When we look back at Mitchell Trubisky’s first win at the pro-level, we won’t remember it for its gaudy numbers. The Bears didn’t ask him to do very much. Trubisky ended up going 8 of 16 for 113 yards, with a touchdown. He also added another 32 yards on the ground. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t record-setting and with a passer rating of 94, it probably won’t blow anyone away. But it was a win.
It also doesn’t tell the whole story.
With 50 designed runs, the Bears game plan was to run the ball directly into a nasty Baltimore defense. Strength against strength. If you came into it looking for Trubisky to light it up, you probably ended up being disappointed; however, that doesn’t mean there weren’t “wow” plays.
Trubisky delivered a beautiful pass to Dion Sims for a touchdown towards the end of the third, a pass he delivered moving to his right. He also had a very impressive scramble early in the game, moving the sticks for the Bears. And ultimately, when it counted, he delivered a late strike to Kendall Wright to move the Bears into field goal range in overtime.
While Trubisky will remain the principal focus for the rest of the year because his growth represents the future, there were many other players out there today worthy of attention.
Don’t look now, but Kyle Fuller is absolutely balling out. Akiem Hicks continues to be a problem for opposing offenses and Adrian Amos added a pick-six on a Fuller tipped ball. Despite the worst special team’s outings of the year, allowing 14 points, on a kickoff and punt return, the Bears defense managed to keep the team in the game.
You also can’t forget about thunder and lightning, or whatever nickname we have settled on for the Bears run tandem. With Tarik Cohen throwing a TD and Jordan Howard accounting for 163 of the 342 offensive yards, a lot of credit must go to the run game as well.
I walked away from this game optimistic.
I won’t sugarcoat it, I was pretty frustrated with the offensive game plan for most of the game. It feels like we have waited forever to have Trubisky under center and now that he is there, we are only going to throw it 16 times? But a win is a win. Another week of game experience for Trubisky, the defense is looking solid and the Bears young talent was on full display.
This won’t end up being a game you tell your grandkids about; however, over the last three years we have been on the other side of close games like this and being on the winning side sure feels better.
The Bears will need to string together some wins for this season to mean anything to me besides development for Trubisky and some of the other young pieces. However, with ten under center, I am more excited watching than I have been in some time. Bear Down!
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