Game Notes: Bears fall to 3-3 with underwhelming loss to Saints
1 HR AGO - The Bears’ offense struggled to keep up with the Saints’ offensive onslaught. | Matt Marton-USA Expand
1 HR AGO - The Bears’ offense struggled to keep up with the Saints’ offensive onslaught. | Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears failed once again to top 300 total offensive yards, and their defense had an uncharacteristically poor game. Even with the extra time to prepare for their matchup after the bye week, the Bears came out on Sunday looking lost and unprepared.
Chicago fell to 3-3 with their embarrassing 36-25 loss to the Saints at home. In a game that saw many of New Orleans’ key offensive players out due to injury, the Bears were still unable to stop their offense, let alone put up many points.
With a difficult schedule ahead of them in arguably the toughest division in the league, the Bears find themselves facing increasingly challenging odds to make the playoffs.
Here are some notes from the Bears’ loss.
Offense
The Bears had 14 days to plan for this game and work on the struggles in their offense. They came back fixing none of them.
Mitchell Trubisky came back from injury and Collapse
Postgame perspective: Bears offense continues to search for identity
12 HRS AGO - The Bears were confident they had discovered solutions to some problems that had been plaguing Expand
12 HRS AGO - The Bears were confident they had discovered solutions to some problems that had been plaguing them this season. But virtually all of their most pressing questions remained unanswered after a 36-25 loss to the Saints. Collapse
Sunday Night Football Open Thread
13 HRS AGO - Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
This will now serve as the Sunday Night Football open Expand
13 HRS AGO - Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
This will now serve as the Sunday Night Football open thread to talk about the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.
But I’d imagine plenty of Bears fans will want a nice place to vent about that horseshit performance so feel free to vent away.
With the Chicago Bears not kicking off with the New Orleans Saints until 3:25 Chicago time, we wanted to give you guys a place to talk about the early games. The other three NFC North teams are all playing at noon, so let’s all be Oakland Raider fans for a few hours and cheer them on to beat the Green Bay Packers.
The Minnesota Vikings are taking on the Detroit Lions, and the current standings dictate we root for the 2-2-1 Lions, but since the Bears already have one win against the 4-2 Vikings, would a Minnesota win be in out best interests?
Subscribe to our Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel to get Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Collapse
Chicago Bears vs New Orleans Saints: NFL Week 7 Pre-Party Livestream and Open Thread
23 HRS AGO - Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Hopefully the Bears’ bye week gave them time to reflect and Expand
23 HRS AGO - Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Hopefully the Bears’ bye week gave them time to reflect and include the Plays that Work. Good morning. Did you have a productive bye week? I spent mine doing chores and playing FFXIV with friends. Hopefully the Bears spent their’s getting good at football.
The Bears’ trip to London brought the fans’ world falling down (okay, we needed one more London pun...) as carrying a 3-2 record (tied for 3rd/4th in the NFC North) into the bye with, at the time, the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL is not a recipe for optimism already. Kyle Long hitting injured reserve elicits mixed feelings - on the one hand, Long (and a large chunk of the offensive line) have not been playing up to reputation, but on the other hand, welcome to the starting right guard position, Ted Larsen and Rashaad Coward. Akiem Hicks hitting injured reserve, not as many mixed feelings. Kahlil Mack and the Bears were held sackless by the Raiders. In short, not exactly a two-week stretch Collapse
Monsters of the Midway Comic Strip - It's Geaux Time
2 DAYS AGO - This season, follow along as we continue the story of the Monsters of the Midway defending Chicago Expand
2 DAYS AGO - This season, follow along as we continue the story of the Monsters of the Midway defending Chicago from a weekly nemesis drawn from the 2019 schedule. Collapse
Injury Update: Trubisky listed as questionable
2 DAYS AGO - Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky practiced without restrictions Friday for the third straight Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky practiced without restrictions Friday for the third straight day and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s home game against the Saints. Collapse
How to watch, listen to Bears-Saints game
2 DAYS AGO - The Bears are back home to take on the Saints in Week 7. Here’s how you can watch and listen to Expand
2 DAYS AGO - The Bears are back home to take on the Saints in Week 7. Here’s how you can watch and listen to the contest Collapse
The Pick Is In: Bears vs. Saints
2 DAYS AGO - Local and national analysts make their pick for the Week 7 game between the Bears and New Orleans Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Local and national analysts make their pick for the Week 7 game between the Bears and New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. Keep track of their weekly record here on Chicagobears.com. Collapse
Tactical Thinking Bears vs. Saints: Trubisky’s Return Sparks Offense
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
The offense (still) needs to find it’s identity. Mitchell Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
The offense (still) needs to find it’s identity. Mitchell Trubisky and his athleticism will be a defining trait against an underrated New Orleans Saints defense. After what’s felt like a two week period of frustration and sheer boredom, the Chicago Bears return to action following their bye in week six of the regular season.
Tough news was plentiful during this time. From Jon Gruden humbling Matt Nagy in London, to losing Kyle Long for the year and Akiem Hicks for at least eight weeks, there hasn’t been much of a positive vibe lately. Then again, the Bears floundered in Miami against the Dolphins in their 5th game last season too.
The Bears’ record is currently 3-2, which is identical to last season’s record after the first five games. And, some good news has been revealed over the past few days. None bigger than Mitchell Trubisky’s return as the team’s starting quarterback.
Like him or love him, the Bears’ offense is better with Trubisky in the Collapse
|
The Bear’s Den, October 21, 2019
3 HRS AGO - Taylor Gabriel #18 of the Chicago Bears reacts prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Expand
3 HRS AGO - Taylor Gabriel #18 of the Chicago Bears reacts prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field on October 20, 2019 in Chicago | Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Don’t let the numbers fool you, the game was not nearly as close as the score indicates BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!
BEARRRSSSS
Bears-Saints takeaways: A bleak outlook looms for 2019 - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears are 3-3, but haven’t shown much -- if any -- signs of hope for the 2019 season.
Saints 36, Bears 25: Whose arrows are up and down after a demoralizing loss at Soldier Field - NBC Sports Chicago - Yuck. Just … yuck.
Saints Deal Bears Worst Defeat Under Matt Nagy - SI.com - No one could blame a long flight to London, Mitchell Trubisky’s injury or any other distraction for this one.
Game Recap: Bears fall to Saints - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears hoped to come out strong after their bye week but instead struggled mightily, especially on offense, in a disappointing 36-25 loss to the Collapse
Game Recap: Bears fall to Saints
13 HRS AGO - The Bears hoped to come out strong after their bye week but instead struggled mightily, especially Expand
13 HRS AGO - The Bears hoped to come out strong after their bye week but instead struggled mightily, especially on offense, in a disappointing 36-25 loss to the Saints Sunday at Soldier Field. Collapse
Bears vs. Saints second half overflow thread
15 HRS AGO - Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
This is the 2nd half overflow thread for the Chicago Bears vs. the Expand
15 HRS AGO - Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
This is the 2nd half overflow thread for the Chicago Bears vs. the New Orleans Saints and as always it is rated WCG-MA.
The Saints lead 12-10 after one half of football.
What have you guys liked so far?
What has sucked?
What do you think will happen in the third and fourth quarters?
If you want some live updates you can check out ESPN right here.
Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:
WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.
Subscribe to our Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel to get Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. Collapse
All Saints’ Day: Windy City Gridiron picks Bears-Saints
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
In a pivotal NFC matchup, the Bears can’t afford a misstep Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
In a pivotal NFC matchup, the Bears can’t afford a misstep against pro football’s divine. The Saints are without the best player they’ve ever had. Drew Brees, one of the best quarterbacks ever, hasn’t played since early September. He remains out for the foreseeable future. They’ve marched on through a daunting NFC, with Teddy Bridgewater, no less. An uninterrupted and purposeful stride continues into Soldier Field against a Bears’ team on the potential edge.
It certainly doesn’t help the Bears when the Saints literally and figuratively have God on their side.
Today we give thanks to the Lord for our new #Saints. They walked by faith and now we invoke their intercession.— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 13, 2019
You can only fight the divine so much. Eventually their all-knowing power finds a means to overcome their own flaws— especially in matters as important to the laws of nature and world at large as football.
A win here and Chicago Collapse
The Bear’s Den, October 19, 2019
2 DAYS AGO - Jan 21, 2007; Chicago, IL, USA; The New Orleans Saints MARQUES COLSTON #12 against the Chicago Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Jan 21, 2007; Chicago, IL, USA; The New Orleans Saints MARQUES COLSTON #12 against the Chicago Bears CHARLES TILLMAN #33 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Sunday Jan. 21, 2007 for the NFC Championship. Bears beat Saints 43-13 and advanced to the Super Bowl. | Sporting News via Getty Images
Mitch is “questionable” but in, Alvin is definitely out, and Teddy gets to deal with a big Mack attack THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
Continuing with the New Orleans theme this week...
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!
BEARRRSSSS
Handling Marshon Lattimore will be Mitch Trubisky, Bears' toughest test vs. Saints - NBC Sports Chicago - Marshon Lattimore is the linchpin for the Saints' defense, with his coverage skills allowing New Orleans to disguise coverages and commit to stopping the run.
Who's the Bears' best option to replace Kyle Long at right guard? - NBC Sports Chicago - Rashaad Coward has only played 30 snaps at guard in his entire pro or college career, but his athleticism and Collapse
Fantasy Football Forum Week 7: Mahomes Panic
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
You place for all things fantasy football My lead for Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
You place for all things fantasy football My lead for this week was going to be Michael Gallup and we’ll get to him in a minute, but let’s talk about Patrick Mahomes for just a second.
Mahomes appeared to dislocate his knee cap on a QB sneak in the Thursday Night Football game against the Broncos. Painful, indeed, and early reports by some Twitter doctors (surprisingly reliable) say best case scenario is that he’ll miss a few games, worst case is that it will be season ending - it all depends on the MRI. Looking at the Chiefs schedule, it would seem to be a wise course of action to hold him out the next four games before the bye week, giving him five plus weeks to heal up if the injury is something he can return from this season.
Looking at this purely through a fantasy perspective, here are some things to consider:
Obviously, Mahomes is a hold unless and until we hear that he’s done for the season. Assuming he’s back after the bye, you Collapse
A Bridge to sell: Three keys for a Bears’ win against the Saints
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The Bears will have to construct a sturdy Bridge across Water Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The Bears will have to construct a sturdy Bridge across Water to nab a needed win. The last time the Bears faced off against the Saints, Mitchell Trubisky was but a wide-eyed rookie attempting to make a name for himself. (In the present, he’s a wide-eyed veteran attempting to make a name for himself) Zach Miller, reliable receiving tight end that he was, came down with a contested catch in the end zone in a tight fourth quarter battle. Unfortunately, according to officials, he actually hadn’t. The Bears not only lost an egregious officiating review that wiped away an obvious touchdown, they also lost Miller, permanently so, and fell 20-12 in a Halloweekend game that should’ve been far closer in the end than the final result indicated. The Superdome, for three hours, was a temporary House of Horrors from which the Bears had no escape.
Two years later, a budding heavyweight fight of defenses—with an already ailing quarterback on one side—awaits. In Collapse
Bars excited to remain with Bears, Hiestand
2 DAYS AGO - With Alex Bars’ promotion from the Bears practice squad to the 53-man roster this week, the rookie Expand
2 DAYS AGO - With Alex Bars’ promotion from the Bears practice squad to the 53-man roster this week, the rookie guard’s patience, hard work and loyalty is paying dividends. Collapse
Bears vs. Saints: How get tickets, channel info, streaming, odds, previews and more!
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images
Buy tickets to the New Orleans at the Chicago Bears from Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images
Buy tickets to the New Orleans at the Chicago Bears from StubHub HERE!
The NFC South leading New Orleans Saints (5-1) take on the third place Chicago Bears (3-2) on Sunday in what has suddenly become another early season must win for Chicago. The Bears need to keep pace with the Vikings (4-2) and Packers (5-1), and hold off the Lions (2-2-1), in what shapes up to be a very competitive NFC North.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Bears vs. Saints game.
When is the game?
Sunday, October 20, 2019, at 3:25 p.m. Central
Where is the game?
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Weather
According to weather.com it’ll be 60 and sunny.
How to watch!
This game is getting Thom Brennaman and Troy Aikman (the number 1 crew) on the FOX Sports broadcast. If you live in the reddish area in the 506Sports map below (plus Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Honolulu) you’ll get the game!
NFL and college football can also be streamed on fubo TV, so click Collapse
|
BWM: Digesting a Horrific Bears’ Loss (With ECD!)
7 HRS AGO - Trubisky’s support network convenes around the young QB. | Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
In his Expand
7 HRS AGO - Trubisky’s support network convenes around the young QB. | Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
In his latest episode of Bear With Me, Robert S. brings on WCG’s own ECD to talk through a Bears-Saints game that went about as sideways as a football game can. So, uh, that wasn’t any fun at all.
The Chicago Bears hosted an injured New Orleans Saints team that took the field without their starting QB or starting RB and still managed to get blown off the field. They failed to move the ball in any meaningful way on offense and compiled only 3 offensive points throughout the first three quarters of football, losing two fumbles in their own territory along the way. Because of the deeply disappointing nature of the game, I brought along backup in the form of WCG’s own Optimist Prime to help me dissect the game — in this episode of Bear With Me, ECD and I discuss...
What went wrong for the Bears offensively?
What’s going on with David Montgomery?
What role did the Bears’ defense play in the Collapse
Bears disappoint for second game in a row with 36 - 25 loss to Saints
13 HRS AGO - This isn’t going to go well...
The Bears offense and special teams achieve new lows and the Expand
13 HRS AGO - This isn’t going to go well...
The Bears offense and special teams achieve new lows and the defense eventually lost control. This wasn’t how you want your team to play at home against a team missing its two most important offensive players. The Bears made a lot of mistakes and didn’t make a lot of plays. The Saints defense is legitimately good, but the Bears offense looks legitimately bad.
Box Score
The Bears defense couldn’t hold up the whole game
The defense held up well during the first half, only giving up points when the offense or special teams put them in awful position. But after repeatedly having to bounce back onto the field after only three plays of rest, they clearly tired out. At one point the Bears offense had 16 offensive plays in 6 drives. Yes, that’s less than three plays a drive thanks to David Montgomery’s fumble.
Special teams remain a thorn in the Bears’ paw
Yes, Cordarrelle Patterson had a 102 yard touchdown return. But the Bears had two punts blocked and Collapse
Bears vs Saints: Live updates and open thread
16 HRS AGO - Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
This is your place to talk Bears vs. Saints and if you Expand
16 HRS AGO - Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
This is your place to talk Bears vs. Saints and if you want some live updates you can check out ESPN right here.
Keep in mind this is an open thread, so it is rated WCG-MA.
Here are the inactives for the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints.
Bears Inactives:
CB Duke Shelley
DL Jonathan Harris
LB Josh Woods
LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
OL Alex Bars
TE Bradley Sowell
WR Riley Ridley
The big news here is that both QB Mitchell Trubisky and DL Bilal Nichols are active. The Bears have not announced who will start at right guard, but Brad Biggs is reporting that Rashaad Coward will get the nod over Ted Larsen
Saints Inactives:
RB Alvin Kamara
TE Jared Cook
QB Drew Brees
WR Tre’Quan Smith
OL Ethan Greenidge
DB Ken Crawley
DE Trey Hendrickson
Subscribe to our Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel to get Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Collapse
4 storylines to monitor in Bears-Saints game
1 DAY AGO - Senior writer Larry Mayer identifies four storylines to watch Sunday when the Bears host the New Expand
1 DAY AGO - Senior writer Larry Mayer identifies four storylines to watch Sunday when the Bears host the New Orleans Saints, including whether the offense can break out of its slump. Collapse
Best bets: Bears-Saints, survivor picks and more
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The Bears are once again favored, but does it mean much Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The Bears are once again favored, but does it mean much against a resilient Saints team? The dynamic duo is back after the bye and ready to make some more correct picks.
Last week was no bye for Jeff and Sam, as they waded into the waters of picking NFL games league-wide and found some winners.
Sam hit on the Cardinals, the Cardinals/Falcons total (over) and Jeff hit on the Patriots, although it looked like it could be close for a hot minute.
Although the Eagles dropped the ball for him, which must mean the Eagles are officially bad, using the law of Kirk, right?
They did both safely stay on the right side in the survivor pool by sticking with New England.
Overall, we eliminated one more player this week for a total of 15 as Jacky tried to be sneaky and took the Dolphins. There are 17 teams on the verge of elimination heading into this week while nine teams are still in a good spot with only one strike.
Amazingly enough, seven teams are still Collapse
Bears vs Saints Injury Report: Trubisky, Nichols, and Larsen all questionable
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Here’s the full injury report for the Bears and Saints in Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Here’s the full injury report for the Bears and Saints in advance of Sunday’s game in Chicago. When the season schedule was announced, it seemed like the Chicago Bears’ bye week was coming too early, but with a few injured players benefiting from the week off it has proven to be right on time.
Both wide out Taylor Gabriel (concussion) and linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (hamstring) are off the injury report and good to go for Sunday.
The Bears should also be getting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (left shoulder) and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (hand/knee) both back for this Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
Trubisky is officially listed as questionable, but he practiced in full all week. And in fact, he took all the first team reps all week, so unless there’s something drastic that happens between now and Sunday morning, he should be getting the start.
Nichols also received the questionable designation since he was limited toady, Collapse
Chalk Talk: Who will replace Akiem Hicks?
2 DAYS AGO - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses who will replace the injured Akiem Hicks, the most lopsided Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses who will replace the injured Akiem Hicks, the most lopsided loss the Bears have suffered under coach Matt Nagy and if the Raiders discovered a blueprint to beat the Bears. Collapse
Thomas Jones’s Fond Farewell
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Thomas Jones was traded a month after Super Bowl XLI, and Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Thomas Jones was traded a month after Super Bowl XLI, and never got to say goodbye to teammates, Bears fans and the city of Chicago. A new highlight reel gives him that chance. “You have these memories,” Thomas says. “And you have to erase them quickly.”
On February 4, 2007, Thomas Jones was exactly where he was supposed to be. He was playing in the Super Bowl, and doing so as the starting running back for the Chicago Bears, just like his childhood idol, Walter Payton. He was a team leader both in the locker room and on the field.
On that day in Miami, in Super Bowl XLI, he was a star: 112 yards on just 15 carries, and the 5th longest run in Super Bowl history. His yardage total would have been a franchise single-game postseason rushing record, if he hadn’t set it the game before with 123 yards in the NFC championship. Those two games made him the first — and still only — player in franchise history with multiple 100-yard rushing games in the Collapse
|
