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A Dominant Defense: Bears Beat Seahawks on Monday Night Football

| September 18th, 2018

The offense is a work-in-progress. The defense is the most exciting unit the Bears have fielded since 2006. The Bears evened their season record at 1-1 and quieted some of their Week One demons. Here’s a rapid fire recap of Monday night’s events.

  • Here’s how I’d summarize Mitch Trubisky’s evening: he’s not there yet. He’s not fully comfortable in the offense. He’s not processing his progressions quickly or trusting his protection. He’s also missing a few touch passes down the field. (Basically throwing straight heat.) But these are the trials and tribulations of a young quarterback, especially one that has seen his system flipped on its head from year one to year two.
  • But there are so many promising moments that it’s not hard to be optimistic about his development. The sideline floater to Cohen under duress:

  • The rolling left dart to Miller for a touchdown:

  • If you’re calling for the Bears to bench their young signal caller in favor of a guy who has thrown about six passes in the NFL, stop. This is not about 2018. This is about the future. And Trubisky has played exactly TWO games in the offense.
  • If I’m Matt Nagy and the the Seahawks just scored a quick touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut my team’s lead down to 7, I’m giving the ball to Jordan Howard on a drive that can potentially end the game. Nagy did not. He came out throwing, throwing, throwing. And until he realizes his best offensive player is his tailback, he’ll be limited with this group of offensive players.
  • 1:38 left in a game that’s essentially over and there’s Khalil Mack chasing Russell Wilson at full speed. Mack is a superstar. And at the position he plays he’s a superstar that impacts every single play on the defensive side of the ball.
  • If Aaron Lynch and Jon Bullard contribute how they did Monday night, this front could become unstoppable.
  • The Bears were headed towards their second consecutive blown lead until Prince Kelechi Amukamara made a play that could be looked at as this season’s turning point. Dominant defenses make big plays with the game on the line. This was the game’s biggest play.
  • After two weeks the Bears lead the NFL in sacks with 10.
  • Kyle Fuller has to get his head around. Just turn around and give himself an opportunity to make a play on the football. He seems way more concerned with not getting called for pass interference.
  • It felt like Danny Trevathan had a monster night but it’s difficult to know that without seeing the tape. Certainly made some standout plays.
  • Why isn’t Trey Burton a more active part of the game plan? Bears paid an awful lot of money for a player who operates as the last option/dump-off.
  • Jordan Howard is already better in the passing game.
  • As predicted in this space during the summer, Nagy is not sure what to do with Tarik Cohen on offense. But one thing I wouldn’t do is take him off the field on kickoff returns. Cohen is a touchdown waiting to happen every time he touches the ball in open space. He should be the team’s primary return man on punts AND kickoffs.
  • Taylor Gabriel was a force in the run game and would have been the game’s biggest star if Trubisky hit him wide open over the middle. (He probably scores on that play.) The Bears are convinced they’re going to show the league the best of Gabriel. They’re starting to.
  • Final note. With all the talent at ESPN, is that really the best broadcast they can put together for MNF? That was a production worthy of a Wednesday night Bowling Green home game, not a product with the legacy of MNF. Tessitore fries way too hard, Witten isn’t ready for the gig and Booger, oh, Booger…no. I’ll be watching the rest of this schedule in a bar, sans sound.

The Bears are 1-1 and play the worst team in football Sunday in Arizona. The Bears haven’t been 2-1 since Marc Trestman was in town. Now we see if the team can keep the ball rolling down the hill.

Off to jury duty today so no additional content on DBB until tomorrow.

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