Bears Beat Giants (Breathe…) & Move to First Place in NFC North

These are my first ever (I think) rapid first game notes taken during the game. Not usually my approach but we’re giving it ago…

FIRST QUARTER

The turnover-or-bust defense was in full effect. Nice plays on the ball by Bowman and Jennings (for a touchdown) but allowing Brandon Jacobs to gash the defensive line and linebackers was disconcerting.
Lance Briggs getting barreled on the Jacobs touchdown run was oddly sad.
No pass rush outside the opening drive.
Understand Marc Trestman’s approach on fourth down but always want the zero off the board as soon as possible. Why take a turnover and allow it to be a momentum builder for your opponent?
Brilliant work by Cutler and Marshall on the second Bears drive. When these two are in sync they are arguably the most fun pair in football to watch work.
Bears have had substitution issues this season. I’ll write it off to a new coaching staff until around November. Then I will yell about it.

How does Brandon Marshall get that wide open in the end zone? (Answer: Giants secondary.)
Major Wright out of position again on a Reuben Randle touchdown catch down the right sideline. Looked flat out easy for Eli Manning. Wright’s season continues to be a horrible disappointment.
Pass rush still has not arrived.
Kyle Long is one impressive player. He gets outside faster than the tailback.
Jay Cutler made a brilliant read on the third-and-short slant to Marshall and the back shoulder pylon touchdown pass to the same man. I told ya. When they’re in sync…
Did Joe D call that idiotic short kickoff from Robbie Gould? Take the damn touchback.
Devin Hester yelling on the sideline is exactly what the special team units need. They need leadership because they’ve been awful.
Cutler’s throw over the middle to Martellus – with Jon Beason closing – was one of the best displays of his arm strength I’ve seen since he arrived.
I disagreed on the clock management at the end of the half. Bears only had one timeout. I don’t use that timeout until I’ve gained the position I’m comfortable with for the field goal. Then I take my shots to the end zone. You DON’T want to burn the timeout and find yourself spiking balls, kicking from awkward angles. It’s only halftime.
Adam Podlesh had a brilliant half. No punts.

HALFTIME SCORE: BEARS 24, GIANTS 14

Jay Cutler’s ability to extend drives with runs is so underrated.
Jordan Mills is the only liability on the Bears offensive line but I credit the organization for letting him make his mistakes on the field. Bushrod is good enough with protection to allow it.
Great kick, Robbie Gould. There was a time when fifty yard kicks were difficult for him. Now he’s simply put the best field goal kicker in the game.
Great move by Shea McClellin to draw the tight end to a false start. Kid takes a beaten so I might as well praise him for the one or two nice moments of his game.
3rd and 12, Giants reeling. Great call by Mel Tucker to send the linebackers at Eli. Clear departure from the Lovie Smith era.
Why does the end around work with Alshon Jeffery and not Devin Hester? Marc Trestman.
Kyle Long’s high school footage was amazing.
Cutler missed a wide open Alshon Jeffery on a first-and-ten in Giants territory. Rushed a throw due to pressure from JPP.
No. Pass. Rush.
Reuben Randle was ruled to have given himself up? How does that work? How is slamming the ball to the ground giving yourself up?
Huge pass interference by Tim Jennings. Bears simply revealing themselves to be a poor defensive football team.

Cutler’s touch throw to Forte on third and two might have been his best of the game.
Cutler’s grounding of the football is as poor a football decision as possible. You can’t take the team out of field goal range, out of a possible two possession lead. Terribly poor decision making.
Cutler identified protection, Long picked up the backer, Cutler put a perfect pass to Jeffery and the receiver just missed it.
I feel at 5:21 to go the Bears will lose.
Then things started happen.
If Eli Manning doesn’t miss an absolutely wide open tight end, this game goes the Giants way. (Or at least forces the Bears to probably score in a minute.)
The penalty for defensive holding ruins the drama but wins the game.

FINAL SCORE: BEARS 27, GIANTS 21