Last Week's Review & This Week's Preview: Buccaneers @ Bears
- nolanbul2
- Oct 7, 2020
- 8 min read
For the first few weeks of the 2020 NFL season, the Chicago Bears found themselves at a 3-0 start filled with luck, excitement, and future mystery. Unfortunately, their luck ran out against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday with a score of 19-11, giving the Bears their first loss of the season.
In this article, I will discuss my review and reaction from the loss against the Indianapolis Colts, go off on my current frustration with our fan base, and preview the Thursday night match v.s. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If you haven't already, please feel free to check out my introduction article, I had a blast putting it together. You will get to know more about me, my background, and my plans for this website here:
A Porous Outing This Time Around
One of the terms "sloppy," "life-less," or "dull" could be used to describe how the Bears performed v.s. the Colts. On defense, we certainly could have played worse. Still, it was frustrating seeing QB Philip Rivers efficiently sneak his way down the field, especially considering that our defense had a tough time tackling. More importantly, the field was covered in a sea of yellow, as defensive penalties killed the team, especially considering the timing of a few of them. However, the town's talk has been, per usual, our offense, and their awful display of play. After facing three beatable, lightweight defenses, QB Nick Foles' first start as a Bear came against a much more formidable unit. They came in and put up a stout performance, instantly killing the Bears hot streak.
I will be the first to admit that I underestimated precisely how great the Colts defense could be. I knew they were good, but thought they were beatable, and boy was I wrong. The entire run game was utterly non-existent, as Running Back David Montgomery was held to only 27 yards. Besides their two scoring drives, Foles struggled with accuracy and had his receivers dropping key passes (I am looking at you, Anthony Miller). Play-calling from Head Coach Matt Nagy was also questionable, as to why on EARTH does he keep having Cordarelle Patterson run up the middle of the line anymore? Especially on 3rd and 1?! What annoyed me most was when, late in their comeback attempt, Nick Foles threw up a jump-ball bomb, on 4th and 1, to David Montgomery that was incomplete, but luckily got called for defensive pass interference. The 11 point showing was not a pretty sight to see for Bears fans, as all three phases of the game were undoubtedly a disappointment on our end.
On The Other Hand, Bears Fans Need To CHILL
My goodness, Bears fans, I love you, and I get the frustration from Sunday, but instances like what you have shown after the game sometimes make me much flat-out embarrassed to be associated with you.
A Summary Of Bears Fans Questionably Panicking Over a 3-1 Start (Credit: Chicago Tribune)
We start the year 3-0 for the first time in years, and everyone goes ballistic, but when we have one sloppy game, you all act like the sky is falling. Yes, the game did not look good by any means, but we are 3-1! Be happy! How do we go from upbeat and content to fearful and worried in one week with no middle ground? We faced a great defense unit that crushed our offense, while our defense could not do enough to cushion their fall. It happens! A win would be pleasant as always, and it could have been a much better contest, but we were going to lose a game eventually, plain and simple.
A healthy number of fans are already calling for Nagy's firing and for Foles to be benched, despite the coach being praised for making a clutch move by bringing in Foles v.s. Atlanta and the QB being adored by all for his comeback performance. For f$%# sake, people, unless you are more of a Mitch Trubisky fan and somehow still idiotically believe he is better than Foles, it is your fault for likely creating unrealistic expectations for Foles and the entire team for the remainder of the season. Despite their heroics, and believe me, I know just how awesome it was, they were (and still are) greatly unproven and need to show fans, and the rest of the league alike, that they could have kept up such an act and play consistently, especially against a tough defense. A 3-1 record is phenomenal, and it should be celebrated and not taken for granted whatsoever, but we still do not know who this team truly is. The whole reason why I am shocked and mad is that it took just one game to go from giddy and elated to nervous and anxious.
They could not come up with the win and desired performance, and now a good handful of fans are panicking at a high point. Again, it was an ugly game, I will stress that, but there is still plenty of season left and 3-1 at the moment. Let us enjoy where we are at and panic only when it is necessary. For me, if we lose against Tampa Bay and then against the Carolina Panthers the following week and find ourselves losing three straight games, then you will have me starting to worry legitimately.
The State Of The Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Through the first three games of the year, QB Tom Brady was having himself only a decent season in his new chapter with the Buc's. But Week 4 came, and Brady filled up the stat sheet with ease, throwing for 369 yards and five touchdowns, all without Wide Receiver Chris Godwin, in a shootout victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The team will be without their star weapon again, as he has already been ruled out with an ongoing hamstring injury. But by no means will that stop or slow down the preparation and intimidation that Brady and the offense bring to the table. Players such as fellow Wide Receiver Scotty Miller have stepped up smoothly to help aide the passing attack. Their top option at the position, Mike Evans, has had back and forth yardage totals but salvaged his performances by scoring a touchdown in each game this year (five overall). Their run game consists of various players, but Ronald Jones will appear to carry a more significant load with fellow Running Back Leonard Fournette out once again, as he also will be coming off a quality performance from last week.
QB Tom Brady, In the Midst Of His Dissection Of The Chargers Defense (Credit: Sportsnaut)
On the other hand, the Buccaneers defense has improved as a unit. Their run defense picked up right where they left off from last year: remaining one of the best in the league. Led by Linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White, the unit has only allowed one Running Back to rush for over 50 yards, and that was arguably the best one they could face: Carolina Panthers' Christian McCaffrey. Their pass defense is the one where they have improved, becoming more solidified than their previous few seasons with a miserably awful secondary. But they are certainly beatable, as they allowed Chargers Rookie QB Justin Herbert to show off for nearly 300 yards and three TD's last week. I am not here to compare Foles and Herbert, as I do not know how it would make sense to do so, but my point is they can be beaten through the air.
Both the Bears and Buccaneers are 3-1, but the two teams' current vibes are different from each other. Thanks to having the greatest QB of all-time at the helm coming off a masterpiece of a performance, the Buc's are the ones with the more positive mindset heading into tomorrow night.
The State Of The Bears
If I were honest, I do not have high hopes for the Bears' rushing attack, as the Buc's present a steep challenge for David Montgomery. The only way I believe we can win offensively is if Nick Foles can have a bounce back performance of sorts and lead a potent air attack. No matter how he may conduct it, they must get off to a good start and score early. Try to feed your top target, Allen Robinson, as much as possible. Look more to your Tight Ends, as they were non-existent this past week. Hopefully, we can see our top draft choice, Cole Kmet, have his role slowly expand as the season progresses and continues to develop. But my magnifying glass will be mostly pointed towards Coach Nagy. Will he have another disappointing display of play-calling? Will he sustain a flow and rhythm on offense that our team has lacked all season? Will he stay on top of things and give the team much-needed leadership under massive scrutiny? By no means am I in the class of wanting to have him fired right now, but those are many of the crucial questions that I am nervously anticipating how it will turn out.
On the other side of the ball, the Bears run defense was able to keep Colts' rookie riser, Jonathan Taylor, mainly in check, but they had quite a few instances of inconsistent tackling that were hard to ignore by me and fans alike. Thankfully, the Bears face a more beatable Offensive Line and (in my opinion) a slightly easier rush attack. But Ronald Jones should not be slept on, as the Bears weakness could be exploited yet again by him.
QB Nick Foles And The Offense In Huddle v.s. The Colts (Credit: Windy City Gridiron)
Let us not fool ourselves; all eyes will be on the Buc's pass offense v.s. the Bears pass defense. The team will have their hands full against Brady, but he will have a tough matchup against our highly rated pass defense thus far. But my main fear is if Philip Rivers and his weapons can nudge their way far enough to get through the Bears defense, Tom Brady can undoubtedly do the same. Per usual, we must see more from our pass rush in hopes of creating pressure on Brady. Outside Linebackers Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn have been creating pressure but have been held to underwhelming stats outside of their performances against the New York Giants in Week 2. Hopefully, more pressure can create more turnovers, as the team only has four of those so far.
Asking for such a performance against the greatest ever to play is not easy, but we must do so for any genuine chance of winning.
My Preseason Prediction For This Game: Bears Win
My Pick Now: Bears Win
Final Score: Bears 24 - Bucs 21
Before the season, I had a fun, gut-feeling scenario of how I thought this game would pan out.
I predicted this game would be the beginning of the Nick Foles era after a 1-3 start from Mitch Trubisky, just in time for there to be Super Bowl 52 rematch between Foles and Brady, right on national TV. I expected the Buc's to be the heavy favorites to beat the dwindling Bears, but Foles would come in and upset Brady yet again, giving Chicago a significant injection of excitement.
Now that the game is here and given the current circumstances on both teams, it is not easy to pick Chicago to win this one. However, I will likely surprise most people here by boldly sticking with my gut and give Chicago the victory nod.
Am I comfortable with this prediction? Not really, Foles MUST play without much hiccups, which is a tough ask to begin with. Simultaneously, the defense must pressure Brady while hopefully forcing a couple of clutch turnovers along the way. I firmly believe that this will either be an intense Bears victory or a brutal loss that evokes more pain and fear into the general Bears fan base.
Same players, different teams and circumstances: The narrative is set between Brady and Foles for an intriguing rematch of one of the greatest stories in sports history a few years ago. WIll the six-time Super Bowl champion get his shot at redemption and steamroll over the Bears? Or will Foles pull off another miracle and give Bears fans a much-needed sigh of relief? We will find out under the lights in each team's first prime time game of the year on Thursday Night Football coverage. Fingers crossed this game is still the fun, intense one I imagined it would be before the season's start.
If you read through this whole article, pat yourself on the back because you are a gem. While you are at it, please feel free to let me know what you think and tap the heart icon at the bottom, if you wish.
Thank You, Rest In Peace Eddie Van Halen, and Bear Down!
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