Another Meaningless Win

November 30, 2019

 

Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and string bean casseroles are all parts of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Another Thanksgiving tradition is watching the Chicago Bears play the Detroit Lions. The Bears disappointing season has made this game lose some of its luster though it was still entertaining. The Bears came back to beat the Lions 24-20 and reach .500 with a 6-6 record. If anyone is thinking about the Bears winning out, finishing 10-6 and making the playoffs, let me assure you, it’s not going to happen. Of the 6 Bear victories, 5 have come against last place teams. I don’t see any left on the schedule.

The game had an auspicious start. I have never seen offsetting penalties on the opening kick-off. The game officially started when Cordarrelle Patterson fielded the ball 7 yards deep in the end zone. Most returners would take a knee for a touchback. However, the Bears offense has been so inept it is better for Patterson to run it out. He ended up returning the kick to midfield. From there it took the Bears less than 4 minutes to score a touchdown, a 10 yard pass to Allen Robinson. Robinson has been the Bears best player on offense this year. It was the Bears first touchdown of the year in the opening quarter. Of course from then on they could only manage a measly field goal at the end of the half.

Injuries on the Lions forced them to start third-string rookie quarterback David Blough. He and the Lions carved up the Bears defense. The Lions third play was a 75 yard touchdown pass to Kenny Golladay. On their next possession, the Lions drove 75 yards and scored on an 8 yard pass from Blough to Marvin Jones. The Lions added a 25 yard field goal by Matt Prater.

The Bears were down 17-10 at halftime. It seemed liked they had reached a new low. Unbelievably, Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky engineered a comeback. After several pitiful starts, this was one of the best games in his brief career. He completed 29 of 38 passes for 338 yards.* One was a beautiful 18 yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jasper Horsted to tie the game. The Lions went ahead by 3 points on another Prater field goal.

Bears second year wide receiver Anthony Miller was invisible the first 10 games of the year. He was another player in whom Coach Matt Nagy had lost faith. Last game against the Giants he had 7 catches for 77 yards. Being the beneficiary of double coverage on Allen Robinson, he had a career best game Thursday. He had 9 catches for 140 yards. On the winning drive he caught a 35 yard pass on a third and four at the Bears 16-yard line. Four plays later, third and 5 at the Lions 34, he caught a 32 yard pass at the two yard line. On first down Matt Nagy called a run up the middle for David Montgomery.  The Bears committed a penalty negating his net rush of zero yards. When is idiot coach Nagy going to learn this play never works? When is Nagy going to learn that Montgomery’s best runs come in the I-formation with a fullback blocking in front of him? In a single back formation, he goes nowhere. However, on the next play had a huge 5-yard run and caught a two yard touchdown pass to give the Bears the lead.

After getting torched in the first half, the defense only allowed 3 second half points. They made a couple of clutch plays that contributed to the win. With the Lions having a third and one inside the Bears 10 yard line, Kyle Fuller made an ankle tackle on running back J.D. McKissie to force a field goal.  After the Bears go-ahead score, the Lions got the ball back with a little over two minutes left. At the Bear 27 yard line, linebacker Roquan Smith had 13 yard sack. On the next play under pressure, Blough threw a desperation pass that was easily intercepted by Eddie Jackson. Game over.

*This is only one game against the 30^th-ranked pass defense.