3 game changing situations that cost the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have nobody to blame but themselves for their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears had plenty of chances to make that game closer and even take control, but they hurt themselves far too many times.
What were some key moments that ended up deciding the game
3. Justin Fields takes two bad sacks for the Chicago Bears
Trailing 10-7 midway through the second quarter, the Chicago Bears put together one of the best drives of the game. Roschon Johnson hit an explosive run, and Justin Fields connected with Cole Kmet for two first downs.
The team was driving and got to the 27-yard line. However, facing first down, it looked like Justin Fields had a brain fart and made an awful decision. The play is below.
The worst thing he could have done was step up into that pressure, and he did it. Countless times, he does not step up into a clean pocket, and this time, he runs straight into a mess. Worse than that, you can see he has players open. The shot below tells you that it is squarely on Fields.
The route concepts make sense, you cannot blame the coordinator. The protection is fine, look at the pocket he is in. D.J. Moore is open, as is the running back streaking down the field. Justin Fields cannot read any of it and takes a sack.
Facing second and long the Bears were hoping to pick up a couple of yards, but Fields threw a bad pass incomplete to the flats. It set up third and long. Again. Justin Fields had time and right tackle Darnell Wright did a pretty solid job at forcing the pass rusher to get out around him. However, Fields is way too deep in the pocket by the point. Normally, Wright would have led this arch too far upfield, but in this case, it was still not enough to protect Fields.
Fields has no timer in his head to get rid of the football. He holds it far too long and takes another sack. A drive with momentum entering the red zone led to a 52-yard field goal. Moving the chains, or even a touchdown, was on the table on first down. That is a major letdown.