Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Week 1 Packers-Bears game at Soldier Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
CHICAGO -- A new era in the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is gone, jettisoned to New York in the offseason. The Detroit Lions -- the LIONS! -- played on opening night in Kansas City... and won! The Vikings regressed in one-score games in Week 1, losing to Baker Mayfield and the visiting Buccaneers.
A wild lead into the Chicago Bears' opener against Green Bay at Soldier Field. The stage was set for Chicago to set the tone. It was set to take control of this rivalry again after failing for so long. It was set for Justin Fields to announce to the NFL that he IS the franchise QB for Chicago to build around.
In the end were outcoached, outplayed, and outhustled in every phase of the game. Matt LaFleur coached circles against Matt Eberflus, Alan Williams, Luke Getsy, and everyone on the team. A multi-score embarrassment of epic proportions to the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
I shared my in-game reactions below. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation!
Thoughts and Observations
1. A ROUGH start for the Bears to open the game. A penalty on the opening kickoff backed Chicago up inside their own 20. After a nice screen play to Khalil Herbert picked up a first, Luke Getsy got cute with a TE-scren on 3rd-and-short that didn't pick up the first. And then 4th and inches on their own side of the field was stuffed. No push up front whatsoever.
2. Bears have settled in here a little bit. After a field goal drive, they forced a 3 and out on Green Bay. The highlight was Yannick Ngakoue blowing up an AJ Dillon toss to set the Packers up behind the sticks. Huge play.
Chicago then found some momentum on the next drive, but they stalled in the deep red zone. Cairo Santos made is 7-6, Packers. The highlight on that drive was a magic trick by Fields to escape a Jaire Alexander blitz on 3rd and 7, followed by two consecutive first down catches by newcomer D.J. Moore. Hope there's more of that to come.
3. Lots of penalties for the Bears this afternoon. False starts have been killers -- ruining a couple drives already. Braxton Jones has been called for a hold, too. Not great. Matt Eberflus won't be pleased -- Chicago isn't supposed to beat themselves.
4. The pass rush ... is not improved. I get the Packers have a top-5 offensive line. But all the resources the Bears poured into the front this offseason (albeit, not a lot of "flashy" moves) -- and there simply isn't any juice here. Concerning.
5. Luke Getsy is having a rough day. It's clear he's trying to test the Packers horizontally with screens and such. But they're ready for it. And the Bears can't block the Packers' front. It's a mess all around.
The Bears caught a break on defense when Jordan Love floated a ball five yards too far in front of Luke Musgrave, who got behind the defense. Chicago really lucky to not be down multiple scores at halftime.
It's a trainwreck through one half so far at Soldier Field.
6. Holy moly, it's even worse in the second half. The Packers march right down the field courtesy of a 51-yard throwback screen to Aaron Jones. And then the Bears go three-and-out promptly. 17-6 in the third quarter and the Packers are ready to blow it open.
7. Aaron Jones took a slant on 4th and 3 35 yards to the house. He just ran away from T.J. Edwards. Absolutely unbelievable.
8. Hooooo boy. Right after the Bears finally eke into the end zone at the end of the third quarter to pull within 24-14, the Packers broke their backs with a QUICK touchdown to open the fourth quarter. The Bears lost Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave on back to back plays. And then Love threw a perfect fade to Doubs for another touchdown. 31-14. This is a demolition. Bears simply cannot execute on third down.
9. I mean, something's gotta give, right? This is inexcusable.
10. And Justin Fields reaches into his bag of "same old tricks" and stares his receiver down on 3rd down over the middle. A pick-six for Quay Walker.
11. An organization-shaking loss for Chicago. They had a full year (and more) to start establishing their foundation. This year was supposed to show improvement. And yes, it's Week 1. But this kind of loss is just a brutal dose of reality... and again, to the Packers at home. Outplayed and outcoached in every phase. Simply shocking.
12. I picked the Bears to go 7-10 this season. I thought that was maybe even 'pessimistic' considering the schedule. But wow, even 7 might be too many.
13. The Bears go to Tampa next Sunday to take on the surprise Buccaneers, who went into Minnesota today and upset the Vikings. That heat and humidity? I've seen the Bears crumple in bad conditions before. Expect more of the same.
Early prediction: Bucs 26, Bears 10
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