Bears Blitz

Published by Bear Heiser on September 7, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Opening week in the NFL didn’t go too well for the Chicago Bears. 

Not only did Marc Trestman’s team lose to the lowly Buffalo Bills, 23-20, he lost three starters to injury in the process. Offensive linemen Roberto Garza (ankle) and Matt Slauson (ankle) both left the game in the first half, and receiver Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) exited in the second half.

Crazy how the Bears managed to start the same five offensive line starters for all 16 games of the 2013-14 season, and then they go out in the very next game and lose two guys in the first half. 

At times, the Bears looked like the walking wounded. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall was also injured Sunday. On a play where he was tackled hastily by a Bills defender, Marshall twisted his ankle. 

One can’t make excuses, though. The Bears simply were outplayed by Doug Marrone’s Bills. 

On the Bills’ opening drive, the Bears miraculously forced a three-and-out. Quarterback Jay Cutler then led the Bears on a four-play, 66-yard touchdown drive. It was like pure harmony all mixed into two drives. Defense held its ground; offense capitalized. 

It went very downhill from there. It all began when cornerback Tim Jennings blew coverage on receiver Robert Woods, who made a 32-yard catch.

Jennings was late in turning around for the ball, which allowed Woods to freely make the catch. Bills quarterback EJ Manuel was solid on the nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, completing 3-of-3 passes on third down for 49 yards with two conversions. 

The issues that led to the majority of Sunday’s defensive breakdowns were just more of the past. Bears defenders struggled to hold the edge, make proper tackles with any semblance of consistency and stay true to the ball on play action or read option—basically, it occurred any time the pocket moved.

Back-to-back offensive turnovers proceeded that Buffalo touchdown, and the turnovers led to 10 points by the Bills. The Bears’ four first-half possessions that followed their opening-drive touchdown went like this: punt, fumble, interception, punt. 

Marshall fumbled after hauling in a Cutler pass, and the quarterback tossed an interception for the second. 

The words Cutler and interception seemingly go together like peanut butter and jelly. His first interception came on a pass up the seam to tight end Martellus Bennett. The two clearly were on different pages, as Bennett wasn’t even looking for the ball when Cutler threw it. Cutler thought Bennett was going to break his route and come back after about 10 or so yards. 

Trailing by 10 at halftime, the Bears came out for the second half looking like a different team. Cutler led the Bears on an 11-play, 57-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. Then, following an interception by safety Chris Conte, Cutler led the Bears on a 56-yard touchdown drive. 

The Bears and Bills played it even until late in the fourth quarter, when Cutler threw a terrible, terrible interception, right into the hands of defensive tackle Kyle Williams. Cutler rolled out to his right and as the play came back toward him, he tried to throw back across his body for a short completion; instead he threw it directly to Williams, who didn’t even have to make any sort of adjustment on the pick.

The interception led to a Dan Carpenter field goal and a three point Bills lead. Chicago tied the game at 20 with a Robbie Gould field goal with 30 seconds left.

The game then went into overtime, where the Bills won with a field goal on the second possession of the session. But before the Bills could win the game, the Chris Conte-iest of plays happened to Chris Conte. 

On a play where Bills rusher Fred Jackson blew threw the line of scrimmage like it didn’t exist, Conte attempted to bring down Jackson in the open field. Wanting none of what Conte had to offer, Jackson stiff-armed Conte not once, but twice, eventually bowling him over at the end of the 32-yard gain that ended at the Bears’ 1-yard line. 

Poor Conte. The guy just can’t catch a break. Sure, he had a terrible 2013-14 season, but what one must factor in is how bad the rest of the defense was in front of him. The more plays someone has to make, the more room there is for error. 

But that’s what Conte gives us now—all or nothing. It’s a great read made on an interception to getting bowled over in the most embarrassing fashion on a play that led to the Bears’ demise. Conte definitely will be a talking point this coming week on sports radio in Chicago.

ODDS AND ENDS

— Matt Forte‘s name has yet to be mentioned, so let’s do that now. Forte easily was the best player on the field for the Bears. He carried the ball 17 times for 82 yards and caught eight passes on nine targets for 87 yards. The majority of his rushing yards were gained when running to the left, between left tackle Jermon Bushrod and left guard Michael Ola, who entered the game for the injured Slauson.

Forte clearly still is a huge part of Trestman’s plan for the Bears offense.

— An update on Jeffery: 

— So much for a much-improved run defense. The Bills ran the ball all over Mel Tucker’s defense, gaining 193 yards on 33 carries. Too many times, Bills rushers would make it unscathed through the line.

— Did anyone happen to see Jared Allen today? You know, that guy who wears No. 69? That guy who sat out the majority of training camp and the preseason? That guy who then defended his absence by saying that he’s ready to play regular-season football? Anyone? Well, if you end up seeing him, let him know that he missed today’s game. 

— Now back to Conte for a moment, this nugget via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. 

As previously stated above: Conte is going to be a huge talking point in Chicago this week.

“Overreaction Monday” is going to be fantastic. 

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com