On a perfect fall afternoon in Soldier Field, undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent led the Chicago Bears to their second win of the season, and first home win in over a year. His numbers weren’t gaudy, but he protected the football and sustained long, efficient drives. In addition to Bagent and the offense, the defense put up a fantastic performance.
Bagent-led Offense Looked Different
With starting QB Justin Fields out due to injury, I expected that the gameplan would look very similar to that of Weeks 1 and 2. The type of offense that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy clearly wants to run involves quick hitters and timely quarterback play. Though Justin Fields has many strengths, his biggest weakness is his tendency to hold onto the ball for too long, arguably the most important skill for a Getsy quarterback to possess.
Tyson Bagent Was Efficient
Former D-II QB Tyson Bagent, Fields’ backup, excels in this department. The things that weren’t working for Fields in Weeks 1 and 2 (before Getsy started suiting his gameplan to Fields’ strengths) were now viable. Bagent got the ball out very quickly. He seemed to always know exactly where he was going with the ball and where his checkdown option was. This allowed him avoid no-gains. Even if his first read was covered, Bagent was able to make short, yet extremely precise throws 2-4 yards down the field on first downs to set himself up for 2nd-and-7s instead of 2nd-and-10s. I was very impressed by his ability to get yards even on plays that were clearly well-defended. His numbers don’t jump off the page (162 passing yards, 1 touchdown), but he did exactly what was asked of him, and did it with confidence and swagger.
Offensive Line Held Strong
The offensive line deserves a mention after its performance against the Raiders on Sunday. While without multiple starters, they only allowed one sack as a unit. They were definitely assisted by Tyson Bagent’s ability to get the ball out so quickly, but they performed very well nonetheless. I thought that right tackle Darnell Wright did a great job lined up against superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby. He held him to only one sack, which I view as a win. Wright held his own against one of the league’s best and didn’t allow him to take over the game.
D’Onte Foreman’s Explosion
I would be remiss to not mention running back D’Onte Foreman, filling in for the injured Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. After being a healthy scratch for several games at the beginning of the season, Foreman made his case for garnering more playing time. He racked up over 120 all purpose yards and a whopping three touchdowns. Foreman runs hard and would be difficult to take out of the lineup when Herbert and Johnson come back. I think that head coach Matt Eberflus needs to keep riding him out. With three capable running backs, riding the hot hand is the best approach.
Defense Had its Best Game
Week 7 was undoubtedly the most impressive game for the Bears defense. Though the Raiders offense has struggled mightily this year, they still have two very talented weapons in WR Davante Adams and RB Josh Jacobs. They were also forced to start journeyman QB Brian Hoyer due to starting QB Jimmy Garapolo’s back injury. Still, the defense did what it was supposed to do. It only allowed six points until the last minute touchdown to Jakobi Meyers. In addition, it actually scored points. Jaylon Johnson’s pick-six provided a the nail to the coffin for Las Vegas.
Jaylon Johnson is Getting Paid
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He goes out there and balls each and every week. He doesn’t typically produce many interceptions because the ball simply doesn’t come his way very often. However, I could tell something was different this week. After only the first couple of drives, it was clear the the Raiders didn’t respect Johnson in the way the rest of the league seems to. They were targeting him at a surprisingly high rate, and he made them pay for it in the 4th quarter. On a sideline throw to Davante Adams, Johnson jumped the route and took the ball all the way to the house. He then grabbed another interception just a few plays later on a desperation heave, marking the first two-pick day of his career. After the game, he made it clear that his “make it rain” celebration was meaningful, and that he believes he deserves to get paid like a top cornerback this offseason. I agree; hopefully it’s the Bears who do it.
Tyrique Stevenson on Davante Adams?!
Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson also deserves his flowers. Corner is widely considered the most difficult position for NFL rookies (besides quarterback), and a matchup with arguably the best receiver in the league doesn’t make things any easier. To my surprise, Stevenson was lined up on Adams a lot, including quite a a bit of man defense. To my even greater surprise, he held his own! Adams was bottled to only 57 yards on seven catches and Stevenson was a big reason for this.
Lack of Pass Rush
If there was one negative on the day, it was the lack of pass rush. The defense only produced one sack. It didn’t matter today against Brian Hoyer and a disjointed Raiders offense. However, it will (and has proven to) be an issue against stronger opponents. Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker have to start doing something. They may have made a difference in the running game today, but the pass rushing numbers have to improve.
Conclusion
Overall, the Bears played a very clean game on Sunday. The gameplan was great, and the the personnel was able to execute. The offense was able to sustain long, methodical drives. The Raiders started their third possession of the second half with only 5:46 minutes left in the game. That is demoralizing for an opposing offense, and can be attributed to the offensive line, D’Onte Foreman, Tyson Bagent, and Luke Getsy. Onto Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Sunday Night!