Going up 20-0 and losing 24-23, there really isn’t much to say. The Chicago Bears had a big one in their grasp and let it slip away. Once again the Green Bay Packers showed they still have so much to learn about how to win football games. Hopefully head coach Matt Nagy will take that lesson to heart and apply towards the rest of the season.
Thankfully there are still 15 games to go. Plenty of time to get things on the right track. Even better? As painful as the loss was, it came accompanied by a ton of positive developments. Remember that upgrade in talent everybody thought the Bears made this offseason? It was definitely on display throughout much of that game.
Not every opponent they face this year will have Aaron Rodgers to come to their rescue like Green Bay did. So here is a list of things Bears fans should be more than encouraged by as they look towards the home opener against Seattle on Monday Night.
Khalil Mack is that damn good
No training camp? No preseason? No problem. Khalil Mack came in with plenty of fanfare after the Bears’ blockbuster trade to get him from Oakland. Turns out it was well-deserved. The 27-year old pass rusher was dominant from the moment he stepped on the field, getting constant pressure on the quarterback and just making play after play.
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Despite not yet being in football shape, Mack squeezed a sack, a forced fumble, and a pick-six interception into the first two quarters of his Bears career. If he could do that with minimal knowledge of the defensive system and not having his full wind yet, one must shudder at how dangerous he’ll be when both are no longer an issue.
Roquan Smith will be a factor
The Bears kept their 1st round pick on the sidelines for most of the evening in Green Bay. That’s not a surprise. Roquan Smith missed all of training camp and most of preseason thanks to his contract holdout. As smart and talented as he is, he wasn’t ready. One can’t blame Chicago for keeping him as a reserve in case of injury.
Sure enough late in the first half he was forced into the game when Danny Trevathan had to leave due to a hit that seemed to tweak his back. What does the #8 overall the moment he gets in? He sacks the quarterback. There is still plenty of learning for him to do, but it was a glimpse of the playmaker he is and what he’ll become once that playbook is mastered.
Jordan Howard remains oh so reliable
Right now the heart of the Bears offense is Jordan Howard. That much was evident again at Lambeau. When Nagy and the coaches finally decided to feed him the ball in the second half, the offense woke up after a long dormant period. Howard showcased his patience, strength, and ability to find room for chunk gains.
This is the story of the game. Screw everything else. Jordan Howard was making magic happen and they opted to throw on 3rd and 1. That's it. That's the game. https://t.co/4eSuSICc42
— Jay Zawaski (@JayZawaski670) September 10, 2018
He even showcased his improved hands as a receiver with five catches for 25 yards. He finished with 82 yards rushing on 15 carries. That’s good for 5.46 yards per rush. The Bears can’t be afraid to feed him (and Tarik Cohen) the football. It will make life for their young quarterback so much easier.
Mitch Trubisky made some money plays
Did that young quarterback for the Bears have a great game? No, he did not. Was he the reason they lost? No as well. The fact is Mitch Trubisky looked exactly like what he is: a second-year QB playing his 13th career game in a new offense. He was off-kilter most of the night, missed some opportunities and rarely looked comfortable.
Yet to say he was bad? That’s not accurate. The truth is Trubisky was a big part of their most crucial drive of the game. The one that should’ve put the Packers away. With nine minutes left, the Bears ran a series of plays that drained almost seven of those minutes off the clock. Trubisky picked up two crucial third downs during the action.
First, he converted a 3rd and 3 on a quarterback sweep at the Bears 32. Then he hit Anthony Miller for 11 yards on 3rd and 7 at the Packers 39. It’s unfortunate he wasn’t able to convert the last one that forced the team to settle for a field goal but to say Trubisky didn’t give them a chance to win is incorrect.
Welcome to the Bears @AllenRobinson #BearDown pic.twitter.com/bXnVvVJTby
— ✶ Sports Mockery ✶ (@sportsmockery) September 10, 2018
The wide receivers are definitely better
Looking at Trubisky’s 171 passing yards, one would think the Bears wide receiving corps is no better than it was last year. That’s not the case. There were definite signs of improvement. Allen Robinson showed flashes of that Pro Bowl form he had in Jacksonville with four catches for 64 yards.
Miller had that big third down conversion that set up the final field goal and Taylor Gabriel secured a 31-yard play early in the first quarter. There were also plays where the receivers were open and Trubisky just missed them. As time goes on it’s likely that won’t happen as much. Trubisky and this group are still getting a feel for each other. It can and will get better.
