Can the Chicago Bears Problems in Week 1 be Fixed?
By Coach Boss
Sep 7, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman runs onto the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Well that was not the way the season was supposed to happen…
On the surface the Chicago Bears season opening loss to the Buffalo Bills was bad. It was heartbreaking because it was a game the Bears needed and should have won.
Chicago was clearly the better team; however,
there is no such thing in the NFL as a “gimmie”. The better team doesn’t always win; typically, the team that plays the best does.
Questionable play calling on Offense as well as on Defense along with playing undisciplined football is not going to cut it if the Bears want to do better than the 8-8 record they had last year. I put the play calling and the preparedness on HC Marc Trestman and the coaching staff. It is imperative that the players are mentally and physically ready to play. I don’t think LB Lance Briggs missing practice last Monday affected his play on Sunday but if reports of him being out until 4AM on Saturday night before the game are accurate, his actions might’ve contributed to his less than stellar play…
There might’ve also been a case of Paralysis by Analysis…
Bears QB Jay Cutler simply cannot throw that 2nd INT in the 4th quarter.
The Defense that was completely overhauled during the off-season and built to stop the run cannot give up 193 yards rushing. There was little to no pass rush either; I don’t know if that was a scheme thing or if the D-Line just got owned by the Bills, either way it was not good.
With all that being said, it is still one game at the beginning of a long season.
The Chicago Bears problems in Week 1 CAN be fixed…
According to some fans the season is already lost. The Patriots are also 0-1 and Tom Brady is in last place in his division for the 1st time in his career. New Orleans is also in last place in their division and 0-1 verses a division opponent; many pundits have N.O. in the NFC Championship game if not the Super Bowl; the same with the Patriots.
Maybe this game is the determining factor whether the Bears make the playoffs and maybe it doesn’t. There is still a lot of season left to determine that.
Aside from the 2INTs, Jay Cutler looked good throwing the ball to the tune of 34/49 (69.4%) 349 yards, 2TDs and a QB rating of 86.2. Those are pretty good numbers.
8 different receivers caught at lest one pass and the big 4 (Forte, Marshall, Jeffery, and Bennett) caught 29 balls for 299 yards and 2TDs.
RB Matt Forte had 8 rec for 87 yards and 17 rushing attempts for 82 yards (4.8 ypc) or what has become known around Chicago as “just another day at the office” for the vastly (nationally) under-appreciated running back.
The offense racked up 427 yards, 29 1st downs and converted 42% of their 3rd downs. This is a very positive thing.
The defense held Buffalo to 15 1st downs, and a 33% 3rd down conversion rate. It is difficult to defend when you give the opposing team 1st down on your own 7 yard line…
Special teams also did not have any breakdowns. That is a HUGE improvement from the pre-season. Kicker extraordinaire Robbie Gould did his thing and the coverage/return units were unspectacular but solid.
Neither the defense or special teams had a penalty either, and that is saying something.
All in all I would say it was a stubbed toe game. It is (hopefully) not going to ruin the season and the Bears will ultimately be better for it.
For now, I encourage Bears Nation to stop, breathe, refocus, get better and move on to the game in San Francisco.
And as always…