2017 Chicago Bears: Week 14 Report Card vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The success displayed against the AFC North by the Chicago Bears continued in Week 14. The Bears (4-9) manhandled the Cincinnati Bengals by the score of 33-7. This outburst of points by Chicago was the most they’ve scored since Week 10 of 2015.
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Offensively, the Bears gained a net total of 482 yards, 232 of which came from the running game (along with three touchdowns). The passing game was efficient, and showed flashes of what’s to come in 2018. On the defensive side of the ball, Chicago forced two turnovers and allowed the Bengals to gain only 234 yards of offense.
By far, this has been the best game played by the Bears this season. All across the board, everyone did their job, and everyone was on the same page. Now, let’s take a look at the results of their hard-earned victory.
Quarterback
Rookie Mitchell Trubisky displayed what Bears fans want to see from him every week. The first-round draft pick completed 25 of 32 pass attempts (78.1 percent) for 271 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He also rushed for a touchdown in the third quarter. Trubisky spread the ball very well, connecting with eight different receivers, and ended the game with a passer rating of over 100 for the second week in a row.
Grade: A
Running Backs
Jordan Howard and rookie Tarik Cohen collaborated for their highest single-game rushing total of the season. Howard’s 147 yards and two touchdowns led the way, while Cohen’s 80 yards was his career-high. Cohen’s numbers could’ve been more impressive had he not been ruled out of bounds on a long touchdown run in the first quarter, and a touchdown not been negated because of an illegal-block-in-the-back penalty in the second quarter.
Grade: A
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
For the first time this season, the Bears ended a game with a receiver recording a 100-yard game. Kendall Wright had 10 catches for 107 yards (both game-highs). Josh Bellamy hauled in only two balls, but for 52 yards. Rookie Adam Shaheen was on Trubisky’s radar often, and ended the game with four receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown. Shaheen did drop a pass in the end zone in the second quarter.
Grade: A-
Offensive Line
Four of the Bears’ 10 penalties were committed by the offensive line, with one of them wiping out a Cohen touchdown. Two sacks were also allowed. But overall, the offensive front played much better compared to their performance over the past few weeks. Thanks to their push off the line, the running game flourished, and Trubisky had enough time to hit numerous targets.
Grade: B
Defensive Line
The defensive line had very few bodies to depend on due to injuries, but managed to make enough of an impact. Roy Robertson-Harris recorded one of the Bears’ three sacks on the afternoon, while the rest of the D-line controlled the line of scrimmage in efforts to stop the Bengals’ running game.
Grade: B+
Linebackers
Once again, Danny Trevathan was the team’s leader in tackles with 10. The pass rush from the linebacker corps was productive enough to rattle Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. For the second week in a row, Lamarr Houston sacked the quarterback, and Howard Jones added a sack of his own.
Grade: B+
Defensive Backs
Cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara held Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green in check, limiting him to just 64 yards. Rookie Eddie Jackson was credited for both of the Bears’ takeaways—intercepting Dalton in the third quarter and forcing a fumble and recovering it in the fourth quarter. Both of Jackson’s turnovers were followed by touchdowns by the offense.
Grade: A
Special Teams
New kicker Mike Nugent missed his first extra point attempt, but did connect on his other three extra points, as well as both of his field goal attempts. There were also two holding penalties—one on a kickoff return, and one on a punt return.
Grade: B
Coaching
Head coach John Fox was one-for-two on his replay challenges. He also showed guts going for it on fourth down in the second quarter, which resulted in a Nugent field goal. The offensive play-calling was well-balanced (35 pass plays, 37 run plays), and the defensive plan worked despite key injuries.
Grade: A