The offense wasn't great again, we know that. But there have been some glimmers the last two weeks. The OL needs a lot of help, and it will certainly impede progress. But 5-1 buys the Bears time. They enter the toughest part of their schedule in great shape. R-E-L-A-X.
