Dhruv Koul shares his live, in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Rams-Bears “Sunday Night Football” game at Soldier Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
CHICAGO -- Even with their starting quarterback sitting out for the second straight week, the
Chicago Bears surprisingly lost a wild game to the New York Giants at the Meadowlands last weekend that dropped them to 8-4. Yet luckily, the other teams in the NFC North also lost, so the Bears maintained their lead on second-place Minnesota with four games remaining on the season.
Tonight’s prime time showdown against the NFL-best Los Angeles Rams was certainly considered a litmus test for a team widely believed to have ‘arrived’ a year early. Chicago came in as an underdog at home, and understandably so: The Rams are a juggernaut fueled by a rising star at quarterback (Jared Goff), the league’s best running back (Todd Gurley) and arguably the league’s best offensive mind and head coach (Sean McVay).
The upstart Bears also boast a fun and ascending second-year quarterback (Mitch Trubisky) and great offensive mind (Matt Nagy) of their own, so this matchup featured a lot of similar parts squaring off in addition to two overall talented teams.
I picked the Rams to beat the Bears, mainly because I didn’t think the cold weather would affect them and the fact that LA has a better, more experienced roster than Chicago does.
In the end, the Bears thoroughly dismantled the Rams in a masterful defensive performance on a cold night along the Lakefront. The passing offense struggled, but the running game played very well and the defense did its thing.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game at Soldier Field below. Fun game.
PRE-GAME
1. Mitch Trubisky’s return after two games and three weeks couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bears. There's no question he gives Chicago the better chance to win over Chase Daniel. But there are some valid questions to be asked: How rusty will he be? How will he adapt to live game speed and having to escape from Aaron Donald? Will he trust his running ability after returning from injury and use his legs as the game calls for it? That adjustment will be huge and it’ll be interesting to watch him settle in.
2. This game also features the two highest paid defensive players in the league and in NFL history: Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack. Donald rightfully got his extension prior to the season to put him on top of the defensive salary list. But after the Bears acquired Mack in a trade with Oakland, they quickly signed him to an even richer extension. It's quite rare that such rich contracts work out for the team in the end, but so far, both players have been worth every penny and more for their respective teams. What amazing players.
3. Just a reminder where the Bears are in relation to where they've been for years and where many people thought they might still be coming into this season:
How's that for some perspective? Pretty amazing, isn't it?
FIRST HALF
4. Mixed first drive for the Bears on offense, who took the field first after the Rams won the toss. Trubisky proved that he'd be willing to run it, taking off on the first play and later on a long third down. But a terrible overthrow just past midfield resulted in a Marcus Peters INT and LA setting up inside the red zone. It looked like a matter of not getting his feet set once again for Trubisky, who has struggled with that all season long. He had a wide open Josh Bellamy, but missed him by a mile. Luckily for Chicago, the defense held LA to a field goal try. Rams up 3-0.
5. Second drive, Trubisky again had a couple of rough throws, but he found his groove after a third down to move the ball, even overcoming a Bellamy chop block penalty. Tarik Cohen is ridiculous as usual, as he contributed a big-time 32 yard run to move the Bears into the red zone. Unfortunately, Bobby Massie was rendered useless on the decisive third down, resulting in Trubisky being swallowed up for a sack. Cody Parkey hit the field goal try though, so game tied 3-3. Decent response after a brutal first drive which also chewed plenty of time off the clock. Keeping the high-powered Rams' offense on the sidelines, in the cold, is a sound strategy.
6. The defense has come to play so far. Leonard Floyd, Khalil Mack and the rest of the front have brought consistent pressure so far and made Jared Goff uncomfortable. Good to see so far, but they will need more from the offense if they want to make it through the rest of the game. Trubisky has been missing high most of the night. Footwork, not rust, has been his issue.
7. Matt Nagy has to be fuming. After the Bears' defense got to Jared Goff with pressure resulting in an INT by Roquan Smith, the offense set up shop on the Rams' four-yard line. But back-to-back penalties on offense (illegal formation and illegal block in the back) pushed them out 15 yards to the 19. Chicago settled for a field goal despite a PRIME scoring chance to go up just 6-3. That's how you can easily lose games against elite teams -- by not taking full advantage of the limited opportunities when they're there.
8. Prince Amukamara should've had easy interceptions on two straight plays on LA's ensuing drive. Both were dropped. And after an illegal shift penalty and dump-off brought up 4th-and-8, Sean McVay called for a fake punt that Johnny Hekker executed perfectly. Goodness that is an awful turn of events, especially after just settling for a field goal the drive before. The Bears were able to hold them after a lengthy drive to a field goal, so the game is tied 6-6. But the results of those last two drives makes it seem like the Rams are actually ahead.
9. Bryce Callahan headed to locker room and walking gingerly at the two-minute warning with the Bears on offense. That's a huge loss - Callahan is a star nickel CB for the Bears who does everything -- cover, blitz, tackle, etc. He's doubtful to return with a foot injury, meaning it's the Sherrick McManis show at nickel for the rest of the night. Gulp.
10. Trubisky has been awful tonight. Right before the half, he made an awful decision on a long third down that was intercepted near midfield. The receiver was never open, the window was less than miniscule, and the throw was late and bad. Luckily, Goff has been pretty damn bad himself. Game goes to halftime tied 6-6, as Goff's last-second throw of the first half was picked off by Eddie Jackson at the goal line. Rams will receive the second-half kickoff, and this has been a weird game to analyze. The Bears likely *should* be ahead, but they're not. But it also feels like a win that they're tied... Here's hoping for a strong second half.
SECOND HALF
11. Wow! After a first down run by Gurley lost a ton of yards, Eddie Goldman sacked Jared Goff in the end zone for a safety with a beautiful burst up the middle. Goff had no chance there.
On the ensuing drive for the Bears' offense, Chicago showed great balance running the ball right at the Rams, mixed with some nice PA-reads for Trubisky to find open receivers. A beautiful drive ended with the Bears' big-boy package again. Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols both found themselves in on offense. Matt Nagy, true to himself, designed another play off his "Freezer Left" play last week in New York, having Trubisky fake it to Hicks and throw to a wide-open Bradley Sowell for a touchdown. Bears up 15-6. The Rams will certainly have adjustments to Chicago's suffocating defense so far -- McVay is too good. But capping that drive off with a touchdown was huge. Nice execution.
12. Here's an evergreen reaction from tonight: Both QBs have been absolutely brutal. I don't understand it. Both QBs have three INTs through three quarters. Goff has also been sacked for a safety and been stripped on a sack that was recovered by LA.
13. Oh wow. After a really nice drive by the Rams that featured some brutal missed tackles by Chicago defenders, the Bears buckled down in the red zone and forced the Rams into a field goal, which bounced off the right upright! When was the last time a kicker missed one against the Bears? Seriously, it feels like it's been forever. What a huge break.
14. Goodness. This Bears' defense has been JACKED tonight. On a fourth-and-four, the Bears' defensive front absolutely destroyed the Rams' front and swallowed Jared Goff into oblivion. With four minutes left in the game, the Rams out of timeouts and Chicago up two scores, this is looking really good.
15. Cody Parkey missed from 38 yards out, wide to the left. Come on, man! Then again, at least it didn't doink...
16. What a game for Jordan Howard. He ran roughshod on the Rams all night and went over 100 yards finally. Great to see him get involved and have success. Will he get the game ball in Club Dub?
17. The Bears just beat the best team in football. Handily.
18. Next week, the Green Bay Packers come to Soldier Field. The Packers are fresh off a beatdown of Atlanta at Lambeau Field in their first game after Mike McCarthy was fired. Green Bay isn't completely dead yet, and this game is huge for their slim playoff hopes that are hanging by a thread. The Bears, meanwhile, are coming off a tough, emotional prime time game against one of the NFL's elite. It'll be fascinating. The Bears have no excuse for a letdown performance against their most bitter divisional rival -- and I don't think they will have one. They have a chance to stomp on the Packers and put them out of their misery. Let's see 'em do it.
Early prediction: Bears 27, Packers 24.
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