November 11, 2019
If the Lions starting quarterback, Matt Stafford, wasn’t
injured, the Lions would have won this game. While also missing their two best
running backs, Stafford was replaced by Jeff Driskel. Driskel was drafted in
the sixth round in 2016 and had started only 5 games. The Bears defense seems
to have lost their mojo. On their first possession
the Lions easily moved the ball downfield to the Bears 10 yard line. The Bears
held them to a field goal. For the remainder of the game, Driskel continued to
make plays. Without Akiem Hicks, the running defense has suffered. The Lions were
getting 4-5 yards on first down running plays. Luckily for the Bears,
inexperienced quarterbacks have trouble with consistency and Driskel wasn’t
able to always come up with first downs. On another possession in the first
half the Bears stymied the Lions in Bear territory. On a third down, the Lions
committed a 5 yard penalty. Coach Matt Nagy, who has lost confidence in his
team, declined the penalty. The Lions Matt Prater kicked a 54 yard field goal
to put the Lions up 6-0. For the most part Driskel eluded the Bears pass rush
and completed 27 of 46 passes for 269 yards, more than the Bears total offense.
Even with a 14 point lead the Bears defense wasn’t applying pressure.
The Bears offense continued to struggle. The Lions are
ranked 31st in total defense and 31st against the pass. Until the final drive
of the second half, the Bears had a total of 29 yards with a plethora of three
and outs resulting in punts. The offense finally clicked on an 80 yard drive, capped
by a 27 yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Braunecker. On their first possession
of the second half, passes to Allen Robinson and a pass interference at the 10
yard line set up a Mitch Trubisky touchdown pass to Tarik Cohen. An
interception by linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, replacing injured Danny Trevathan,
put the ball on the Lions 25 yard line. Trubisky connected with Taylor Gabriel
for a 24 yard touchdown pass. That was it for the Bears offense, as it reverted
to the three and outs. The Bears scored only a lowly 20 points. The only team
they scored over 21 points against was the Washington Redskins, who like the
Lions, are a bad defensive team
.
The Bears had a chance to ice the game running out the clock
out with two minutes left. Good luck with that. The hand-offs to Montgomery
were as usual, unsuccessful. (I don’t know why Nagy hasn’t figured out they can
run the ball with a fullback in the backfield with Montgomery). Nagy has lost
so much confidence in his offense; on third down with the Lions having nine
people on the line, he chose not to pass. Another punt gave the Lions a chance
and they came up just short at the Bears 25 yard line when an incomplete pass
in the end zone ended the game.
For those of you who think the Bears can turn things around,
there are some swamp lands in Florida you may be interested in. After Sunday
night’s game in Los Angeles against the Rams, you can turn off the lights on
the Bears’ season. So come on Bulls and Blackhawks, make me feel better.
P.S. Baseball starts March 26th
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