2017 Chicago Bears: Week 15 Report Card vs. Detroit Lions
After producing an honor roll report card after their Week 14 win, the Chicago Bears went right back to their old ways and lowered their grade point average in Week 15. The Bears came up short once again to the division rival Detroit Lions by the score of 20-10.
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A total of 13 penalties committed by the Bears in all three phases played a major part in the team’s 10th loss of the season. Not even career-high numbers by the rookie quarterback, or multiple sacks by the defense were enough to put Chicago over the hump.
Well, after another disappointing loss, here’s another disappointing report card.
Quarterback
Looking at some of his numbers, you would think that Mitchell Trubisky had a stellar performance against the Lions. Trubisky completed 31 of 46 passes for 314 yards (all career-highs). And, he did a good job at spreading the ball around, connecting with nine different receivers. However, the rookie threw only one touchdown and had three costly interceptions.
Grade: C-
Running Backs
The Bears’ running game didn’t even come close to the success that they had against Detroit earlier this season. As a team, they netted just 43 yards on the round. Jordan Howard had just 37 yards on 10 carries, while rookie Tarik Cohen toted the ball just twice for one yard. Their contribution in the passing game wasn’t much to smile at either. Benny Cunningham ended the game on a good note, scoring the team’s only touchdown on a 12-yard catch-and-run late in the fourth quarter.
Grade: D
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Surprisingly, the Bears’ receivers ended the game with some decent numbers. Kendall Wright led the team with seven receptions for 81 yards, while Josh Bellamy hauled in five balls for 70 yards. There was even a Markus Wheaton sighting. Wheaton doubled his season total for catches and ended the contest with two receptions for 42 yards. Bellamy was guilty of two of the many penalties committed by Chicago.
Grade: C
Offensive Line
The offensive line was flagged for four penalties throughout the game; three of which were on the same drive. Two sacks was allowed, and very little penetration on the line of scrimmage resulted in the stalling of the running game.
Grade: D-
Defensive Line
Akiem Hicks was the most active of the defensive linemen, finishing with four tackles and one sack. As a unit, the defensive front did an average job of helping stop the run, and was instrumental with pressure in the pass rush. Jonathan Bullard was the only other lineman to record numbers on the stat line with two tackles. Eddie Goldman’s unnecessary roughness penalty on the game’s first play from scrimmage was the wrong way to start the contest.
Grade: C
Linebackers
The corps of linebackers did have their moments in the pass rush. Lamarr Houston got to the quarterback twice, while Sam Acho added a sack of his own. Nick Kwiatkoski finished the game with eight tackles. The usually reliable Danny Trevathan loss containment of Lions tight end Eric Ebron in the end zone, giving up a touchdown in the third quarter.
Grade: C
Defensive Backs
Rookie Eddie Jackson tied for the team-high with eight tackles, and had a fumble recovery right before halftime that resulted in three points for the Bears. Unfortunately, Jackson was posterized on a 58-yard jump ball in the second quarter. Both Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara were flagged for penalties on third downs that kept the defense from getting off the field.
Grade: C-
Special Teams
One of the biggest blemishes of the game was the holding call DeAndre Houston-Carson committed during Cohen’s 89-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. John Timu’s holding call on a Detroit shanked punt that went only 24 yards cost the Bears good field position in the third quarter.
Grade: D
Coaching
With the season already in the dumps, one would think that the Bears will have nothing to lose in these games. John Fox decided to play it safe in the second quarter on a fourth-and-one with the ball on their own 45-yard line and punted the ball. Why not go for it and give your young quarterback a chance for more time on the field? By the way, the Lions ended up scoring a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Grade: F