People continue to rag on Mitch Trubisky for his struggles at finding consistency. Once again he was erratic in the first half of a game. He missed open opportunities, several to Anthony Miller (again) and seemed a bit flustered by the heavy blitzes the New York Jets were throwing at him. People lambasted him for the issues, per usual.
Then he proceeded to quiet them down with one of the best second halves he’s played all season. After a punt to start things off, the young quarterback personally took control of the game both with his arm and his legs. Chicago scored on three straight offensive drives including two touchdowns to put the Bears up 24-10.
All told he finished the half 11-of-16 for 104 yards, a touchdown pass and also rushed for 38 yards including a big 4th down conversion. He finished the day with 220 yards passing, two TD passes and 51 yards rushing. That’s a solid day at the office, and perhaps the best drive he’s had this season took place during that second half.
Mitch Trubisky was money when the Bears needed an answer
It was a big moment in the game. An Eddie Jackson roughness penalty kept the Jets offense on the field and they eventually scored, narrowing the gap to 17-10 with plenty of time left in the game. It felt like another Bears 4th quarter collapse was coming. If the offense couldn’t somehow answer with a drive of their own, things could go downhill fast. Trubisky wasn’t having it.
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After an incompletion to Taylor Gabriel to start the drive, he fired what was his best pass of the day. A 23-yard strike to Miller over two Jets defenders and in front of two others for a big first down.
On the next play, Trubisky struck again on a 12-yard scramble. After a Jordan Howard run following that, he hit a 10-yard pass to Miller on 2nd and 6. With the Jets defense now keyed on him, the Bears fed the ball to Howard on two consecutive runs that he turned into 28 yards and a game-clinching touchdown.
Including this game, Trubisky is now 80-of-120 for 873 yards, 9 TDs and 3 interceptions in the second half this season for a 102.53 passer rating. That’s about as good as a Bears quarterback has played in the money quarters in years. It’s proof that he tends to bring his best when his team absolutely has to have it. Gripe and moan about the clunky starts all you want.
Be happy it’s not the other way around.
