Mack and the Defense Carry Bears to Week 1 Victory
by Kris_06905 | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
The 2021 Bears re-signed Jameis Winston in the off-season and provided the offense with Todd Gurley in free agency. The hope is that a more consistent running game will take some pressure off of Winston and cut down on his league leading interceptions (31) from 2020. Neither looked to be the case week 1 at Arizona (0-1).
The Bears (1-0) did manage to win the game in overtime 16-10 but mostly on the strength of thier defense. Defense has always been the glamorous side of the ball in Chicago but 2020 saw the defense play well below its customary level. Many players took it as a personal mission to get back to form for 2021. Khalil Mack made the move to DE in the offseason and had 2 sacks and a forced fumble in the game. The fumble came on a first quarter sack of Kyler Murray that was scooped up by ROLB James Vaughters for a TD. That would be the only TD scored by the Bears in regulation.
Gurley struggled in his debut, managing only 68 yards on 23 carries. He also fumbled in the red zone in the 4th quarter. Hardly the production the front office was hoping for when they signed him as the top running back in the free agent class. Gurley promised better production in week 2.
Winston threw 3 interceptions but did redeem himself with an 8 yard TD run in overtime to win the game. It wasn't all bad for the signal caller, who did complete over 61% of his passes. A feat that was rare for him in 2020. Winston also completed passes to 9 different receivers. The long being a 34 yard post pattern to rookie TE Pete Freiermuth on 3rd and 14. The rookie's only catch came on a potential game-winning drive in the 4th quarter that put the ball on the 24-yard line with under 30 seconds to play. Unfortunately, fellow rookie, kicker Riley Patterson, missed what would have been the game-winner after the Cardinals iced him with a timeout.
The Bears won the toss and received the overtime kick-off. Winston led the offense down the field converting three 3rd downs in the process. The Bears worked the ball down to the 8 yard line and on 3rd and goal Winston couldn't find anyone open. He took off around the left side of the offensive line and ran in to the endzone untouched to lift the Bears to a 16-10 win. Winston after the game: "I knew when we won the toss we were going to go down and score a TD to end it. I didn't want to give Kyler the ball even though our defense played lights out all night. When I saw all the defenders drop back into zones in the endzone on 3rd down I knew I couldn't throw it in but saw all that green in front of me. My wheels ain't what they used to be but I knew I had to make it in an end the game."
Winston was right, the Bear defense did play an incredible game all night. The Cardinals were held to 193 yards passing and on 4 yards rushing on 20 carries. The Bears sacked the usually elusive Murray 3 times including the fumble generating sack that led to the defensive TD. The defensive held the Cardinals to 0 points in the red zone and J.Iyiegbuniwe and Kyle Fuller each had interceptions. Akeem Hicks added a 3rd sack to the team's totals as well. Roquan Smith led all defenders with 4 tackles.
The Bears will face the 0-1 Vikings and their red-hot rookie QB D'Eriq King week 2 in Minnesota. The offense hopes to improve against a Vikings defense that gave up 41 points and 565 yards of offense to the Rams in week 1.