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This week’s season opening game against the Buffalo Bills looked like a surefire Chicago Bears victory for exactly one series on either side of the ball. The game started off looking great. First, the new Bears defense took the field and held the Bills to a 3 and out. The Bears offense then took to the field and we saw a short run by Matt Forte, then 3 consecutive passes to Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Martellus Bennett for a quick score. After that it was pretty much all downhill. Why? Well, let’s take a look at the rest of this match-up and see what the heck happened out there.
Decisions, Decisions: A fumble by Marshall and 2 interceptions by Jay Cutler sealed the Bears fate in this one. To give credit where it’s due, the Bills have a very good defense that should likely be in the top 5 this year. However, while the fumble was a solid strip that we probably won’t see on Marshall again, the 2 interceptions both boil down to bad decisions by Cutler. The first one was a pass to Bennett, who wasn’t turned and had coverage up top with former Bear Corey Graham coming underneath. Whether it was bad route running or poor decision making is debatable but the second pick thrown was not. Rolling out to buy himself space and time Cutler threw the ball to the short middle into a sea of white shirts, where it became the 1st career interception of defensive tackle Kyle Williams. This again looked like Cutler forcing the ball where there’s no play to be made. Forcing the ball, in this game resulted in 10 of the Bills regulation points, with Marshall’s fumble accounting for another 3. Turnovers win games and, without those poor choices and mistakes, the game ends differently.
Defense: The new defense was hit and miss during this game. The Bears defense made a couple 3 and out stops, and Chris Conte even came away with a crucial pick that kept the Bears in the game. However, more often than not they were susceptible to big passes and unable to stop the run. CJ Spiller, Fred Jackson, Anthony Dixon, and EJ Manuel gashed the defense for 193 yards on the ground. Big free agency acquisitions, Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston, were almost non-existent accounting for only 1 tackle each. The only two people who really stood out was Willie Young, who got the team’s sole sack and 2 of their 3 tackles for loss; as well as, Conte’s interception. Buffalo does not have a great offense, and to say they are average may even be a bit generous. It can’t be certain whether it is growing pains from the transition to Mel Tucker’s scheme, unit cohesion, or just being out matched. Whatever it is, Chicago has one week to figure it out because the San Fransisco 49er’s will be a much tougher group to stop, and things won’t get any easier as the year rolls on.
Got Your Back: With the Bills defense focused on Jeffery, Marshall, Bennett, and Santonio Holmes in the passing attack, it left an opening for another head of the Chicago hydra, Matt Forte. Forte ran for 82 yards and caught another 87 in short passes and screens for 169 of Chicago’s 427 total yards. He has 18 games with over 150 yards from scrimmage, second to Walter Payton in Bears history and Sunday was his 7th highest total in his career. Forte truly was the one, consistent high spot for them this Sunday. Chicago’s offense is predicated on passing early and often, as evidenced by 49 passing attempts to 18 rush attempts. However, adaptability is the key too success when it comes to ensuring the Chicago Bears offense can receive those passes. And if it is not getting done by the quarter back, then he should have the ability to change it up. A balanced attack of run and passes are crucial to keeping a defense off guard and with a player like Forte it would not be wise to keep him sitting in your backfield.
Bottom Line: Matt Forte was very good; however, the entire Defense did not do very well through out the game. If the Bears want to succeed and move a head then they need to have a bigger presence on the ground. Even though Cutler threw 341 yards, they stalled out on the drives when they favored the pass too frequently. The Bears defense needs to show up during the game. Allen and Houston were the big names that were expected to do well this season; however, they have not demonstrated talent yet. The same can be said for most of the defense, safeties Conte and Ryan Mundy. Finally, Marc Trestman needs to sit Cutler down and get him back to where he was a year ago. Jay was making pretty sound decisions with the ball last season, taking what the defense gave and not forcing it.