The Chicago Bears had plenty of heroes in their improbable escape from Denver last Sunday with a 16-14 victory. The obvious one was Eddy Pineiro for nailing the critical 53-yard kick to clinch it. There was also Mitch Trubisky for his timely 25-yard completion to Allen Robinson to set the kick up with one second left. There was Khalil Mack who had eight pressures and a sack while drawing multiple holding penalties. Not to mention David Montgomery for scoring their only touchdown in difficult running conditions. One person who didn’t get any of the limelight was Roquan Smith.
The Bears inside linebacker didn’t make any flash plays during the course of the game. However, he sure as hell made a meaningful one. It came with just over five minutes left in the 4th quarter. Denver was about to run their 15th play of a long drive. It was hot and the altitude was becoming a factor. One can just imagine how exhausted Smith was by that point.
This didn’t stop him from making a crucial play in that game. Flacco took the snap on 2nd and goal and faked a handoff to the left. Then he fired a pass to Emmanuel Sanders on a crossing route to his right. Smith didn’t bite on the fake and chased the receiver down and right into the waiting arms of Kyle Fuller as both made the tackle before the goal line. If Smith had been a fraction late in reading that play and not been as fast as he is, Sanders likely scores there and ties the game.
On the next play, Fuller intercepted Flacco to turn away the Broncos scoring threat.
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Roquan Smith saved the Bears from almost inevitable destruction
One can’t understate how pivotal that play by Smith was. It led to the turnover and bought the Bears precious time. Denver didn’t get the ball back again until there was 2:48 left on the clock. They would eventually go down and score that touchdown and subsequent 2-point conversion to take a one-point lead. However, that drive could’ve been to take the lead on a go-ahead field goal or touchdown with a 13-13 tie.
This would’ve forced the Bears to kick a field goal or score a TD just to even the game and reach overtime.
Instead, Smith’s gutty play left the offense with 30 seconds to get close enough for a potential winning field goal. As everyone now remembers, Pineiro put it right down Main Street. This is proof again of two things. Not all the great plays are flashy during a football game. Also? Smith is a budding star. He finished that contest with 13 tackles and should only get better as the season goes along.
