Chicago Bears Week 1: The Bad
Even with the addition of Fields as the Bears’ potential future franchise quarterback, Chicago’s defense is still what makes this team go. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case against Los Angeles. The Bears allowed Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to pass for 321 yards and three touchdowns. What was even worse was the play of Chicago’s secondary.
On L.A.’s first touchdown drive of the night, safeties Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson were both in La La Land when Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson caught a deep pass, fell on the ground, and got right back up to scamper into the end zone with neither Jackson nor Gipson even trying to attempt to make sure he was down by contact. In the third quarter, both safeties blew their coverage, and let Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp split the secondary for a 56-yard touchdown.
Not only was there now positive production in the secondary but the Bears’ pass rush was also virtually non-existent. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and outside linebacker Robert Quinn shared Chicago’s only sack of the night. Starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman didn’t suit up because of a knee injury. Once inserted back into the lineup, Goldman should make things a bit easier for the front seven.