Chicago Bears Game Grades: A few class standouts, a few class clowns in loss to Dallas

The Bears lost. It looked really bad early. Then it got better and then it didn’t. BUT THE QUARTERBACK. The glass is half full coming out of Dallas if you want it to be. And I do.

On to the grades. 

Quarterback: A 
Justin Fields can run. Justin Fields can throw. Sling shots around defenders to Darnell Mooney. Bombs to Velus Jones (forget the he dropped it part). Touchdown passes to N’Keal Harry and Cole Kmet. It looked good. Often. 17/23 for 151 yards does not tell close to the entire story. Neither does 8 carries for 60 yards. Justin Fields is looking like the best quarterback from his draft which he promised he would be and he is still light on weapons and a dominant offensive line. There is a lot to feel good about here. 

Running Backs: A-  
The production was there once again for the dynamic duo. Khalil Herbert found the end zone and picked up 99 yards. David Montgomery ran hard and picked up a very key fourth down conversion in the first half or the Bears could have been out of it by halftime. The only reason this is not an A is the Herbert fumble that somehow the Bears got back after a curious review. The ball was out but New York said Herbert got it back? Keep control of the ball and you get a straight A. 

Offensive Line: B 
Justin Fields is still helping the O Line more than the O Line is helping Justin Fields who was sacked four times. But the ground game was there again for 240 more yards and Fields did have plenty of moments where he was able to sit back in the pocket and make a throw without any real pressure. Credit to Sam Mustipher, Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield for all stepping in. For all the heat Mustipher takes, the Bears are lucky to have him. I especially like the O Line getting physical pushing the running backs forward for first downs. The physicality was impressive at times. 

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Wide receiver/tight end: B 
The last time Cole Kmet caught a TD pass it was December 6, 2020 from a guy named Mitch Trubisky.  ( Moment of celebration that Trubisky is not the Bears quarterback while we wish 10 well at the same time ) That TD pass made it 30-20 Bears in a game they would lose 34-30. Meanwhile, Kmet ran free to the right corner of the end zone to end the drought. Darnell Mooney had a nifty double move while hauling in all five of his targets with ease. That indeed was N’Keal Harry giving Fields a big target to hit in the end zone. There was the Jones drop and a poor play on the ball early from Equanimeous St. Brown but overall this group deserves applause. 

Defensive line/linebacker: D 
Do we have to? Were they there? Roquan Smith called it an embarrassing performance. It was. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on their first four drives like a hot knife through butter. The next time the Bears run into Tony Pollard it will feel like the first time. The lone sack of Dak Prescott came from Juquan Brisker. Trevis Gipson was the only other Bear to touch Prescott. A QB sneak went for 25-yards on 3rd and 1. Daryl Johnston said he had never seen that before. Neither had any of us, Daryl. 

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Secondary: C 
Eddie Jackson was the Bears best defender by a long shot. Jackson, now a team captain, was all over the field hauling in a pick just before the half that set the offense up for a near TD. He was physical leading the team in tackles with 11. I can’t remember the last time Eddie was throwing his body around quite like that. The aforementioned Brisker got a sack but missed some tackling opportunities. Kindle Vildor was a step slow a good portion of the afternoon. 

Coaching: B 
Luke Getsy continues to install confidence in his ability to construct an offense around Justin Fields. Matt Eberflus was aggressive multiple times going for it on 4th and 1 in his own territory and going for 2 down 28-23. Bears fans are blaming Defensive Coordinator Alan Williams for the Bears defensive woes but Williams cannot tackle for his guys. I expect a bounce back from the defense next week versus Miami. 

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