Offensive Series
The Bears were able to orchestrate a well rounded offensive series that was capped off by the game-winning field goal by Connor Barth from 40 yards out.
To get things started, on Chicago’s own seven yard line, Jordan Howard broke a couple arm tackles and took the first play of the second offensive overtime series down the left sideline for 53 yards. The following play, a Tarik Cohen run, was stopped behind the line. After those two runs there was an incomplete pass from Mitchell Trubisky to Zach Miller on a play fake that the Ravens sniffed out pretty quickly.
Facing a third-and-11, Trubisky hung in the pocket and lofted a pass off his back foot over the middle to Kendall Wright who reached for the sky and reeled in the impressive catch. The last three offensive plays involved Howard runs, that gained only a yard.
From the Baltimore 22 yard line, Barth was then able to give the Bears their second “W” of the season.
What made this an impressive drive?
While the offense continued to stick to their guns, when players were called on to make a big play, they executed even with adversity staring straight at them.
The Offensive Big Picture
Can the Bears keep playing AFC North teams? It appears to this point that the Bears have no issue pounding the rock, and executing that game plan well. Similarly to the Week 3 win against the Steelers, the Bears were able to rush for 220+ yards, finishing this game with 231 rushing yards.
Throughout the duration of Howard’s time in Chicago, when he gets 20 or more carries, the Bears are 5-1. The only loss coming in the Week 17 loss to the Vikings last season. Statistically speaking, running the ball has been the Bears’ strength on offense.
However, some game situations do not always allow for the ground and pound style that the Bears like to run (pun intended). Insert Trubisky. While he has only 41 passing attempts in the NFL, we have seen some play-making ability out of the young quarterback in his limited role.
For example, Trubisky’s touchdown pass to Dion Sims in the 3rd quarter. From 27 yards out, the rookie quarterback rolled right to buy an extra second while being rushed, and he darted the pass to Sims in the end zone. Sims had to secure it as the defender was in the vicinity. Still, it was an athletic play by the young quarterback to buy that extra second and fire the ball downfield.
The second example came in overtime when Trubisky found Wright over the middle for an 18-yard completion to keep the drive alive. He climbed the pocket in the face of pressure, kept his eyes downfield and solely with arm strength got it to Wright.
Looking forward, as long as Trubisky continues to develop, and be that leader in the locker room that trusts him more and more with each game, this offense will become more respectable as the season goes on.
Defensive Series
The fifth series for this Bears’ defense was when they were able to get the first interception of the year.
The Ravens offense kept things balanced on the first four plays, going to the run on the first play of the drive. After back to back passes that got the first down and a couple yards, the Ravens ran again and gained six yards, which put the defense in a third-and-4 situation to get off the field.
They did just that.
Flacco looked down his right sideline and tried to hit Breshad Perriman with the pass. As Perriman bobbled the ball, Eddie Jackson laid a big hit on the wideout, which caused him to lose control of the ball. Then out of the sky came Bryce Callahan to make the diving interception before the ball hit the turf. Realizing he had not been touched, Callahan got up and returned the ball to the Baltimore 20, setting up Chicago’s offense in the red zone.
This interception led to points as it was followed by the Tarik Cohen touchdown pass to Zach Miller.
The Defensive Big Picture
The Bears defense looked good, especially early on, forcing the Ravens offense to punt three times in a row. Then Christian Jones forced a fumble, which was recovered by Danny Trevathan. Following that, was the Bryce Callahan interception. Of course, later in the game, Adrian Amos was able to get his first career interception and he returned it all the way to the house to add six points to the Bears side of the scoreboard.
The Ravens offense was only responsible for nine total points in this game.
A large part of that was due to the Bears defense making plays, and then following them up by making more. Chicago’s defense was flying around the field on Sunday. It was a lot of fun to watch!
If the Bears defense can keep up that intensity each and every week … opposing offenses will have a hard time sleeping before they face the Bears.
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