Mitchellpolooza

October 10, 2017

The Chicago Bears had a chance to beat the Minnesota Vikings but some costly mistakes hurt their chances. Final score Vikings 20 Bears 17. However, this game was not about winning or losing. This was all about the chance to see number 1 draft pick Mitchell Trubisky. Today my cup is half full as opposed to empty.

Mitchell Trubisky showed he is the future of this franchise. Showing poise, mobility and accuracy he almost led to a Bears victory. For him it was a tale of two halves, one good one not so good.

Trubisky completed 6 of 7 passes to start the game. Of course the one incompletion was a drop. If there is one consistency about the Bears it is dropped passes. With roll out and play action, the Bears’ offense was moving the ball. With Bradford quarterbacking the Vikings, the upset was possible. As usual, dumb penalties stopped any drives Trubisky was engineering. First a holding penalty on Cody Whitehair wiped out a 26 yard pass completion that would have put the ball on the Vikings 9 yard line. Next, a holding call on deep threat receiver Markus Wheaton (hasn’t had a catch in two games) erased a Jordan Howard touchdown run. It was the only time Wheaton went downfield. Then a ticky tack offensive pass interference negated another long gain. Every time the Bears had the ball in good field position penalties prevented scoring plays. Aside from bad penalties, they can’t go a game without some stupidity by lame duck coach John Fox. On fourth and two at the Vikings 38 yard line he can’t decide whether to go for the first down or punt. With Conner Barth a field goal from that distance is not an option.  After calling a time out the punting team goes on the field, a few seconds later they are replaced by the offense. The result of this utter confusion is delay of game penalty and a punt. When your team is going nowhere it should be a no brainer to go for the first down. The strip sack late in the half was not all of Trubisky’s fault. Offensive lineman Leno got totally beat and Everson Griffen had a clear path to the quarterback.

  

The second half of the Mitch Trubisky show did not go as well. The Vikings made adjustments and put a new quarterback in to keep their offense on the field longer. The Vikings immediately scored on a 6 1/2 minute drive to make the score Vikings 10 Bears 2. Trubisky missed on his next 3 passes although the reversal of a completion showed off his accuracy. Behind Jordan Howard the Bears moved the ball to where they had 4^th down and 6 yards at the Viking 38. Low and behold they score a touchdown on fake punt. So an atypical John Fox move makes score Vikings 10 Bears 9. Minnesota scores a touchdown on a drive that included Keenum, the new quarterback, a 22 yard rush on 3^rd and long, Vikings 17 Bears 9. Trubisky’s passes are not going well as incompletions mound. Bears go primarily to the run. Then from the Minnesota 20, a pass that should have been intercepted falls in the hands of Zach Miler for Trubisky’s first touchdown. The 2 point conversion was the best play I’ve seen from the Bears in years. Let me get this straight. Handoff to Howard who gives to Miller who flips to Trubisky. Can you imagine Glennon making that play? Vikings 17 Bears 17.

The downfall comes when Bear defense makes a stand. From the 10 yard line. Trying to do too much, Trubisky gets picked off on a bad pass. Vikings ball with a little over 2 minutes left. This where a dumb defensive penalty kills the Bears. With 1 minute 23 seconds, the Bears stop the Vikings to set up 42 yard goal and the ball back to maybe tie the score. Alas, Leonard Floyd, who had a good game gets a penalty for holding. On an obvious running play why is he holding away from the line?  The Vikings run out clock and kick a chip shot field goal. Vikings 20 Bears 17.

All in all, the future looks good with a franchise quarterback. He will make mistakes but he’ll learn from these and become better. The real problem is he has no one to throw to. The deficiency at receiver should be the first priority at free agency and draft.